... to pick up some litter.
I was looking for a little motivation the other day. I've been in the quarantine rut with work from home, and minimal outlet. In the "before times", I would have browsed thrift stores just for the fun of it, but I'm still trying to minimize my unnecessary time in public places, and there's nothing on my shopping list. ...Sigh.
We recently treated ourselves to a subscription to Discovery+, and I should've known they would have some great content to inspire me. Enter: "The Great Global Cleanup", a short 43 minute special celebrating the 50th anniversary of Earth Day (which happened in 2020).
What was great about this special was it was light, fun, and inspirational. While some eco documentaries can make their point by showing catastrophe and doom and gloom, this one was like a call to action, showing the amazing work of individuals, groups, and organizations while providing easy tips to get started.
What do Mardi Gras, Brazilian beaches, and desert 4x4 off-roading have
in common? They are all beautiful, fun, wonderful playgrounds that have
been *trashed* by humans. But they also have humans who care about then and join clean-ups to restore them each year.
Learn about groups and companies who
are innovating to make better products, either through preventing waste
or upcycling with their materials, for example a group of surfers that
collects abandoned fishing nets, and uses that plastic to make new
surfboard fins.
Here are just a couple of the actions you can take:
1. Stop using single-use plastic. Find reusable options for straws, water bottles, shopping bags...
2. Participate in a cleanup event. Visit https://cleanup.earthday.org/ to find or create an event near you. While many of the events are on or near Earth Day (4.22 each year) some are throughout the year, or you can start your own!
Side note: while cleanups can be big and organized, they don't have to be! Build litter pickup into your daily routine. Have you heard of "plogging" (pickup up litter while jogging)? Or get motivated by a group like Paws on Plastic, where folks pick up litter while walking their dogs. You can brag about your accomplishments and enjoy everyone's cute fur-babies!
So, if you're seeking some spirit-lifting, check out The Great Global Cleanup, included with Discovery+, or available on other streaming platforms like Prime Video for a rental cost.
