Change the World Wednesday week 5
If you’ve not joined in already, please visit the Reduce Footprints site to see how you can change the world on a Wednesday!
Last week we had to reduce our foil and clingfilm usage; this week we’re on an outdoor mission.
We are collecting litter.
Collecting litter is something I hate doing, but fortunately, my eco warrior, Little Miss Green loves nothing more than getting her hands dirty on a litter pick.
In fact, she’ll often come in from playing outside to grab a bag and go off by herself to see what she can find. I honestly think if I bought her one of those long litter pickers she would think all her Birthdays had come at once!
Litter is not just ugly, it can be harmful to the environment and wildlife. Plastic takes hundreds of years to break down, aluminium cans do not disintegrate easily and are easily recycled, polystyrene breaks down into pieces where animals mistake it for food.
Here are some facts from UK safari about litter and wildlife
- Attracted by the smell of leftovers, hedgehogs can get their heads trapped inside plastic yogurt cartons, tin cans and polystyrene drinks cups. Due to their prickles, they are unable to get their heads out which can lead to death by starvation.
- Polythene from 6 pack holders can trap wildlife too. Sea birds get caught in them when they dive for food.
- Floating plastic bags look like food to marine animals which can kill if ingested.
- Swans, ducks and geese can get trapped in discarded fishing line, fishing hooks can get stuck in their throats and they can die from lead poisoning if they swallow small lead fishing weights.
- Broken glass can cut the feet of foxes and badgers.
Today looks like it is going to be a nice day, so we’ll go for a walk and see what we can find. Maybe I’ll be able to find some elderberries as a prize from Mother nature for helping her! Take a moment to watch the video of Little Miss Green picking litter earlier in the year.
What about you - do you pick up litter or do you feel it is not your job to do so?
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Despite the fact we live on a canal with no road access instead of on a street we still find that a surprising amount of litter gets dropped outside our house. There is nobody but us to tidy it up and dispose of it suitably, (no road = no kerbside collections!)
I really admire your daughter’s pluckiness and I hope many will join you in this challenge. Of all the problems facing the environment this is one of the ‘easy’ ones to put right, I can’t believe people find it so hard to get it right.
@Goo: Hi Goo, it’s shocking where you can find rubbish isn’t it? I agree with you, it’s such an easy thing to put right; I’d never really thought of it in that way before. Thanks for helping me to rethink things in a more positive way
Hey Mrs. Green your site just keeps getting better. Your setting the example for quality healthy green sites. For this weeks challenge I wrote a post about <a href=”http://livesmartbook.blogspot.com/2009/10/eco-running-and-eco-walking-healthy.html” Eco-Running and Eco-Walking. The post also features a great link to resource information for a program called Eco-Friendly Kids that your Little Miss Green just might like. Have a great week.
oops. The link got messed up so I am trying again.
Hey Mrs. Green your site just keeps getting better. Your setting the example for quality healthy green sites. For this weeks challenge I wrote a post about Eco-Running and Eco-Walking. The post also features a great link to resource information for a program called Eco-Friendly Kids that your Little Miss Green just might like. Have a great week.
@TC: What a lovely compliment TC - thanks! You can read my mind too; I’m already going to highlight the eco running post on one of my Sunday Round ups; it’s wonderful and Sam is such an inspiration to us all.
I’ll check out eco friendly kids; I didn’t get that far