I disagree that it is symbolic pissing in the wind. The scale of the problem of plastic in the ocean is enormous. Really enormous. And no, plastic straws aren't the main item in the sea. However, straws and drinks stirrers are a prime target because they are a single use plastics that, in the main, aren't necessary. Very few people would drink using a straw at home, so why use them elsewhere? It's also something easy for people to change. You simply can't ask people to change their entire lifestyle overnight. Telling people to go 'plastic free' or 'zero waste' won't work, because it would require such a large lifestyle change that people simply won't accept it. Lots of people making a small change is more effective than 1 or 2 making a huge one. More importantly, encouraging people to make 1 or 2 small changes starts them on the road to making bigger changes.