A small helping hand… if everyone does, we'll come a long way.
Today I was a hero. Well, a bit of a hero, sort of. Ok, not even that, I was a helper. And why then? I'll tell you.
I am no longer in the Netherlands at the moment. A few days ago I flew to Bali and I will stay here for three months. I live like a cat here, I walk around, take a bite and a sip and rest when I feel I want to. I'm also writing here, having the time for that feels really good. I realize that I am a privileged person.
But what about a hero? Nowadays it is easy to know what is going on in the neighborhood through the modern media. On Facebook we found a bunch of people who call themselves 'Trash heroes'. Balinese, driven people. This group has set itself the task of making the world a little more beautiful. Among other things, by simply picking up plastic from the beach, structurally. Every week a group of people gathers to lend a hand. Permanent volunteers, but also people who join once.
They get a bag and a pair of gloves and an ingenious bamboo pick-up pliers. This is paid for by companies with a heart for the heroes. A stretch of beach is being cleaned of plastic rubbish. Clutter that the animals from the sea get into their bodies differently. We lent a hand today.
Lost flip flops, toothbrushes, caps. Disposable lighters really need to be renamed. It feels like a drop in the ocean, but it is also a piece of awareness. I heard that this group of people is getting bigger and bigger and is already active in many countries. Today there was a group of at least a hundred school children, in uniform. They find this important, they are the future and the future should look different.
What made this day special was that young sea turtles were released. The eggs were secured and hatched under supervision. Now the critters were big enough to travel independently. A hero told me that out of a thousand evictions only one or two critters grew up. This is because of all the plastic in the sea. A sad fate.
I was allowed to lend a hand and leave one free, of course a great honor. I got it in my hand, together with a boy I was allowed to put it on the sand. I gave him a kiss on his shell and wished him a safe journey, because well, what do you say to such a turtle that faces an uncertain life.
In any case, we protected him against the first obstacle, the birds of prey that peck them off the beach, as if they were a bitterbal. They really have to cover the last meters alone because only then will they return to this place if they want to lay eggs themselves, in the future. There you are, bending over to encourage a tiny creature. "You can do it, go on, just a little bit more and you're there." The animal struggles, but he is sure of himself. He smells or feels or hears the sea and it attracts him. He sets out very bravely, along with everyone else. Then a wave comes, takes him or throws him back yards, forcing him to do it again. Life is not fair. Not even for turtles.
It got me thinking. I don't want a straw in my drink ever again. Useless and harmful. And when I get to the beach, I'll take at least six pieces of plastic with me, I promise.
