We are in the middle of a Climate Crisis, and the majority of people live so happily and unaffected by the “problem” that is going to affect them and especially their descendants. And that is because there are many interests in keeping us “asleep” and continuing to consume as if nothing is happening.
The financial and industrial groups that drive business are interested in everything continuing the same and nothing changing, and they have enormous financial resources to make it so. Their “lobbies” exert their pressure in many different ways and at the highest level.
In my opinion, one of the most absurd activities we do today is pleasure cruises. And let me explain: Cruise ships are gigantic floating masses that host thousands of people on pleasure trips around the world, and are one of the most popular tourist industries on the planet.
However, behind the facade of luxury and fun hides a polluting reality that is not at all glamorous and that represents an environmental catastrophe for our planet, because we do something for pure fun and that generates great pollution. That is to say, we are polluting for the pure pleasure of doing so.
Cruise ships run on highly polluting fossil fuels, such as heavy fuel oil. This generates large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, such as CO2, which contribute to climate change. Additionally, they emit sulfur and nitrogen oxides, which cause acid rain and other respiratory problems.
Cruise ships generate a large amount of waste, both solid and liquid, which is partly collected and partly not. Wastewater, which is often not treated properly, is sometimes discharged into the sea, polluting the waters and endangering marine life.
This cruise tourism can have a negative impact on local communities. The arrival of thousands of tourists in a short period of time can lead to problems such as congestion, price gouging and environmental degradation. Furthermore, the economic benefits of cruise tourism are often not shared equitably among the local population. It makes me very sad to see a huge cruise ship sailing through the grand canal of Venice.
And it is possible to enjoy sea travel without contributing to the destruction of the planet. There are sustainable alternatives to traditional cruises, such as sailing ships or eco-friendly cruises that use clean technologies and minimize their environmental impact. Someone will say that they are more expensive, and it is true, but they are sustainable.
With each passing day, businesses that are not sustainable make less sense, and the case of cruise ships is truly absurd. There are many organizations fighting for more responsible and environmentally friendly tourism, and we must support them in any way we can.
Although we can do relatively little, I believe that together we can change things. By making responsible decisions and requiring companies to act sustainably, we can help protect our planet for future generations.
We cannot resign ourselves to the inevitable, because everything can be changed. And partly it depends on us.
I suggest watching a video I found not long ago in The Guardian:
I think it's worth it.
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