Every wave starts as just a ripple out at sea, slowly it builds in force until it is strong enough to start reshaping the very ocean floor.
At the Human Chain, Ocean Advocates join hands one by one, stretching along Perranporth beach in the hope of eroding the current eco-political landscape that prioritises profits over their planet.
The Human Chain is a humble ocean awareness movement in Cornwall, pioneered by those who love the ocean and hate to see it suffer.
On February 18th 2023, over 80 Ocean Advocates joined hands despite the rain to make a clear plea that our environment must be protected.
What does the Human Chain Stand for?
We’ve heard the false promises as sewage fills our oceans, we’ve read the manifestos that lack solutions, and we continue to see no action taken to tackle the climate crisis.
More hands will join our Human Chain every year and with each, a line of argument is created against inactive MPs, fishing industries, profiteering water companies and single-use-loving supermarkets.
This united statement shows an unwavering passion for protecting our planet at the local level, but where is the compassion from those in charge?
The UK government are not doing enough to hold unsustainable industries accountable for their continued degradation of our environment.
Here is our message to our MPs:
Stop fishing for excuses.
Against explicit advice and scientific guidance, 65% of the fishing industry’s catch quotas for the UK and EU are being set above an ecologically sustainable level. These quotas not only cause negative effects on our entire marine ecosystem but pressurise fishermen to cut corners like discarding fishing gear or attempting illegal fishing practices. The result of catering to this demand undoubtedly contributes to the 487,000 tonnes of bycatch and over 640,000 tonnes of Ghost fishing gear that pollute our seas each year.
We need power against pollution.
The UK consistently ranks in the top ten worst European countries for coastal water quality with only 14% meeting ‘good’ ecological status. Water companies in the UK are responsible for 375,000 discharges of raw untreated sewage into British waters. England and Wales are one of just 5 countries in the world to have completely privatised water companies. The so-called logic behind this decision was that the profitability of these companies would result in greater investment and subsequent improvements in water quality. Yet the reality paints a different, rather brown picture.
Ban all Single-Use Plastic.
From October 2023 England launches their Single Use Plastic ban. Good news at last, right? Well, not quite, it weirdly won’t cover plastic bottles, bags or put any control on burning plastic waste. It seems the targeted plastic items are from takeaway outlets rather than supermarkets, making many questions why the government never seems to target the conglomerate businesses that are serial single-use offenders.
Plastic is everywhere, from the depths of the Mariana Trench to the ice caps of Antarctica. It is in our bodies and even pours down in our rainfall – we need stricter bans in place before it has irreversible effects on our environment.
The Single-Use Plastic Ban is a baby step in the right direction when we need a lunge.
Why we must keep joining hands
For years there has been a public outcry to care for our climate and the response from our governing bodies has done nothing but accelerate the rate of pollution during our climate crises.
Each year the Human Chain has created a ripple of support that keeps on growing. With every hand that joins, our line of argument becomes stronger and the chance for creating a real change only increases.
The Human Chain’s founder Gem Milsom wanted to thank everyone for their support:
“Despite the classic Cornish weather people came from far and wide to join hands, and we are so grateful to all those who met us on the beach. The Human Chain is an uplifting community event that allows people to stand up for what they care for together, closely, and calmly. The visuals of all these hands joining are sent to organisations, inactive MPs, and industries whom we are protesting against. We are making small waves and hope, with your help these grow to big ones one day. Stay tuned for the next one, its already in the planning!”
If you have a passion for protecting the ocean and believe that dedicated communities can create #chainreactions join our next Human Chain in May 2024!
