Monday, 10/14

What is it with some smokers that makes them think the world is their ashtray?

Now, if you’re one of the small percentage of people who still smoke BUT take care of getting rid of your butts & debris properly, I apologize in advance. This rant isn’t directed toward you. That would be the rant about how you really need to quit, one I’m sure you’ve heard many times from many people, right?

8-)

No, this rant is dedicated to smokers who, like I said, think the entire planet is their ashtray. It was prompted by the annual cleanup of Marquette city beaches by a group of volunteers. According to one of the people involved, they picked up over 10,000 cigarette butts carelessly tossed onto the beach.

10,000+.

There are actually two problems here. The first is that Marquette city beaches are, by law, smoke-free. Don’t believe me? Go to any entrance to the beach, and you’ll see a sign that says “no smoking”. Honest; it really is there, right next to a sign that says “No Dogs Allowed On Beach”. Just think of the money the city of Marquette could make if they actually enforced both of those laws.

That, however, is a rant for another time.

This rant, like I said, is dedicated to smokers who think the world is their ashtray. Just why do people think it’s okay to toss a cigarette butt anywhere they feel? I mean, you don’t toss Twinkie wrappers or newspapers or beer cans or old dvd players just anywhere; why is it okay to do that with cigarette butts? Just because they’re small? Just because you don’t think anyone cares?

Aside from being a litter nuisance, there’s also the small matter of the toxic chemicals in the butts. There are over 40 cancer-causing chemicals in cigarettes, yet some people think it’s okay to carelessly discard them in a place, like the beach, where small kids can find them or where the chemicals might leach into the sand. I know one cigarette butt won’t by itself cause any damage, but when you get 10,000 or more in one spot?

Then you hafta wonder.

As you know, I spend an awful lot of time on the beach during the summer, and so this whole topic has always annoyed me. When you walk down the pristine sands, marveling at the beautiful blue of the lake, and then notice someone’s personal ashtray sticking out of said pristine sands or floating in said beautiful blue, it kinda gets to you.

10,000, huh? And just on three Marquette beaches? You’d hope people have more respect for the planet than that.

You’d hope.

(jim@wmqt.com)