“Please be considerate” signs pop up all over my neighborhood, especially in the carefully manicured gardens that surround beautiful homes. The signs are aimed at people who have allowed their dogs to poop in these courtyards and not tidy up behind them.
We have a long, deep and complex relationship with our shipyards. Many of us see it as an affirmation of our values, a reflection of our roots and a projection of our identity. Our house is our castle, our yard, our domain. We are sovereign here. Dog poop is an affront.
However, when we look for those who would violate the integrity of a neighbor’s property, we find ourselves. Whatever our rationalization, our behavior is reckless. Most likely, many of us do not know about the potential harm resulting from our failure to clean up. According to the Doody Calls website, pet waste can infect people with diseases and parasites. In addition, dog poop attracts rats, which are more disease-causing. And as if that wasn’t enough, the waste eventually breaks down and gets flushed into our water supply and polluted.
Ironically, our carefully maintained shipyards also contribute to our pollution problems. Pesticide and fertilizer runoff also flushes into our water supply. In addition, the petrol-powered lawn machines, especially the two-stroke version of the leaf blower, contribute significantly to air pollution. According to Princeton University, “a consumer leaf blower releases more hydrocarbons than a pickup truck.”
Just as we may look away, distracted, while our dog is polluting our neighbour’s garden, we can also choose to look away so as not to be confronted with the contradictions of our own lives. If we could learn to see the earth as a sponge into which our poisons are absorbed and from which our nourishment is drawn, we could become more considerate of others and less destructive towards ourselves.
Brian E. Moss
Gainesville
The post Opinion: Treat the earth like your garden first appeared on Daily Florida Press.from Daily Florida Press https://dailyfloridapress.com/opinion-treat-the-earth-like-your-garden/
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