TAKE 3, SLEEP EASY!
We have all been tragically effected by the Australian bushfires & we have seen how much they have damaged our land, lives, homes & our wildlife. While we continue to fight the fires and preserve our land, let’s do the right thing & keep protecting our beautiful country from the millions on pieces of plastic that suffocate our earth. In a situation that is so awful and unforgettable - let’s not make the situation worse. Let’s choose to be better & more responsible. It’s time to act!
It's summertime in Australia meaning so many of us are heading down to the beaches & rivers to cool of & spend their days by the water. As well as the fires, this time of year in Australia is also a time when nature cops a flogging because people forget to pick up & cleanup after themselves. Food wrappers, drink bottles and cans, gift wrap, coffee cups ... you name it, people leave it on the sand or the grass! And it's simply not on! It's foul!
I urge you all to please keep these 3 easy ideas in your mind when you go to the beach ...
Take the rubbish you create to the BIN before you leave the beach. Packing a paper bag in your beach bag is a good way to collect the waste you create throughout the day & it makes it super easy to dispose of when you leave.
PLEASE don't purchase or take any plastics down to the beach in the first place. Keep Cups, reusable water bottles, tupperware made from tin, paper plates & cutlery and an eski instead of a plastic bag of ice ... are all better ways to venture out to the beach. There are far too many alternatives in reach for all of us to justify taking plastics to the water.
If you see it PICK IT UP! If there is a plastic bag, an old straw or an old coffee cup near you - please pick it up & throw it into the trash. If you're worried about germs - carry a little hand sanitizer around or simply give your hands a scrub in the ocean water & use the sand to exfoliate. Easy! And nature will love you for it.
Every single piece of plastic removed from the beach (and nature in general), makes a big difference to the big picture. So please make it the minimum to collect THREE pieces of rubbish wherever you go! If you can pick up more, even better!!!
I swear to you that if just one person witnesses you picking up the rubbish & throwing it out, it'll encourage them to do the same. We all need to be leading by example these days. We need to start putting a bit of pressure on one and other in terms of just thinking twice & acting consciously. We all live pretty amazing lives in Australia. We are lucky to be an island surrounded by beautiful blue oceans, epic surf spots, amazing reef life & more. But how long will it all last if we don't start looking after it? That's a question I don't even like thinking about at the moment ... it might sound like a cliché but it's the honest reality - the future it literally in OUR hands. This generation has a big responsibility to better our actions & clean up this planet.
My goal in 2020 is to make collection rubbish "THE NORM". Something we all do everyday without even thinking twice. I know we all see it on the ground and think, "ohhhh, should I?" Surely picking up one tiny bottle lid is not going to change the world!". WRONG. It can change the world. And it will change the world. Imagine if every single person thought that same thought & acted correctly in response? That would amount to millions of bottle lids being picked up & thrown out. See how easy it is to contribute to a greater outcome? So easy! And in return we'll all sleep easy knowing we're protecting the future of our planet, our marine life, our incredible wildlife & the health of our entire ecosystem. One small action can be the difference we need.
Keep this fact in mind today, going by the current rate of waste ... by the year 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.
If that does not scare you, there's a problem. That fact is an absolute nightmare & one of the biggest tragedies we face. It's terrifying.
Byron Bay is a place Josh & I cherish because of the locals commitment to the earth. The community of Byron have green hearts & busy hands. They're living their lives in a way that is sustainable & eco friendly. It's moving to watch and very special to be a part of. Byron is a beautiful destination & attracts such a high level of tourism as so many people want to come & experience the beaches & sunsets, the local produce and food and the incredibly soulful vibe. While this is so great for the locals & the economy up here, I encourage everyone who comes up to check out Byron's beauty - to please treat the pristine environment like you would your own home. In fact, I encourage everyone to treat every single inch of Australia (including your own backyard) & the world as a whole with kindness, gratitude and care.
Kick off your 2020 by starting a cool new trend by adopting the habit TAKE 3 FOR THE SEA with me! You'll never ever find a bigger trend to be a part of.
Keep safe everyone & lookout for everyone around you.
Elyse xx
