NOT EVERY WEST COAST scene makes a pretty picture, especially when garbage floats into view. It would be much worse, however, were it not for eco-friendly folk like those who volunteer their time and skills through the
Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup initiative.
A small group at the Vancouver Aquarium in BC sparked the event in 1994 and inspired the nation to subsequently evaluate and pick up the litter less responsible people leave behind at beaches from coast to coast.
While some wearing rubber suits searched the water under the Crescent Beach pier on Saturday ...
others wore rubber boots and waded along the water's edge.
This volunteer said she found hundreds of cigarette butts lodged into the wooden planks of the pier. Many hundreds of food wrappers, plastic bottles and bags harmful to wildlife were also fished out of the area.
Not all debris is intentional or carelessly placed on our shores. Accidents and natural disasters play a significant role and what happens in one part of the world affects another. It is estimated that the tsunami that tragically struck Japan in 2011 swept up to 25 million tons of debris into our oceans. As much as 1.5 million tons of this could wash up on BC shores and future cleanups will be needed. Information on how to help can be found
here.
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Copyright by Penelope Puddlisms
See more BC scenes at
Penelope Puddlisms: BC Life Is A Whale Of A Ride.
Nice series - where would we be without volunteers. And yes, this crew is going to be busy in the future.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Beautiful sequence of shots minus the trash. I always try to pick up litter when I'm walking
ReplyDeleteThank goodness for people who clean up other people's messes! Even nicer that they volunteer to do it.
ReplyDeleteEncouraging that the trash gets picked up! Too bad others continue to litter.
ReplyDeleteSome people really deserve a medal for their services to the natural world.
ReplyDeleteHow blessed we are to have so many wonderful people giving of their time and energy to keep others messes picked up in order for us to keep our beaches, rivers etc. clean!! Wonderful post for the day!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful where alike is happening. Over here, well, certainly a reason why I do not go to swim near anymore.
ReplyDeletePlease have a good Tuesday.
daily athens photo
Thanks for posting this, Penelope! In trying to be positive, sometimes, we miss an opportunity to thank those who do their best for this planet and the life on it. I admit that I feel sad, perplexed, and yes.. angry.. that some seem not to care about the suffering they cause. A terrible mixture of garbage arrives at the edge of False Creek every time the tide comes in. I guess all we can do is spread the word (as you have done), help out when we can (as I'm sure you do), and hope the litterers will eventually "get" the message.
ReplyDeleteGood for those volunteers. It drives me crazy when I'm hiking in our beautiful mountains and find trash left by idiots.
ReplyDeleteAll those yellow trees on my blog were actually aspen, they grow like (beautiful) weeds here. Literally - plant one and five years later you've got a dozen and you're mowing down shoots in the lawn every summer!
It's a wonderful program, they do great work..
ReplyDeleteCould you imagine if no one cleaned up?
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
They are wonderful people!! Persons who threw away garbage might think "not a big matter". But as they say, many sands will sink a ship, small things are accumulated and get a big matter.
ReplyDeleteI have read and heard the huge debris as the result of Tsunami on March 11, 2011 are reaching to beautiful shores of the countries. I feel very sorry and sad. The precious memories which had belonged to the victims have ended up being big debris, and have troubled people.
Have a great week.
keiko
Hi snowwhite, It is incredibly sad that these precious memories and personal possessions were left to flounder in the sea because of the tsunami. These things coming to the shores of strangers will be greeted with understanding and remind us all of how fragile life is and also resilient.
ReplyDeleteWe can’t thank enough to those who clear beach, sea, or woodland, of litter. In Japan, some municipalities are taking measures. For example, they turned a river bank to flower fields to stop illegal dumping.
ReplyDeleteI heard a football was set adrift by the tsunami that hit Japan over a year ago, and washed ashore in Alaska. It was identified thanks to the name written on it.
Wonderful people in that clean up group!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDelete