As divers and underwater photographers, should we be getting more involved in politics? Having written a series of articles for Sport Diver called the Conservation Diaries, what has become very clear to me is that we have the ability to change the world around us for the better. I hear so many people complain, whilst sat around a dinner table, or over a beer in the local, about topics close to my heart and I wonder how many then go home and do something about it? Many would, in an Eeyore tone of voice, say that one person cannot change anything and it is all too late anyway, but I disagree with this. Here is why...
Social networking has changed the game. If you are passionate about a particular conservation topic, it is now easier than ever imaginable to find like minded people. There will be a charity, who will have a Web & Facebook Page, who will lead you to all the right petitions, offer pre-worded letters to send to your MEP/MPs and give you dates, times and locations of where you can meet up with others to peacefully protest or discuss such topics. It strikes me as a suitable dating opportunity for those looking for a like-minded partner too! Social networking has also changed the game, by being able to quickly form flash-mod style pressure. Take, for example, the amazing Fish Fight programme on Channel 4, that managed to get 40,000 tweets to 3 supermarkets in a single advert break, to challenge the shrimp feed industry. Or images posted by Michael Aw on Facebook, of countries in secret talks to try to stop CITES protecting sharks, that sparked an emailing frenzy overnight to lobby and ensure the laws got through.
Supporting a cause, protesting against those that do the marine environment harm and getting involved in protecting the oceans could not be easier. But what about the bigger picture? In an interview with Doug Allan (BBC Wildlife Photographer) about climate change and the effects it would have, he argues that we should be voting for the Green Party. I have always, in the past, thought of this as a possible wasted vote - letting in another party that I definitely do not want. But if the last 10 years of UK politics has taught me anything, it has convinced me that whatever of the 3 main parties we vote for - we simply will not get what we want.
Take the current lot in power. They commission a huge undertaking to look at what areas around the UK coastline need protecting. They spend millions doing this and then ... throw the results out of the window and select only 31 of the 127 Marine Conservation Zones (recommended by their panel of experts). I could go on about alternative energy, fishing policy, austerity measures causing diving business to close all over the country and their lack of support for a great scheme to sink a huge wreck that would certainly help both marine life and the diving community. In fact I could go on and on... instead I will be voting Green whenever I can from now on. Why not - they cannot do any worse than the last lots - as Doug Allan put it!
Really what I want to say is - there is no excuse for sitting and doing nothing. Supporting causes you believe in costs nothing, joining a charity costs very little, and getting involved will make you feel great! The images in this blog are taken from the Conservation Diaries series published in Sport Diver every month.
Whilst I am at it - here are a few of the charities that I follow:
http://www.mcsuk.org/
http://www.fishfight.net/
http://www.theblackfish.org/
Social networking has changed the game. If you are passionate about a particular conservation topic, it is now easier than ever imaginable to find like minded people. There will be a charity, who will have a Web & Facebook Page, who will lead you to all the right petitions, offer pre-worded letters to send to your MEP/MPs and give you dates, times and locations of where you can meet up with others to peacefully protest or discuss such topics. It strikes me as a suitable dating opportunity for those looking for a like-minded partner too! Social networking has also changed the game, by being able to quickly form flash-mod style pressure. Take, for example, the amazing Fish Fight programme on Channel 4, that managed to get 40,000 tweets to 3 supermarkets in a single advert break, to challenge the shrimp feed industry. Or images posted by Michael Aw on Facebook, of countries in secret talks to try to stop CITES protecting sharks, that sparked an emailing frenzy overnight to lobby and ensure the laws got through.
Supporting a cause, protesting against those that do the marine environment harm and getting involved in protecting the oceans could not be easier. But what about the bigger picture? In an interview with Doug Allan (BBC Wildlife Photographer) about climate change and the effects it would have, he argues that we should be voting for the Green Party. I have always, in the past, thought of this as a possible wasted vote - letting in another party that I definitely do not want. But if the last 10 years of UK politics has taught me anything, it has convinced me that whatever of the 3 main parties we vote for - we simply will not get what we want.
Take the current lot in power. They commission a huge undertaking to look at what areas around the UK coastline need protecting. They spend millions doing this and then ... throw the results out of the window and select only 31 of the 127 Marine Conservation Zones (recommended by their panel of experts). I could go on about alternative energy, fishing policy, austerity measures causing diving business to close all over the country and their lack of support for a great scheme to sink a huge wreck that would certainly help both marine life and the diving community. In fact I could go on and on... instead I will be voting Green whenever I can from now on. Why not - they cannot do any worse than the last lots - as Doug Allan put it!
Really what I want to say is - there is no excuse for sitting and doing nothing. Supporting causes you believe in costs nothing, joining a charity costs very little, and getting involved will make you feel great! The images in this blog are taken from the Conservation Diaries series published in Sport Diver every month.
Whilst I am at it - here are a few of the charities that I follow:
http://www.mcsuk.org/
http://www.fishfight.net/
http://www.theblackfish.org/
