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The Power of Two
“Do your computing later, Herald. Let’s hit the beach for a swim.” Nick slung his beach towel over his shoulders and headed for the door. “I’m too mad!” Herald wore a visor The Power of One. “You have any idea what’s swimming in the ocean with you? Seventy-eight million pounds of garbage from 88 countries, that’s what.” “No, way.” Nick looked over Gram’s condo railing at Sarasota Bay. “God’s ocean is too big and beautiful to be full of garbage.” “Yeah? Look at this.” Herald typed in www.coastalcleanup.org “Wow. So, you’re never swimming in the ocean again?” “Who knows? Last year’s International Coastal Cleanup people collected 1.3 million cigarette butts, 700,000 food wrappers and containers, 472,000 plastic cups, plates and utensils, and almost 500,000 plastic bottles, and 311,000 cans. The last four are totally recyclable.” Nick shook his head. “Yeah, but, I still want to swim. I’ll take a shower afterwards.” “Hah. Just think of the poor fish. They can’t head for a shower after their dip. So, you have to s-e-a it to believe it?” Herald tied on his running shoes. “Okay, the shows on me.” Herald led Nick around the sea grass and sea grapes. “Never walk through these plants; they are invaluable in preventing beach erosion.” Nick read a sign: Save the turtles. From May to October remove all beach furniture at night. Turn off porch lights after midnight. “Sea turtles come on the beach to lay their eggs,” said Herald. “Furniture disrupts the mother turtle’s familiar nesting spot. Artificial light distracts baby turtles so instead of heading to the safety of the ocean they bee-line it for patio and car lights. Then they die of dehydration, starvation, predators, or get run over by cars.” “Everyone should read this—including turtles,” said Nick. “Yeah, like: “Beach life is hazardous to you health. Signed, Someone Who Knows: A. Sea Turtle.” Herald picked up a plastic water bottle. “Every one wants clean water but then they throw bottles in the ocean. And six pack rings that capture wild life so they can’t swim. Last year 13% of dead loggerheads had ingested plastic bags. I’m goin’ for a run to cool off.” The beauty of God’s creation was everywhere—except on the beach. Nick began making trips to the trash bin. The Power of One felt good. Ideas kept popping into his head. Turtle-info-flyers . . . drawing contests . . . Save-the Beach-Clubs . . . trash bags with rebates . . . beach essay contests in the newspaper . . . letters to can companies about six pack-rings . . . Nick released a trapped fish from a tide pool. He held a shell to his ear to ‘hear the ocean’ but it was occupied with a snail. Nick began gathering up stranded sea shells and tossing them back to their ocean home. Herald caught up with his friend. “Hey, quit throwing stuff in the ocean!” “Just saving some snails, bro. ‘Fish and snails great and small, the Lord God loves them all’. Could our scout troop and church group do regular beach clean-ups? We could start with The Power of TWO, even if it’s a snail’s pace.” |
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