Trashing Paradise

Jennifer says: This is a short article of mine that was published in the Bahamas National Trust Newsletter a while back.

I took this picture in Freeport, but it could've been taken anywhere in the Bahamas. By now, we've all heard about Global Warming, carbon footprints and the effects pollution has on our environment. Yet we still continue to ruin our home. And ultimately, our health. I'm trying to understand why.

Are we lazy? Ignorant of the outcome? Don't care? I don't think those are the reasons, in most cases. I think maybe it's because we don't feel that there is a big impact from just our actions. After all, it's just a cup that we've thrown out of the car window. It's just a couple of soda cans we've left at the beach. Take another look at the picture. And remember, this is a small area. For every item of trash you see, someone thought "it's just one..." Just one plastic bottle that won't break down for centuries. Just one aluminum can that could cut a child's foot. Just one piece of plastic that could kill an endangered sea turtle. Except that the "just one" has turned into a lot. Our "Beautiful Bahama Land". Full of trash. We become outraged at the thought of a tourist, a visitor, to our island - our home - littering. How dare they come here and do this? But the fact is, we're trashing our own backyard. Take a walk along any street and look down. Next time you go to the beach, check it out. Really see it for what it is - a mess. Now think about this. What if we thought of "it's just one" in a different way? What if instead of leaving one soda can at the beach, we took one? Now take it further. What if each time we took a walk or went to the beach, we recycled one small plastic bag from the food store and filled it with trash we picked up. Imagine the impact that would have if everyone did it. Now you can see how one person's actions do have a big impact. It's up to you if it’s good or bad. Photo & article by Jennifer Campbell