The Effects of Pollution on our Marine and Birdlife
What happens when we discard our trash on the beach…
Whenever I visit a place of natural beauty I feel lucky to be a part of it, I know that it was there long before me and, God willing will still be there when I am not. Woods, fields, valleys, beaches…wherever I go they all seem to have one thing in common… Litter.
One of life’s great mysteries has to be why someone with no appreciation for their surroundings or fellow being would bother visiting a place of natural beauty. Why would anyone who thinks it’s alright to throw their trash into a hedge, river, lake etc get into a car and drive to a place to do it? We all witness litter wherever we go, it is one of mankind’s saddest trait’s but go beyond the immediate feeling of annoyance for a moment and consider the environmental impact of litter on our natural world.
We have all seen plastic bags and bottles washed up on a sea shore, remnants of old fishing nets, beer cans and clothes stuck in the mud waiting for the water to return and wash it temporarily away again. But how does our wildlife view it? Well sadly all too often birds and marine animals think it is food and that is where the effects of our littering become deadly.
Consider the effects of a bird plunging its beak into a plastic bag or container, any adult (parent or not) knows of the dangers of plastic bags and young children and the same danger of choking applies to our wildlife. A sea faring bird flying high above will see a bright object floating in the waters below and will easily mistake it for food. Once entagled in a plastic bag or net the result is almost certain death.
I had recently read about a sperm whale being found dead and washed up on a North American coastline, it’s intestines full of plastic and metres of old rope. Having swallowed a plastic bottle which blocked its small intestine it starved to death and joined the list of an estimated 100,000 sea mammals which die each year through the effects of our litter.
I thought about that whale as I sat on a beach in Southern Spain this month, the sky and coastline combined to make for a wonderful setting, a perfect photographic opportunity. As I sat and decided on angles and camera settings I saw a plastic bottle wedged under one of the rocks. Had it been dumped there or had it been washed up? Had it claimed a life I wondered. I photographed the scene with the bottle in situ, many would say I should have removed it before taking it or removed it post processing but no.
What I wanted to show was how we are given something of great natural beauty and what we give back in return. I wanted to demonstrate the disdain we show for our planet without resorting to scientific facts many of us fail to comprehend. I did remove that bottle but not until I had put my camera away. I denied myself the photgraphic opportunity of a picture postcard setting because it would have suggested it was something it wasn’t.
Sometimes I just don’t think we deserve it.
Along the Spanish Coast
A noble set of gestures all the ’round, fella. I am proud of you. After all, every litter bit hurts. Give a hoot, don’t pollute.
Annie
February 5, 2010 @ 11:04 pm
Annie,
Well put. I want to try and raise awareness in a way which is easily digested and hopefully thought provoking. It’s not always easy to understand the science behind some of the issues and I think this stops a lot of people from looking at it further.
We can all do our bit, I’ll never be a scientist or give it all up to live on a Greenpeace ship in the Atlantic but I can do my bit, however significant. I’m not trying to preach because I’m not perfect, it’s just conservation through my eyes, that’s all.
Miles
February 5, 2010 @ 11:18 pm
Miles,
a great post and a subject close to my heart - littering - I hate it !
Could I just suggest one point here about the specific subject.
Littering at sea !
As I understand it quite a bit of what gets washed up on the beaches is actually discarded from boats / ships at sea.
There really i sno excuse for any of it - just take your rubbish home with you
Whether your walking down the road or in the middle of the ocean
Cheers
Rod
February 6, 2010 @ 8:37 am
Miles
Trash Pollution and its effects - very well described.
I agree with what you say and the points of your commentators. Dumped rubbish has always infuriated me.
It has to be said that this topic has been raised on many occasions and by individual groups. Even in this town there have been people organising rubbish pick ups over specific days. I believe that things have improved somewhat and fines are now imposed, if caught.
I was always dismayed at the lack of bins available but even this has been improved.
It is important to keep raising this issue like you have done to influence and alter individual behaviour and understanding.
Anne
February 6, 2010 @ 3:23 pm
Rod,
Good, valid points, we’re all in the same proverbial boat and the sea is treated as little more than a dumping ground.
Miles
February 7, 2010 @ 9:02 am
Anne,
The local government could do a lot more than it does. No refuse collection for three weeks over Christmas and then they refuse to take the excess away. Thought that’s what council tax was for?
Miles
February 7, 2010 @ 9:04 am