Swimming for Glaciers

Posted on July 2, 2010
Filed Under Uncategorized |

By Lauren Keane-Farrell

When it comes to expressing an opinion about global climate change, people engage in a variety of activities. Some make changes at home. Some participate in protests. Others go swimming.

Lewis Gordon Pugh is a British environmental campaigner who has undertaken the task of completing long distance swims around the world to create environmental awareness. On May 22, 2010, he completed a 1k swim at an altitude of 5,300m under the summit of Mt. Everest to bring attention to the impact climate change has on the Himalayan region. The glacial lake was approximately 2 degrees Celsius. Pugh states that this was one of the most difficult swims he has ever undertaken.

In July 2007, Pugh swan 1km across an open patch of sea in the North Pole to similarly draw attention to the melting of the Arctic sea ice.

Pugh is no newbie to swimming.

In January of 2006, he became the first person to complete the “Holy Grail” of swimming, meaning he had completed a long distance swim in every ocean of the world.

About his most recent swim Pugh states, “This is a plea to every nation, to do everything it can, to put a stop to climate change. We live in a global environment. What happens in one part of the world will impact every other part. And when it comes to cutting carbon emissions, we must stop arguing about whether China, the USA or the EU should act first. Given the urgency of the situation every country needs to put in place every solution at its disposal. There is no time for delay.”

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