tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14994418.post1181167047912120009..comments2023-12-12T11:39:43.504+01:00Comments on Blurb from the Burbs: MedicatedMoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609190990579743429noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14994418.post-495902075236836162009-11-28T05:08:32.508+01:002009-11-28T05:08:32.508+01:00River, you need long-handled BBQ tongs but they...River, you need long-handled BBQ tongs but they're not something you can fit in a handbag but are instead only taken out onto the streets when you've planned it; have a few empty bags to put the rubbish into and are ready to bend over....<br /><br />Thank you, Deep Kick Girl. I'm just as guilty as forgetting to take a plastic bag with me when I leave the house and wonder if I'll ever NOT be shocked and dismayed by the sheer volume of litter I see: where does it come from? Who ARE these people that do it?<br /><br />Baino, Melbourne city *is* particularly dirty and it does stink on hot days which is unfortunate. I wonder whether generous deposits (20c) on bottles, cans and other items like milk cartons would help? Even 10c for a ciggie pack?Kath Locketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09677312773827236567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14994418.post-58725423177987727772009-11-27T21:04:58.541+01:002009-11-27T21:04:58.541+01:00I must admit my recent trip to Melbourne was a bit...I must admit my recent trip to Melbourne was a bit of a shock, particularly in the inner city it was very littered and a little smelly after the heat. You're doing a good thing Kath!Bainohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14156193098088048637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14994418.post-1073684829002889822009-11-27T07:57:31.662+01:002009-11-27T07:57:31.662+01:00I too hate litter. I'm not as committed as you...I too hate litter. I'm not as committed as you, not by a long shot. But I do pick up the odd bits of litter at school and pick up the disgarded lunchboxes and drink bottles that I pass over (unlike all the other parents who seem happy to walk straight over the rubbish and other debris, not to mention to the kids who seem to enjoy using other kid's lunchboxes as footballs...).<br /><br />I also driven nuts by the rubbish I see around our beautiful area. We live by the waterfront, with a lovely park and boardwalk area overlooking Duck River/Homebush Bay. Whenever I walk around here I am constantly nagging poor Big Jay about the thoughtless people who have left their rubbish about. I will pick up the odd bits and always remind myself (and then forget) to bring a plastic bag next time I come out.<br /><br />Sorry, long boring story there.<br /><br />As far as doing something small, yes I think these acts of "charity" (whether it's picking up rubbish, donating money or helping out a sick friend with a meal) are good for the giver more so than the reciever. But they do make the world go around.<br /><br />Stay true to yourself, my deep-thinking, heart-of-gold friend.deepkickgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02680613104887320179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14994418.post-49585317345115359072009-11-27T06:22:18.678+01:002009-11-27T06:22:18.678+01:00"Every little bit helps, said the old man as ..."Every little bit helps, said the old man as he peed into the sea..."<br />One of my mum's favourite sayings. Ha Ha. <br />KIVO sounds like a great idea.<br />I'm no longer a rubbish picker-upper, I've found lately that if I want to pick up anything I have to actually get down on my knees otherwise I tend to either fall over or pull my back muscles causing more than a little pain.Riverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14794655013673748992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14994418.post-75523590602813612612009-11-27T06:21:09.971+01:002009-11-27T06:21:09.971+01:00Franzy, sweetie darling sweetie, let's move aw...Franzy, sweetie darling sweetie, let's move away from the starfish. Perhaps I should have just deleted that as my intro and dived straight in (unfortunate choice of words there) to the litter issue.<br /><br />As for: 'Could you imagine the sort of havoc some cheerful giant would create by doing the same thing emptying out our hospices and nursing homes into our malls and schools?' isn't it already happening, but by surly government programs instead of a cheerful giant? Throw in a few generous armfuls of people afflicted with mental illness and you're describing my local shopping centre.Kath Locketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09677312773827236567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14994418.post-58914154601224808272009-11-27T05:54:53.842+01:002009-11-27T05:54:53.842+01:00That's the thing: I don't think she's ...That's the thing: I <b>don't</b> think she's making a difference to the starfish, if she is, it's detrimental; interferring with natural processes and all that.<br />What if only dying starfish get washed up and she's throwing back all these sick and dying starfish back among the healthy population? Could you imagine the sort of havoc some cheerful giant would create by doing the same thing emptying out our hospices and nursing homes into our malls and schools?franzyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02400212989359954521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14994418.post-6708536037116719732009-11-27T05:11:43.579+01:002009-11-27T05:11:43.579+01:00Yeah Nutty I think there's a lot of us out the...Yeah Nutty I think there's a lot of us out there who'll see that freshly dropped cigarette packet about three metres away from a bin and pick it up. Repeat at least seven times before you reach the destination you were walking to and that's the story of our mornings, isn't it?<br /><br />Franzy, whilst I do believe that starfish woman is making a difference (starfish, litter, dollars, dogturds, the subject itself isn't what's important here) I also agree with you that she's also making a huge difference to herself. And that's not a bad thing.<br /><br />Doing good does you yourself as much good as the recipient. Corny but true. My picking up litter is making a huge difference to myself - I like myself better, am trying to set an example to my daughter (who, in her less-embarrassed moments, helps me and says she likes the way the street looks better afterwards) and feel as though I *am* making a small difference. I'll also admit to walking back home feeling perhaps a bit *too* proud of myself until Mr Divvy Van from the dodgy halfway house two doors up leers over the fence and says, "Dunno why you bother, luv."<br /><br />The picture was taken by our local newspaper because I've received a grant from the council to try and persuade more locals to become Litter Ninjas.... what have I let myself in for?Kath Locketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09677312773827236567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14994418.post-19829352215159171412009-11-27T03:54:26.375+01:002009-11-27T03:54:26.375+01:00I don't buy that starfish story. Not for a sec...I don't buy that starfish story. Not for a second. No way. The starfish aren't dying tragically, they're just dying naturally. The lady in the story (and it's significant that she is a woman) isn't some benevolent starfish angel, diverting the destructiong of their beautiful little worlds (souls?) and giving them a chance to go on and succeed and become better starfish by 'making a difference' to those few thankful, otherwise-dead starfish. She's not making a difference to them, she's only making a difference to <i>herself</i>. <br />I think that story reveals the true, selfish, individualist nature of supposed altruism.<br /><br />And I think it does you a disservice. I've always been sceptical about the rubbish-picking up, but I'm actually in awe of your commitment. You're not picking up a few starfish and pretending to make a difference to their squishy little lives, you're cleaning a street that real people live on and making a real difference to real feelings of satisfaction and pleasure.<br /><br />Keep going.<br /><br />ps. Love that picture.franzyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02400212989359954521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14994418.post-53054710902852627532009-11-26T22:45:36.306+01:002009-11-26T22:45:36.306+01:00I know how you feel, every morning as I walk throu...I know how you feel, every morning as I walk through the gates at work or outside on the street I pick up cans, bottles etc, I found this website you may have a laugh at that was designed to ket the merssage of litter over to teenagers and adults<br />http://www.dirtypig.org/about.aspx<br /><br />you never know one day the message may get therenuttynotonnoreply@blogger.com