Do you care about your future?

This past Saturday, September 11, the Sierra Club had a beach cleanup and planted over 10,000 sea oats on Fort DeSoto Beach. There was a great turn out and everything got planted, watered and I think overall it was a good experience for everyone who took part. A large majority of attendees were mature, older volunteers with a group of about 20 or so younger people — to me, this is not a good sign that the future generations were not out on that beach helping.

But when it comes to the environment there is a trend I have noticed. Environmental issues are placed on the back burner for another day or everything is expected with a "Burger King mentality" – given it to you "your way" with zero effort put forth. This mind frame is what is putting the environment in more danger every day and it makes me furious that people treat these serious issues with a nonchalant attitude. Even something small like planting sea oats helps prevent erosion of beaches that all these teenagers love so dearly and gives a home to wildlife that also help the beach flourish. I am sure that few people think of that when they are tanning and enjoying the Florida weather. People do not consider that if the environment isn’t fixed, there will be no future for anything. We rely on the Earth to live, whether people realize it or not.

So, I will leave you with this- are you one of the Burger King Americans where you expect things to be done for you on your terms- or will you take the time out of sleeping to wake up early some mornings and help your future and our planet that is at great risk?

This article appears in Sep 16-22, 2010.