Swimming can be a political act. There is a long history of swimming to bring about political change, such as Lynne Cox’s Bering Strait swim in 1987 that helped usher in the era of glasnost between the United States and the Soviet Union, or Yvette Teteh’s 2023 swim down the Volta River to highlight modern-day economic colonialism and the devastating effects on the environment caused by the global north’s reliance on fast fashion. But as Simon writes opposite, you don’t need to swim from Alaska to Russia or down Ghana’s longest river to campaign for change. As well as local action, you can effect change by making sustainable choices – from the kit you use to the events you attend. It might not seem like much when compared to big protest swims, but change is sparked by small actions.
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE