LITTERING (July 31, 2009)

I am amazed by all sorts of plastic things one can find on a remote beach on a remote island in a remote country. Caps, spoons, and cups are among the most frequently found things, but there are many others, such as lighters, sections of rope, and plates. Day after day, I have been collecting them and throwing them into garbage bins. But it has still taken me a few days to realize that most of these things do not bear any sign of their origin. They are anonymous. They are bland. That is, they bear no company names or logos. Which is a sure sign that companies that make them are very much aware of the eventual fate of these things. Those responsible for their conception, design, production, and distribution know perfectly well that they will end up littering the entire world. And littering is what they end up doing, indeed.