Community Chat

[lovesrecess]

We used to spend a lot of time on a beach on Florida where a friend lived....my favorite time was dawn....for shelling...I would always find some trash that had washed up with cruise ship logos on it...so it was still going on as recently as last summer. To be fair, some passengers think nothing of tossing stuff overboard...but the amount of trash I have seen means the ship’s staff must know it is happening.

Also, plastic isn’t the only thing contributing to the problem...people flushing their out of date medications down the toilet just eventually puts those chemicals into our drinking water supply. Banning plastics is only a bandaid. There needs to be comprehensive approach...and one that doesn’t look and sound wackadoodle and strange....

[suzyQ3]

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@lovesrecess wrote:

We used to spend a lot of time on a beach on Florida where a friend lived....my favorite time was dawn....for shelling...I would always find some trash that had washed up with cruise ship logos on it...so it was still going on as recently as last summer. To be fair, some passengers think nothing of tossing stuff overboard...but the amount of trash I have seen means the ship’s staff must know it is happening.

Also, plastic isn’t the only thing contributing to the problem...people flushing their out of date medications down the toilet just eventually puts those chemicals into our drinking water supply. Banning plastics is only a bandaid. There needs to be comprehensive approach...and one that doesn’t look and sound wackadoodle and strange....

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@lovesrecess, we have Kaiser insurance, and at least two of their locations near to us have receptacles for medications. It's very handy.

[lovesrecess]

Yes I think there are several places you can dispose of medicines safely; thank you for mentioning this...another thing many may not be aware of.

[Cakers3]

Ok-just dragged out my enviromentally friendly soapbox.

One of the original Earth Day people here.

I'm getting fed up with the environment being used to push an agenda on people who like to flag-wave for the fad du jour.

The environment should never be used as a passing fad.  It isn't a hula hoop, or hot pants, or spiral perms, or pogs, or Bratz dolls.

Nothing puts me in a tizz as watching the latest and newest to the scene promoting doomsday while ADMITTING she is still using plastic grocery bags. Two-faced.

All those who have never, ever, read a book on environmental issues and snarf down fast food while slurping from plastic drink containers with plastic lids.  Or being oh-so-upscale with their expensive lattes with........plastic lids. 

Worse yet the ones too lazy to investigate natural products; I make most of my cleaners and I get people may not have the time to do so.  But there ARE better ways to clean your home, your body, your laundry.

Obnoxious wipes filled with chlorine, formadelhyde (don't be fooled-it's still used); even your DENTAL FLOSS can contain chemicals.

I carry my groceries in my reusable bags; and sometimes we do use paper bags.

We have been a one-car family for over 20 years.  It's doable.

Weed killer??  Not in my yard.  Pull the little suckers up and get some exercise.

It's Agent Orange for the average consumer.

Please spare me the idea that we can all work together-because once the fad passes people go back to their miserable ways complaining about the lack of and price of fish yet not blinking an eye at tossing out plastic items.

By 2050 the weight of garbage in the ocean will OUTWEIGH the weight of any fish that still remains.

Think about that.

Plastic is the tip of the iceberg, if you will. 

Dirty air, dirty water, dirty land.

I would applaud those who are learning and doing something; as long as it isn't flag-waving to "fit in" with the newest cause.

Because in the end for decades we have seen the ever growing destruction going on while science deniers mock the "tree huggers" and while faux "tree huggers", who have absolutely no idea what the hey they are talking about, try to convince the rest of us unwashed mass about the earth while not walking the walk themselves.

It can be done but it has to be done sincerely and continually.  Not as a feel-good movement that rises and fades time and time again.

[suzyQ3]

Although I agree with the gist of your passionate argument, @Cakers3 , I have a couple comments.

I won't paint those who are speaking out on the environment with a broad brush. I don't know whether they are just trendy. And since we can find fault in every single home, I can't hold everybody to a 100 percent effort.

I think the devils are not the people about whom you are talking, even if some are bandwagoners. The true enemies are elsewhere and everywhere.

[Cakers3]

@suzyQ3  I understand your pov.

But go back-I'm not saying all those promoting the newest and latest environmental issues are at fault.

But I AM ticked off at one who admits to using plastic grocery bags while telling everyone else how awful they are for not following a green Pied Piper who, imo, is playing out of tune.

Right now it is a hot topic; but yesterday it wasn't  and tomorrow, again, will fade.

(not a literal today, yesterday, tomorrow).

Yes, no home is perfect.  But at least those of us doing our utmost are walking the walk and have been for over 50 years. For that, I am proud.

[suzyQ3]

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@Cakers3 wrote:

@suzyQ3  I understand your pov.

But go back-I'm not saying all those promoting the newest and latest environmental issues are at fault.

But I AM ticked off at one who admits to using plastic grocery bags while telling everyone else how awful they are for not following a green Pied Piper who, imo, is playing out of tune.

Right now it is a hot topic; but yesterday it wasn't  and tomorrow, again, will fade.

(not a literal today, yesterday, tomorrow).

Yes, no home is perfect.  But at least those of us doing our utmost are walking the walk and have been for over 50 years. For that, I am proud.

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@Cakers3, you should be proud. :-) And of course nobody should insult others, although I have come close with proud deniers.

I just don't want to point fingers at any of us under the big umbrella. And maybe this trend will be around for longer than you might think. I hope so.

[sidsmom]

I’m glad someone in a position to make things happen is out there....

making things happen.  

Obviously those before us haven’t gotten it done.

#ShakeTheTable