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Sunday, 4 February 2018

Mosaic Monday # 71 - doing my bit for the planet

There's been a lot in the media recently about the build up of discarded plastic garbage and how it is slowly poisoning marine life and choking the ocean.
Last December a UN resolution calling for targets to tackle the problem was rejected by China, the US and India. Countries did agree that there should be measures put in place to stop plastic entering the sea but no timetable or plans on what or when they might be were agreed upon.
I did a little bit of online research to see what is being done and I was amazed at the scale and magnitude of the problem.
Plastic Oceans is an action group with plenty of ideas and projects in place, click here to visit their website if you are interested in learning what needs to be done.
Click here to watch a trailer of their inspirational film.
As some of you might know Sunday mornings are when we take M'Selle Fleur for a good long walk on the beach at Colleville sur Mer.
We enjoy the peace, tranquility and wide open spaces whilst she runs around like crazy socialising with the other dogs who are out taking their people for a walk.
As an experiment last weekend I tucked a plastic (!) shopping bag into my pocket before we left home.
I've always regarded our beach as being clean but I thought I might find some odds and ends of plastic washed up by the tide that I could carry away with me.

I came across this huge clump of twisted rope, plastic cords and goodness knows what else.
I tried to lift it but it was buried deep in the sand and too heavy to shift.

Imagine the damage this could cause to marine life.

I walked for about 20 minutes picking up bits and pieces as I went along.

9 broken pieces of plastic
1 yellow balloon
7 lengths of rope/twine, either all plastic or with plastic elements
2 plastic bottle tops
2 metal cans
1 plastic coated paper carton
1 shuttlecock
1 length of plastic tape
1 large plastic bottle


We are enjoying watching Sir David Attenborough's Blue Planet 2 on BBC television,
click on the link above to see episodes
and the prequel of this amazing documentary on the link below

This new kind of beachcombing is going to be my way of doing my bit for the planet.



Update.
I took my multi-use plastic carrier to the beach again this morning (Sunday 04/02/18) but due to a very strong incoming tide no beachcombing took place this week!



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25 comments:

  1. Michele M./ Finch Rest4 February 2018 at 21:52

    WOW. That is fantastic you are doing this! My daughter has been telling me about that show - I need to watch it soon. I hear it is incredible.

    Good job - if each of us did our parts - regardless where - picking up plastic garbage this world would be so much better off. I think you have truly inspired me! Thank you!

    And thx for hosting. Nice to be back - it's been much too long. Have a blessed week!

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  2. JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes)4 February 2018 at 21:54

    Wow - amazing job. We always try to pick up things that are discarded inappropriately - every little bit counts.

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  3. Lorrie4 February 2018 at 21:59

    What a great post, Maggie! We all need to do our bit to preserve the oceans (and the land). I'm trying to avoid purchasing plastic as much as possible.
    Your idea of taking a carrier along to pick up trash is a good idea!

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  4. orchid03244 February 2018 at 23:55

    Dearest Maggie; What a wonderful post making us re-realize that the situation ocean is facing.　I will try hard not overuse plastic; at least I can do as a little thing.
    In my city "garbage separation" started about 10 years ago. The day of Collection of Burnable and Unburnable garbage is done differently. I hope this helps preserving nature not only ocean. I admire you what you have stated.
    Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend, xoxo Miyako*

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  5. Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti5 February 2018 at 00:35

    What a disastrous mess is in our oceans! I applaud your efforts to help pick up and safely discard what you find beachcombing, Please amke sure you wear strong gloves when doing so for your own safety, Maggie.
    Many fisherman neglect to clean up their fishing lines in the ponds, streams, lakes and rivers in y area, and I know many people here are on the same mission to pick up and dispose of it as it hurst wildlife. I promise to do the same!
    I also make sure to recycle and use no plastic straws when eating out or use disposable plastic bags if possible, Every bit helps!

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  6. Ramakrishnan5 February 2018 at 01:00

    I wish to applaud you for doing your bit for the universe - clearing the beach of plastic,metal & other debris. I am sure after seeing your action many in your neighborhood will join your beach combing crudsade.

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  7. Daniela5 February 2018 at 01:42

    Thanking you most sincerely both for sharing your so lovely and useful post and for hosting,
    I'm sending blessings on your way,
    Dearest Maggie!

    Enjoy your new week with gladness

    XOXO Daniela at ~ My little old world ~ (Dany)

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  8. A Bit of the Blarney5 February 2018 at 03:01

    Thank you!! We all have an obligation to maintain and save what has been be created for us. We are to be stewards of our own domain! It's a serious responsibility! Wishing you well!

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  9. Gillena Cox5 February 2018 at 03:12

    Reall luv todays quote from Ghandi
    HappyMosaic Monday to all

    much love...

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  10. aspiritofsimplicity5 February 2018 at 03:12

    I live on a tiny island (we're connected to the mainland by a 2 mile causeway) near Boston. We see quite a bit of plastic washed up here as well. It's quite sad.

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  11. Forest Dream Weaver5 February 2018 at 04:37

    This is an enormous problem. We were talking about it at a family lunch only a few days ago. Our son scuba dives around the world and brings back horror stories about the scale of the situation. What can we do about the amount of plastic we use - it's everywhere and at the moment we are just piling it up. If we are not chucking it in the sea it goes in landfill - not an ideal solution either. At a local coastal town residents have started a campaign to clear up and reduce use of plastic in businesses and homes....and to encourage tourists to stop leaving rubbish on the beach. From an artistic viewpoint this rubbish can look beautiful, as your photos illustrate!
    Thank you for this Maggie.

    Have a great week!
    Ruby

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  12. Sallie (FullTime-Life)5 February 2018 at 04:51

    Good for you ..and thank you! We’ve done that kind of thing walking along the Oregon Coast since our kids were young .back then I used to think there was hope... Now...(I’m ashamed of the US record on this as well as on other environmental issues right now, needless to say). I will read the link you provided....thanks for that also and of course for hosting.

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  13. Melbourne Australia Photos5 February 2018 at 04:59

    Well done, Maggie! We do the same along the creek that we walk by. It is amazing what people will throw away in the streets and down rain water drains, which of course all ends up in the creek, and finally into the sea...
    Have a good week.

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  14. Melbourne Australia Photos5 February 2018 at 05:30

    PS: Thank you for hosting!

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  15. ~Lavender Dreamer~5 February 2018 at 05:50

    That's a wonderful thing you are doing and it benefits so many others..including the critters! I'm always sad to see a bottle thrown into the swamp where no one can reach it to recover it. Thanks for doing your part to keep our planet beautiful! Happy Monday! Diane

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  16. Tomoko5 February 2018 at 05:52

    Dear Maggie,
    捨てられたプラスチックは自然消滅することなく何百年も腐ることなくそのまま地球上にゴミとして残され、地球の深刻な汚染源になりますね。今やプラスチック製品は毎日の生活に欠かせなくなってますので、残念なことですが一人一人が環境汚染について自覚することを忘れてしまっています。家庭のゴミ収集は分別されています。夫が魚釣りに出掛けるとき私もたまに一緒に行きますが、堤防に捨てられたプラスチック袋、魚釣り針など多く見かけます。釣り人は魚釣りを楽しむだけでなく、ごみは持ち帰ればいいのにといつも思います。

    It is so sad, but I hope it is never too late for us to preserve our planet.
    Thank you for your host,Maggie.English is my second language. It is not enough to express my whole feeling、sometimes. Have a good day.

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  17. Curtains in My Tree5 February 2018 at 09:17

    Thanks for picking up what you can along the beach. I know I see a show on Tv about wildlife getting caught in such.
    People are so inconsiderate of wild life, not thinking about what trash they throw in our oceans

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  18. Snap5 February 2018 at 09:27

    Good for you, Maggie! I've been watching Blue Planet II --- amazing!Happy Monday and thanks for hosting.

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  19. Joy@aVintageGreen5 February 2018 at 09:45

    Thank you Maggie for your 71st Mosaic Monday.

    The trash that binds in the oceans is overwhelming. Appreciate the link.

    Joy

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  20. Madame Là-bas5 February 2018 at 10:00

    Hi, Maggie. I just found you through Lorrie's blog Fabric, Paper, Thread. We have the same litter problems here on the west coast of Canada. Thank you for sharing your blog and so many others that I've never visited before.

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  21. Sylvia5 February 2018 at 11:20

    Maggie, Every bit counts! Good for you. I love Sir David Attenborough's TV programs. I miss them now that I don't have PBS. Thanks for sharing & hosting. Sylvia D.

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  22. Jeanie5 February 2018 at 16:09

    If we all did this, think how much better the world would be.

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  23. Angie5 February 2018 at 17:44

    Maggie - thank you for 'doing your bit'. Although we are land-bound, many of the restaurants in our area have stopped serving plastic straws ... every little thing counts! Thanks for hosting MM and have a terrific week!

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  24. Linda5 February 2018 at 19:44

    Thank you for cleaning up the beach. You even made artistic images from the trash!

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  25. Life Images by Jill6 February 2018 at 05:35

    The plastic rubbish is an ecological disaster. We are making a concerted effort to use less plastic. Have a fabulous week.

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Thanks for stopping by, your visit just made my day!