Eleuthera, a paradisiacal island in the Bahamasâeuros¦
Receiving friends for a few days during a Bahamian stopover, a plan for an impromptu robinsonnade on the lovely nearby shoreline was soon made clear by the crew: "Let's go collect shells we can eat, it's always a very festive activity."
Come on, everyone in the dinghy, let's go hunting for burgots and other barnacles.
By the time the light boat is hauled onto the golden sand, harsh reality inflicts a severe slap in the face to the poetry of the momentâeuros¦
A landscape considerably marred by various types of garbage
As has become common on almost every shoreline on the planet, the granular space that greets our footsteps is infested with various types of waste, mostly plastic materialsâeuros¦ A desolationâeuros! And it gets worse, as many of these objects and particles of all sizes constitute so many poisons and traps that decimate the marine fauna and flora.
The romanticism of the walk turns to disgust
So, we wander around, our feet in the sand, thinking with regret that each of us has his share of responsibility in the mismanagement that has led to this abnormal and regrettable situation. All these lovely little beaches, nestled at the bottom of some wild creeks, were still immaculate, only a few decades ago. Difficult to reach by land, one came by boat, in search of "driftwood", gift of the sea to the artists who know how to value them in works of moving simplicity.
What can we do?
Many "small gestures" which, despite their apparent insignificance, can have a positive impact. Of course, it is hardly conceivable to collect all these plastic bags, bottles, cans, fishing nets and other scattered debris oneself, in order to ensure an "intelligent" disposalâeuros¦ Because in this case, not content with invading the dinghy and creating some more or less discreet bitterness within the crew, a thorny question will inevitably arise: now, what to do with all thisâeuros?
You can't find a proper scrapyard anywhere in the world. So much so! Many paradisiacal islands and enchanting shores are located in countries where the cleanliness of the coastline is not a priority concernâeuros¦ and we can easily admit it. And so, who has an ideaâeuros?
A natural movement
Suddenly, without any consultation, an unforeseen movement started by itself. As if by magic, without exchanging words, everyone simply started to pick up what shocked him the most, and to carry it to the far end of the beach. A natural grouping of junk, probably initiated by the movement of the tides, had already constituted a small pileâeuros¦ Situated slightly back, it seemed to serve to keep the ugliness away from the immediate gaze of newcomers. Then, our steps led us there mechanically, like those which guide us daily towards a place of organized collection.
And what does that add up to?
Indeed, these anodyne actions, derisory at first sight, cannot quickly lead to a responsible elimination of the pollutants thus gathered. This is undeniable. On the other hand, and without being overly optimistic or naive, it is possible to hope for some positive effects.
The future walkers will be happy to approach an "almost" clean beach. Among them, there are some who will notice the pollutants grouped in piles. Thus, it could well be that some will be tempted to wonder about this oddity. It is already somethingâeuros¦ And then again, let us dare to hope, why not, that some will feel motivation to adopt the same behavior. Without going that far, at the very least, those who are used to actively participating in the waste by leaving their own waste behind will feel more embarrassed to do so, at this place. As a result, less ice-cream bags and empty soda bottles, less dried out tubes of solar cream or other food packagingâeuros¦
Let's imagine that the phenomenon takes a certain extent. There is no doubt that a number of local authority officials will then be keen to organize a collection of these "piles". No longer having to assume the painful task of "collection", previously carried out by simple "walkers", the budget to be implemented will be much lower. Perhaps the users who are better off in terms of "transport capacity" will feel more frequently motivated to proceed with a "move" to the nearest waste disposal center.
Participating, even in a small way, in the clean-up of the coastline is a very entertaining activity that generates well-being. Moral: no matter how small a gesture we make in favor of the environment, it will always be preferable to doing nothing.
