The day we created a litter Pandemic from a global Pandemic.
In February of this this year we discovered that a new viral strain which was believed to have its roots in Wuhan, China had now developed into a worldwide pandemic as proclaimed by the World Health Organisation, so in order to counteract the virus many countries adopted a lockdown protocol to reduce the rate of infection and so reduce the number of fatalities associated with coronavirus. However, what nobody foresaw was the start of a new pandemic in addition to the one that was already circulating around the world and that was the environmental virus also known as indiscriminate littering.
During lockdown we were encouraged by the government to keep ourselves healthy by allowing one hour a day for some sort of exercise and so as someone who suffers from Coronary Heart Disease,caused by a heart attack 13 years ago I decided to create a regime by which I would go out for a walk each day and on another carry out a cardiovascular exercise regime in my flat not only to keep me physically fit but to maintain good mental health in this difficult time. However, when I went out walking I was soon discovering the tell tell signs of the environmental virus such as discarded face masks, disposable gloves, wipes and other unmentionable items and I remember thinking aloud to myself “What kind of humans are selfish enough to do this?” and that is why I write this article to appeal to you.
In the last few weeks we have been blessed with amazing weather and coupled with the relaxation of lockdown protocols in the UK, it has meant that we have flocked to the coasts and other notable beauty spots around the country and the environmental virus has now turned into a countrywide pandemic. Yesterday I read about team of volunteers who have been clearing of rubbish from the Lake District and their efforts mean that tons, yes tons of rubbish is not clogging up the ecosystem of the flora and fauna that shares this planet with us, and it is not just The Lake District after we visit the beautiful beaches around this country, we leave tons of rubbish behind us for others to clean up, is this fair !!, your damned right it’s not, so in future if you visit the coast, countryside or a beauty spot, please take you rubbish home with you and discard it in your bins that your local councils provide, do not discard it in hedgerows or literally where your have been picnicking, you wouldn’t leave your rubbish strewn all over your house for somebody else to pick up, or would you.
This pandemic has shown us that a new virus strain can evolve without human intervention and can be allowed to manifest itself into a fatal strain if it has the host to live on such as discarded rubbish which we indiscriminately through on pavements,hedgerows,beaches and beauty sports. Please dispose of your rubbish responsibly and so that not just us, but the animals that share the countryside and the seas with us can live in the knowledge that a pandemic such as the one we are in at the moment, may never happen again.
To conclude I want to thank all the key workers who have worked tirelessly to contain this pandemic and have done an absolutely amazing job and to those who have lost their lives in the course of duty, we salute you and hope your grieving relatives can one day understand the courageous sacrifice which you gave to trying to save others not just in hospitals but in care homes as well. And finally to all those that grieve a lost life to the coronavirus my deepest condolences and to those who recover in hospitals my best wishes for a speedy recovery.
There is no place for ignorance in this world
Be safe and be well
