Look at how clean that sand is. You should help keep it that way.
Honestly, who doesn’t love 4th of July? It’s a big, raucous party, complete with American flag bikinis, cases of PBR, plates heaping with BBQ and, of course, nighttime fireworks. God bless ‘Merica…
July 5th, though, is a different story. After the revelry wears off, the kegs are tapped dry, and the blueberry pies are licked clean, I will look out onto a beach strewn with red SOLO cups and fried chicken boxes. I will find discarded parts of M-80’s and bottle rockets covering the entrance to crab holes. I will pick up more cigarette butts than you can imagine.
It’s true–July 4th represents one of the largest inputs of trash into coastal environments, and unfortunately, many people just don’t realize the impact that trash can have our shorelines and waves. Not only is trash on a beach unsightly, it also poses serious health risks to humans and wildlife. Sea birds, whales, dolphins, turtles, fish, and even surfers, for example, regularly come into contact with trash. Oftentimes these animals mistake this trash–especially plastic–for food. Ingesting plastic can perforate an animal’s stomach or block their esophagus, ultimately leading to starvation.
I know maybe I’m raining on your parade–or your fireworks–but the truth of the matter is, our country still suffers from our inability to actually take care of America–our beaches and oceans, our forests and streams, our birds and our bees. We’ve come to regard the environment as secondary to modern comforts. Our continued lack of responsibility for our actions and our unwillingness to, heaven forbid, sacrifice even one aspect of our lifestyles for the betterment of the environment is digging us further and further into a hole from which no amount of heavy artillery can save us.
The future of this country depends on a change in attitudes and a revelation, of sorts, for all Americans. We have to realize that putting our environment–our America–first, doesn’t mean sacrificing modern life as we know it. Taking care of this land is our duty, our responsibility.
The good news is that so many of us care about the ocean, be it paddling out to clean surf breaks or ensuring healthy ecosystems. We form a tribe millions strong across the globe, and rest assured that our actions are being noted, our voices are being heard.
What I ask of you today as an American, then, is to help us make this change. Help us move towards an America of clean water and healthy oceans. Help us celebrate America by planting trees and carpooling, rather than blasting fireworks or littering cups. Help us for one moment to put America first, and to show our pride not through our ability to slash, burn and pollute Her, but rather by our willingness to promote, enjoy and protect Her.
Need some ideas to get started? Here are FOUR simple ways that you can make a difference on the 4th!
1. Find alternatives to single-use plastics.
More and more people now utilize reusable cloth bags in place of plastic bags, but what about things like plastic forks or straws? Purchase a reusable knife/fork set that you can keep in your purse or car for those times when you have to hit the drive-thru or are dining out. Bringing a small Tupperware for leftovers will also help you avoid using Styrofoam containers. Feeling really bold? Join the Plastic Free July challenge. That’s right – no plastics of any kind for one month!
2. Share this Post
Education is key to cleaning up our environment. Sharing your knowledge about the impact of single-use plastics and trash with your friends and family members requires the simple click of a button, but could make a world of difference for our ocean.
3. Host a Beach Cleanup.
Headed to the beach for the Fourth of July? While the burgers are cooking and the football is being thrown, gather some of your friends and family members to walk the beach and pick up trash. Even 5 or 10 minutes spent cleaning is important to animals like turtles or dolphins that may later mistake that trash for food. Don’t forget to wear gloves and bring extra trash bags.
4. Write Your Local Representatives.
Coastal communities are increasingly passing legislation outlawing the use of plastic bags or smoking on our beaches. But how do you think those laws found their way on the docket in the first place? That’s right – YOU! The power of our voice cannot be understated. The passage of ocean-friendly laws and policies require us to speak up and ask our local governments to make a positive difference for our environment.
