And then we have a story from NGO sources talking about what we “must” do to solve the problem of plastics in the ocean. This is so typical — industry and industrial consortium mouthpieces greenwash, and NGOs that want problems solved talking impotently about what we “should” or “must” do, often incorporating that tired phrase, “the political will is lacking.”

Right here is the nub of the problem: governments, the source of political will, are owned and directed by corporations, not the public or NGOs. Corporations regard environmental crises as PR challenges, to be solved by greenwashing, and the media is ever ready to amplify their message.

And so, year after year, nothing is done. Nothing but rhetoric and throwing corporate funds on PR, taxpayer funds on R&D for solutions already proven false — but which don’t interfere with corporate profits.