Let’s make the Trash-Olympics happen: An article honouring World Environment Day on June 5th, and the other 364.
Part 1– Unleash the Power in that Click
Just like the name suggests, this is about the Trash-Olympics – the practical Olympic sport humanity is missing!
It would be wonderful to know you are as excited as I am at the prospect of using the power hidden in the clicks when you play the petition-game of click-sign-and-share! Instant support for a good cause is one sure benefit of the otherwise increasingly sketchy technological times that we live in, and it only takes seconds out of the hours spent scrolling on the World Wide Web.
Meanwhile, offline, our era is dominated by trash; so, please, sign the petition – and then, let’s leave it to destiny. Together, we might add the Trash-Olympics to our collective legacy!
Part 2 – **Bonus** – Priceless Exercise Included
And let’s not waste this opportunity to stimulate and inspire children, regardless of whether trash pickup becomes an Olympic Game in 2028, or not. Furthermore, by inspiring them, we could create the actual generation to seal the deal, in case we don’t.
Luckily, Trash-Olympics is not Fight Club. For the ones unfamiliar with the movie, the first two rules are to never talk about Fight Club. Quite the opposite, the value of the Trash-Olympics increases from one conversation to the next! And also, when we train by doing cleanups – planned or spontaneous, large or small, alone or with others. However, there are at least two rules: use protection equipment, and never engage with litterbugs – or a fight may arise! We truly don’t want this to turn into Fight Club! Not only because litterbugs won’t change if we tell them, but also because trash pickup is the most peaceful sport ever.
Now, here comes the bonus!
Are you a parent? Ask your kids, “If Trash Pickup would be an Olympic Sport, which should be the rules?” Children are experts at playing games, making them perfect for crafting a response. Your child could practice creative thinking this summer, and then propose their teacher a class discussion around International Cleanup Day and Climate Week.
Of course, readers may share this idea directly with teachers, as this would be a nice optional summer vacation assignment for children; followed by brainstorming with classmates in the fall.
This is also a stimulating camp activity. Divide students in groups; hand out questions, and start the dialogue. Include a cleanup where ‘trash-athletes,’ representing countries of their choice, get a better understanding of what works. Will you post photos on social media? Don’t forget to tag HEN!
Therefore, please share this article for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and teachers to see! While there are many schools lacking funds for eco-activities, this concept offers a practical, fun game, at no cost. It is appropriate for younger children, teenagers, college-aged students, and for parents to keep their kids active this summer break.
The following are examples of questions:
- How do people get on their national teams, and how many players?
- Are the teams mixed (gender, age, etc) or not?
- Is there a technique? (Designated pickers for certain types of trash? Pickers who walk behind, checking if anything was missed? Etc.)
- Who wins?
- What is the equipment?
- Who are the sponsors?
- Should teams travel by airplanes to the Olympics? How to navigate around this issue?
- Aren’t Olympic cities manicured before the event? What areas will the teams clean? And when should that be done – ahead, after, or during the Olympics?
- What are the rules?
- Is trash always separated?
- What else would you add?
To ease teachers’ work, post suggested questions and rules at the bottom of this page. Other observations – such as children’s feelings about trash, climate anxiety, and reactions – are welcome.
Even more so, consider sharing the experience with your community through local media – it will make both parents and kids proud! This entire episode is great essay material, and the memories it brings could help the students in the future. Last but not least, write an article about the class/camp discussion, and pitch it to HEN. If it won’t fit on the website, it will look nice on your school’s blog, or on www.WeAreAtlas.net
Important Bonus Question for All –“If there would be one simple new thing you could do starting tomorrow, or this week, to be kinder to our planet, what would that be?” Example – do not use balloons (little known fact – they kill birds). Eliminate straws. Replace shower gel with soap bars, and so forth. And of course, whatever you pick, talk about it – don’t let the good info stop at you! (Post answers in the comments section; and we’ll cover this topic soon.)
A Few Quick Thoughts
I’m a former child inspired by one summer camp activity, and by one cleanup with my classmates, in 6thgrade! Similarly, this trash-related conversation can inspire youngsters in beautiful, unknown ways!
When we acknowledge trash at a deeper level, we organically seek remedies, and we don’t have to be scientists or inventors to do that. In other words, often, these solutions are simple actions. Let’s take my case. Litter inspired me to do micro-cleanups, collecting pounds of littered vapes – later used in this video, which was gifted to 86 school children, hoping to inspire them!
The same littered e-cigarettes then inspired me to recycle over 350 pounds of vapes, while engaging many people. Also, trash inspired me to advertise the concept of birthday cleanups; and to create this petition.
Yet, all actions may trigger their very own stories – some we’ll hear of, and some we won’t. For instance, these are things I know – vapers activated by the above initiative would rather not send more vapes to landfill. A few have been trying to quit (maybe they did), and 35 pounds of e-cigarettes went to research… at the Carcinogenesis and Molecular Toxicology Division of Environmental Medicine…
One birthday cleanup (that I organized), inspired the creation of a street eco-game; and the petition received a few hundred votes. It may not seem like a lot, but… these are all people who want the trash invasion to stop. If you sign, feel free to drop a quick line with your thoughts, even if that’s a heart emoji. It will be a reminder you are not a number, but a real person.
All signatures are touching.
The comments reflect extra-clicks and moments some spend to express concerns, but also to confirm we share a dream. Next is one post in French, plus translation, which always makes me weep – from a stranger living thousands of miles away. It shows that what we have in common matters more, and that for many of us that is true ‘Amor 365,’ or Earth-love. This is wonderful, and it also makes me wonder… are we strangers after all?
