Great Pacific Garbage Patch

As I research global issues i am amazed at how few people are discussing the issues when it is obvious that it is far more important than anything else. We are in a state of emergency. Our own children's lives are at stake.
Most people would agree that the two topics never discussed at a social gathering are politics and religion but now there is a third.
Environmental stewardship.....
Now I must admit that I personally have trouble making small talk and am commonly faced with accusations of being a "downer".
I make no apology for getting more satisfaction from conversations that delve into the topics about life and spirituality. The weather is more interesting in the context of the changing climate. How can humans continue to ignore the reality of the human condition.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a classic example. Google the topic and you are faced with the realization that we are killing the ocean. Plankton is a basic building block for life on earth and regardless of the opposing views surrounding Global Warming it is apparent that the amount of plastic in the ocean (10 to 1 plastic to plankton in some areas) is atrocious.
Is the economy really the basis for determining the value life on earth.
The primary argument for doing little is .... What about the jobs, our livelyhood, our lifestyle?
I was walking on the beach tonight and became acutely aware of the amount of garbage left for the ocean to devour.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is a great concept but what we focus on recycle. In conversation with my 8 year old and his best friend over dinner illuminated this even more. They know the three r's but they could not accurately describe what reduce really means. Adults are just as much at fault. We use reusable bags to shop instead of getting more plastic bags but we still shop for more than we need.
When will we realize that reduce should really mean buy less. But what about our economy and jobs? the system of producer and consumer you say.
Well that system is broken. We must stop producing and consuming for the sake of capitalism.
What is we turned it upside down? What if we tuned out? what would this look like.
I imagine sitting around a table playing music, conversing, connecting in community. Would this be so bad?
People joke about the absurdity of living a simpler life but the joke is not funny anymore.
I do not have all the answers but I realize that staying quiet for the sake of the life of the party is truly the tragedy. We must recognize the failure of humans to rise above. Technology can only help if we choose to use it correctly.
As artists and people of influence with an audience it is our responsibility to live it and not only speak about it.
Educate everyone. This is an emergency.