“The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.”

Albert Einstein

My restaurant, Café Juanita, in Marina Chahue, Huatulco, has a wonderful view of where the canal, which runs from the main highway through residential areas U2, Sectors J and M and Chahue, and the ocean meet. Every rainy season the first heavy rains bring currents of trash down the canal into the ocean. Plastic bags, plastic bottles, chip bags, Super Che bags, and other colorful debris float past the million dollar boats and out to the open water of the Pacific Ocean.

This month’s theme ‘things that float’ opened up a wide spectrum of discussion from water sports equipment to environmental issues. While I am an optimistic person in most aspects of my life, when it comes to faith in humanity’s willingness to make big changes, I admit to being a bit of a pessimist. Probably because I recognize my own shortcomings in environmental matters. I drive quite a bit, I fly whenever and to wherever possible. I do my best to eat and shop local but I am pretty lazy about avoiding plastic bags and although my restaurant stopped selling plastic bottled water- I still indulge in a cold plastic bottle on hot days. Most of us are just too comfortable and entitled to make real changes. As I read the fabulous articles submitted by our writers, on oil spills, the island of garbage and the impact of tourism, I felt overwhelmed with the urge to do better! Now I just have to figure out how!

In positive news, on March 23rd the beach cleanup in Huatulco had a wonderful turnout of volunteers from schools and organizations to pick up garbage on the 36 beaches that make up this paradise. (They probably could have done without the myriad of vinyl signs and flags to promote the event.)

I would love to hear from you about the habits or changes you have made in your everyday life due to your desire to protect the environment. Beyond adhering to your city’s recycling program, what action might you have taken that could help inspire other readers?

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Jane