This Butt's For You

I had a good conversation with my friends Anne and Ea this weekend about the ocean and it's health. Right now, I am feeling somewhat uptight. Our beaches are filthy and no matter what you do, people won't stop destroying their natural beauty. The proliferation of cigarette butts, broken bottles, used condoms, plastic bags, paper, etc.. I could go on and on. 

We are going on a beach clean up in a few weeks and I am preparing. What do you take? Heavy duty work gloves, medical grade gloves, a bucket to pick up glass to take back for recycling and more buckets for trash so that we can sort it and recycle as well. My friend Cara's husband works construction, so I am going to get some of the big buckets they receive materials in to take with me and then keep them for reuse. Upcycling combined with recycling, gotta love it.

My question is, WHY? Why people? What makes a person think that they can go to the beach and lose all common sense? Do you throw those butts on the floor of your home? I would hope not, but this isn't your home. It is the home to countless types of wildlife and aquatic life.

Unsightly litter is one thing, but unsightly litter because of cigarette butts really irritates me. They are hazards to wildlife, people, pollute our waters and soil and of all things, they are a huge fire hazard. We all know that animals have eaten them, but curious children eat them as well. They have been found in the stomachs of birds, fish and whales, as well as countless other marine animals that mistake them for food. Did you know that a curious toddler who ingests more than three cigarette butts can become seriously ill? According to the National Capital Poison Center, that is just one of the frightening facts. 

Clean up after yourselves. Don't destroy our natural habitats with your carelessness.

Oh, and don't think I am against people that smoke. It's your right. But be wise and dispose of your waster. To each his own and as an ex-smoker, I am asking you to respect the environment and the areas you choose to smoke in.