Hierarchy of Environmentalism

"Oh no he didn't..." I thought to myself as I watched the old man throw a bag full of garbage onto the rocks.

I was driving along the P.C.H. looking for an empty peak when I happened upon a surfer catching a slow right. I pulled over to see if there was anything consistent rolling through when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw it. A man stepped out of the van parked in front of me, looked around, and tossed his kitchen sized bag of garbage into the rocks. As I processed what I had just witnessed, his compatriot climbed out of the driver's seat. Dirty rag in hand, the man started walking towards the rocks, while making a series of "any witnesses around" glances over his shoulder.

Incredulous, I got out of my car - waving, pointing, yelling - "Dude, are you out of your mind??!! What do you guys think you're doing?? You can't just roll up and toss your trash onto the rocks??!!" (which I repeated several times for effect) "You need to find yourself a garbage can - and while you're at it, that garbage better be separated!" (that last part was met with a blank stare) The driver froze, clearly thinking if he should try to deny it was their trash. Moments later, he pulled his garbage bag out of the rocks, put his dirty rag into it, took it all back into his van and drove off.

Many of the environmental issues tossed about at Patagonia from one day to another, consist of topics such as restoration of native habitats, deep water trawling, chlorine-free wool, etc. We separate our recyclables and compost any food scraps every day at the office - actions that might be low in the hierarchy of environmentalism, but important nontheless. Maybe that's why I was so shocked to witness some good old-fashioned littering.

Can anyone explain to me what would posses someone to trash such a beautiful stretch of coastline?

[Leave no trace. Photos: Free]

Comments

[lawless]

Sadly, I don't think it even registers with alot of people. You can be hyper aware of everything around you and of the consequences of the life cycle of whatever it is, and try to minimize that as much as possible, whether it be recycling, composting, etc. but for the vast majority of people it's not even in their consciousness. They aren't even aware of where what they consume comes from, or where it goes after the dispose of it (on the rocks or otherwise). Like you mentioned the big issues definately need their coverage and require a response, but the underlying need is general awareness and education as far as product lifecycles go.

Good of you to call them on it, but how far do you think they drove down the road before they tossed it out the window? Depressing to think about. Stewardship just isn't an ingrained concept with most people it seems.

[Free]

Well, that's one less bag in that one spot anyway. Lawless may be right, they might have dumped it down the road, but I'm hoping your actions planted a seed of doubt in their minds. All we can do is keep trying to set a good example, especially in front of young children.

I know the Patagonia Cardiff store had a beach cleanup this weekend and Surfrider hosts them all the time. I also just read a small blurb in Surfing Magazine reminding their readers to pick up at least one piece of trash every time you go surfing. It all adds up and you never know who might be watching and get inspired.

[TwoSevensClash]

Valid points all.

The conclusion is that I drove past these guys several minutes later, about 60 yards from our point of confrontation. They had pulled up to one of the dumpsters (could have been the one in Free's pic) and were tossing their stuff in there.

I doubt he had separated any of it (LOL) but at least it wasn't blowing down the beach.

[EK]

You asked:

"Can anyone explain to me what would posses someone to trash such a beautiful stretch of coastline?"

Perahps there was something in the bag that connected those two litterbugs to something with a higher penalty range than littering. Maybe they were geting rid of some sort of waste product that tied them to cultivation/manufactutre of some sort of illegal substance.

The reason I write this is that it really seems inexplicable to go out of your way to carry a whole bag of trash to an isolated spot along a coastal highway when there would seem to be countless opportunities for dumping trash that don't involve taking a bag of kitchen garbage on a road trip. Just a thought.

[Anonymous]

How old are that you use he word Dude?

California's a crap hole and one more bag of trash isn't gonna make a differance "dude".

[Nate]

Are you kidding me w/ the previous comment? Simple acts make BIG differences. It's that kind of mentality that causes the continuous destruction of our environment. Of course one bag, even one cigarette butt, makes a difference!! Are you ignorant or just don't give a #@**!
By the way, what's a person like you doing on the Patagonia web site?

[Monica Bittler]

He's old enough to realize that more needs to be done to protect and restore the health of our planet. Your ignorance is frightening.

[ConBioAdam]

You could take this as an instance of the generation gap that seperates the young and concerned from the old and set-in-thier-ways. If the litterbug was older, he probably grew up in an era in which there were no significant environmental concerns, and the worlds resources were here for us to use willy-nilly. Clearly the times they are a-changin', but not everyone can keep up. I applaud the author for opening his mouth, in the era in which we currently live, one of rapid climate change, a mounting extinction crisis, and an apathetic government, education is our best tool for preserving our natural resources and wild places. Speak.

And too the guy who thinks California is a craphole, clearly you haven't seen the California that I've seen.

[Richard Pass]

Say nothing, and nothing but destruction happens. good going....dude.