As an offshore sailor I come into new ports all the time and invariably end up going for walks along the local coastline only to say “look at that rubbish left there! Disgraceful! Someone should do something about that!”
Even though I am disgusted, I don’t think it’s my problem, after all, there are councils employing litter pickers, people on community service who begrudgingly pick up litter, and then there’s the church and community groups…
But that takes organisation, publicity etc, when really the answer lies within the individual to stop complaining, pick up a bag and start collecting it.
At Ariana Sailing Team we issue new crew members with the necessary sailing and safety equipment and a litter picker with bags.
Most people are somewhat bemused, others annoyed that they should be expected to pick up other people’s litter, and that actually it’s not their job, but we don’t ask the crew to go looking for litter, we just say, on your walk to the beach, take a litter picker and a bag with you amd don’t deviate from your walk…enjoy the walk to the beach and along the way, if you happen to see rubbish pick it up and pop it in a bag.. simple!
it costs nothing, it performs a public service, amd although it doesn’t stop people dropping litter on the first place, makes the environment better for al.
Today I commandeered a guy who has been working for me on the shore who has probably never thought about litter before, and we just walked, talked, laughed, enjoyed our time by the beach, and litter picked ! He said it opened his eyes, and he wouldn’t be dropping his cigarette butts anymore…
So there you have it ladies and gentlemen. If you are a sailor and come into port somewhere make sure you have a couple of litter picker sticks on board and clean the beach on your morning/evening walk. Or wherever you happen to be walking..
Yes people shouldn’t drop litter, yes people should be more aware of the impact they are having, yes the manufacturers of crisp packets and energy drinks, alcopops, and takeaway merchants are as responsible. But remember, you’re out for a nice walk after time at sea, and all you have to do is pick up some litter on the way!
One thing that I have thought of is that people need to be held accountable, from the manufacturer to the retailer, to the perpetrator of the litter.. maybe as in the old days 50 lashes might stop them in their tracks! But that’s not very civilised is it? But there again neither is litter.
Ps. The most prevalent items we have found so far this year are
- Energy drink cans
- crisp packets
- wet wipes
- Beer cans and bottles
- Takeaway containers
The likely perpetrators of visible litter are young people out having fun, so perhaps we need to visit schools to educate these young people. There again, maybe we should be visiting the manufacturers and the corner shops /supermarkets selling these products and have a stern word with them to encourage them to stop stocking these items…or force the CEO of Red Bull etc to do a litter pick each weekend if they want to continue selling their products..
Just an idea!
See you out there
Alan, Ariana Sailing Team
LET’S EXPLORE MORE DEEPLY…
Ok, so that’s all very nice, people have thanked me for picking up up the litter and cleaning up paths and beaches, but that’s all for show really, isn’t it? That doesn’t get to the heart of the problem, does it?
Like everything, litter, especially the non decomposing kind, or organic litter, has its root cause, and arriving at the root cause is the only thing that will stop me, and other commendable people from having to chase around after bits of plastic, bottles, cans, fishing gear is to get to the root cause.
In my humble opinion, the problem lies firmly with the individual walnut (or brain as you like to call it!)
Whether that walnut is the oil exploration companies, the manufacturers of fizzyade or crisps, or fisherman, or the companies who supply the fishermen, or the manufacturers of fast food and containers, or take away coffees cups, or marine equipment, or suppliers of building materials, or packaging manufacturers doesn’t matter…
What we want to understand is why people produce items which they have not considered to be the consequences of their production!
But before we attempt to answer that question, we have to understand that for a ‘country’ the prime purpose is to have a booming economy, and full employment, as that means lots of tax dollars coming in, and as little as possible going out in unemployment and other benefits…
People must work, they scream… people must contribute… but at what cost?
If we say that people must work at any cost then the planet we inhabit must suffer, no?
We say that we need more housing, but that means more building materials, more waste, more packaging, and where does that waste end up?
We say people need access to quick takeaway meals so they can continue working, but where does that waste end up?
Ok we could go on and on, but hopefully you see my point.
The bags of rubbish (waste) that we pick up every day on the beach may impress a few people, and yes, I think I am doing a good thing, but it is so superficial, that it is laughable!
Whether companies say their packaging etc is recyclable, or compostable, we all know that most waste gets buried, and a large amount of waste (especially microplastics) ends in the sea, and although the fishing industry creates a lot of waste dumped intentionally or not in the sea, they are only one small part of the problem.
So what do we do?
Well, ladies and gentlemen, the solution lies with you and me, in the way we think, the way we act, and us understanding and limiting the consequences of our choices…
WHY VEGAN ISN’T ENOUGH – AN ETHICAL DILEMMA
The vegans (and yes I am someone who chooses not to use animal products) keep banging on about the environment and saving the animals, the Just stop oil ‘protesters’ keep blocking motorways and all sorts of other idiotic stunts, greenpeace and sea sheperd try stop whaling boats, and anything else that doesnt suit their ideals.
For me though, criticising people, protesting, taking direct action, or any other kind of extremist action, is pointless.
I am someone who used to throw their cigarette butts in the street, throw away beer cans when drunk on the beach, and even more recently, bought plant based burgers, vegan sausages, no chkn kievs, etc, wrapped in plastic with origins of the ingredients unknown, from superstores whose ethics are, slightly questionable…
I run a sailing company, and camp rather than have a house to limit my impact… but I create as much waste as anyone else.
I buy camping equipment from Amazon, shipped from China probably, and although most of it is plastic, I ‘need’ it so buy it, even though I know the companies aren’t ethical, probably don’t pay their staff very well, and I disagree with their political regime.
I buy food from supermarkets all wrapped in plastic, and even though I try to buy products made in the country I am currently in, I know that even the mushrooms or courgettes I buy are produced by companies (farmers) that do not share my ethics and are profit driven.
I started a sail trading company to stop the madness of international food shipping companies moving food in great 300m plus diesel powered container ships all over the world, but found i needed to wrap products in plastic to stop them breaking on the voyage home!
IS THERE AN ANSWER?
They say, think global, buy local, but wherever I am sailing in the world I struggle to buy local, and we are not even talking about the paints, antifoul, varnish, diesel, sails, shackles, ropes, engine parts, sand paper, power tools, screwdrivers, and saling gear…
It’s enough to drive any thinking person mad.
It seems there is no answer. The industrial revolution has changed the way our minds think and it seems there is no way back.
But what about a way forward?
In order to have an ethical, non profit oriented society, we need to ask oursleves, what is our purpose on this planet?
Even if there is a god, I’m sure he/she/it didn’t create the earth so you could earn us much money as possible, or buy as much as you could.
For me, everyone creating a higher purpose is the only thing that will stop me having to pick up litter and discarded products ending up in the ocean or in the earth.
It’s a complex question, but the human walnut is highly complex, and able to ask complex questions!
One thing I am sure of is that the individual walnut is the problem and the solution,
Thought. Action. Consequence.
I am trying to lessen my impact every day, and although I have a long way to go, I am making this conscious decision, in order that I contribute in a small way to making the world a little bit better every day.
Human violence on the other hand? As my Labrador Hari said to me the other day ‘Humans, you really are barking mad.’
I have to agree with him.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE ANY OF THE TOPICS HERE IN MORE DETAIL PLEASE CHECK OUT THESE TOPICS FROM THE NATURAL MIND – WAKING UP BY ALAN
Whilst I acknowledge there are government departments, various charities and community groups involved in the analysis and retrieval of ocean litter my experience is that they are having limited impact and it needs individuals to take the initiative, without grants, without organisation, and make the oceans, bays and coastline a better place, not for humans, but for the other species who inhabit the ocean environment…
Why should they suffer in the name of ‘human economy?’
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