A swimming article? Yes, a swimming article. Would you prefer more coverage of Chicago baseball? No, you wouldn’t. The numbers have spoken on that one. Quite loudly actually. And we need to know the name Lewis Pugh.
Ocean advocate Lewis Pugh was named UN Environment Programme’s Patron for Oceans yesterday as he embarks on an epic circumnavigation of the globe. Lewis Pugh is one of the most interesting men in the world, trust me.
He’s a maritime lawyer from London, and the only person to have completed a long distance swim in every ocean in the world. In ’07 he swam across the seas at the North Pole (oooh, I hope he had a wet suit) to call attention to the melting of Arctic sea ice. In ’10 Lewis Pugh swam across a recently formed glacial lake on Mt Everest, the world’s tallest mountain, to bring more awareness to climate change in the Himalayan region.
In 2014, Lewis Pugh will embark on a three-year journey that will see him cross three oceans and 18 seas. Along the way, he will be promoting UNEP’s work and spearheading their campaign for the establishment of more Marine Protected Areas.
“I’m very excited to engage with UNEP as Patron for their work on oceans. Their work is crucial,” said Lewis Pugh.
“One of the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity is to see 10 per cent of our oceans set aside as properly managed Marine Protected Areas by 2020. We must achieve this target. Over 10 per cent of terrestrial land is protected by National Parks. If we can do it on land, we can surely do the same in the sea. I am looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and helping UNEP in every way possible.”
“I have been swimming for 27 years, and over that period I’ve seen our oceans change. I’ve seen enormous chunks of ice slide off Arctic glaciers. I’ve swum over bleached coral killed by rising sea temperatures, and over the bones of whales hunted to the edge of extinction. I’ve visited lakes high in the Himalayas where once there was only ice,” Pugh added. “I’ve seen drastic changes in my lifetime – changes that have come about because of our actions. In my lifetime I’d like to see us change, because we have it within our power to make a positive difference.”
Pugh becomes only UNEP’s second Patron for a specific cause. He joins Kenyan Patrick Makau, the Marathon World Record Holder, who is Patron for Clean Air.
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net. (“Quasi-endorsed” by Philadelphia Eagles Coach Chip Kelly) He’s also an author who also contributes regularly to MSN, Fox Sports , Chicago Now, Walter Football.com and Yardbarker
Banks has appeared on the History Channel, as well as Clear Channel, ESPN and CBS radio all over the world. President Barack Obama follows him on Twitter (@PaulMBanks), like him on Facebook