Ever since reading that book and ever since seeing the Facebook post of Tourism for Taiji, I seem to have noticed more litter on the ground. I don't know the reason(s) why there's more litter on the ground. Maybe it's because of the snowstorms that garbage collection has been delayed, allowing more and more debris to get carried in the wind. Maybe people think it's just okay to litter no matter what. Who knows for sure. Anyway, this isn't the point I am trying to make, so let me get to it...
In my neighborhood park today, I didn't even last an hour of cleaning before I got exhausted. Though it was sunny out, it was windy. I only covered a fraction of ground I had intended to cover. I had to bend down and stand back up quite a bit. I could only walk maybe one or two steps before having to bend back down to pick up more litter.
There was SO much plastic. Yes, there were paper products, too, like napkins, but the overwhelming majority of items I picked up off the ground were made entirely or partially out of plastic, including cigarette butts, bottle caps, straws, wrappers, and bits and pieces of Styrofoam.
After I called it quits on cleaning up, I decided to continue my walk around the park to my favorite area. On my way there, I thought about re-sharing a petition to ban Styrofoam food containers in New York City on my Facebook profile. I thought about what I would write, and it included the point that animals may mistake the tiny bead-like bits for food. Animals including pigeons, seagulls, ducks, geese, squirrels, and dogs.
Well, not long after I had something planned out to write, I stopped to observe some geese snacking on the grass. These geese are awesome. They don't mind when you stand near them and watch them. They are too busy eating. And then it happened. I saw one goose pick up a plastic bottle cap with his beak, and I freaked out. I thought, "No, no, no! Don't eat that!" Thankfully, the goose spit out the cap, and I immediately went to pick it up. This is that bottle cap.
Let it be a reminder that our animal friends can think that anything might be food. I am so grateful that the goose didn't eat it.
So, dear reader, I have a couple requests for you...
1. Please sign this petition to ban Styrofoam food containers in New York City.
2. Please tidy up your beach or park or even in front of your own home on March 24th (or any day of your choosing).
Thank you for being kind to the earth and all who inhabit our planet, Allison
