Of course, autumn brings the natural surroundings into their dying season, the time of falling into a state of rest after sprouting in spring and ripening in summer. Still, a walk in the woods will reveal that even this “dying” season is full of life and wonder, from the acorns hitting you on the head to the fallen leaves swishing around your feet.

But wandering through the woods in this season can also be dangerous because it is a particularly active hunting season. So if you like orange, you will do well to don an extra bit of it so that an eager hunter does not mistake you for a deer, bear, or some other living thing to shoot for. Better safe than sorry.

Wandering through the woods during hunting season is disconcerting, if not dangerous, for another reason as well. Those same hunters with itchy trigger fingers frequently drop more than just shell casings and, sadly, various woodland creatures.

As you stumble through the swishing blanket of leaves, you may well stumble upon and even trip over any number of bottles, cans, boxes, bags, and other bits of litter that hunters often leave behind. It seems that stalking prey is a pretty energy-intensive activity, requiring ample supplies of beer, soda, and convenience foods, among other hunting accessories, to keep the hunting senses keen. (Another favorite seems to be tobacco dip. A bottle or can filled with the spit-water from this surely toxic concoction will likely leave you thinking you have come upon a dead animal; you will certainly not be inclined to pick the litter up!)

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At first I was perplexed: Why would someone empty his or (less likely) her ashtray at an intersection? And why cigars?

But then my confusion turned to consternation. Here I was, stopped atop a pile of someone’s waste after having just driven over the mighty Rivanna River, with mountains and trees and blossoms and birds and blue sky virtually enveloping my senses, and now plastic cigar tips present themselves to my perception!

Alas, my heart sank like a stone in that roiling river I had just traversed.

Ever since that traumatic experience in an otherwise idyllic setting, the presence of human detritus has grown ever more prominent in my environmental awareness. Fast-food containers, plastic grocery bags, soda-pop bottles, sometimes even car parts—-here, there, everywhere, it seems that humanity is only visible in the things it has thrown away.

Almost everywhere nowadays, not just in my fairly rural locale, any patch of grass or stand of trees seems be a field of litter waiting for harvest.

But the farmers and the field hands seem to be sleeping in this season.

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I drove through route 3. It runs across Argentina from north to south, next to the Atlantic coast. Here you can see a beautiful landscape, steppe to one side and deep blue ocean to the other.

Patagonia: it’s a land of dinosaurs, oil and strong winds. The latter is responsible for a horrifying realization–how dirty it is! The last time I visited Patagonia was six years ago, and I didn’t see the mass amount of plastic bags everywhere.

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For another part, the common people don’t have the conscience or awareness of “not littering.” They throw anything out the window of their cars, as the laws won’t fine them money. Nevertheless, the people adore nature, because it´s beautiful, and they like to enjoy it, only that very few take care that it continues to be beautiful.Some people see [environmentalists] as hypocrites for calling themselves ecologists while continuing to consume pollutedly in their daily lives. Others applaud them, but continue with the course of their lives.

[I don't consider myself an environmentalist] because apart from trying to be, I continue to pollute in one form or another.

Michael Hudson: Environmentalism in Venezuela | I see the Venezuelan’s stance towards the environment as identical to that of the U.S. There is the odd practicing environmentalist who walks, bicycles or climbs into a packed tram, minibus, or subway just in principal. However the majority are mostly talk. Just like in the U.S., people here complain constantly about pollution, and the environment is always at the front line when they don´t want something to happen, but very few are willing to consume less packaged goods or drive less.

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It is estimated that several trillion cigarette butts are littered worldwide each year. In the US, and around the world, it is wins the "most littered item" prize.

The butts are harmful to wildlife and have been found in the stomachs of fish, birds, and whales. Plus, those toxic chemicals that the filter was designed to keep from entering the body, stay there - until, of course, the butt reaches a body of water and the chemicals start to leak out. Tossed cigarette butts are also the cause of countless fires.

So what can we do?

If you are a smoker, dispose of your butts properly. You might even want to consider a pocket ashtray. As The Smoking Section says, "Considerate smokers don't litter. Those who do deserve criticism as much as any other litterer."

If you don't smoke, but know someone who does, and litters along with it, send them an anonymous email letting them know the facts.

We can all do our part by picking up litter, including cigarette butts, and getting them to a trash can. Better that we do it than to allow the litter to continue to harm the environment.

Rebecca says: I hope that some of you readers will send some anonymous emails (or just speak with your friends directly). I'd love to hear your thoughts in this issue. Leave a comment!

Resources:

CigaretteLitter.org

Cigarette Butt Litter

Keep America Beautiful:Cigarette Litter Prevention Program

It's strange, though, isn't it? People keep making them. They hire people to stand on street corners and hand them out. Others are convinced that by leaving them on windshields, they are hitting their target market. Isn't it interesting, however, how even people with genuine manners have no issue with throwing these papers directly on the ground? About 5 steps from the location of the flyer-hander-outers, you'll begin to see a long trail of litter.

Cities such as Long Beach and Miami Beach are trying to improve the problem that plagues their cities. But there are many things that you can do to improve this situation on your own.

First of all, if you have a business or event that you are promoting, think twice, thrice, or as many times as is necessary when considering fliers as a method as marketing. Then figure out a waste-free way to get the job done. Also consider the fact that most fliers get junked before anyone even looks at them. Target your market more closely and make an impact on people that will truly be interested.

Secondly, and most importantly, when someone offers you a flyer - DON'T TAKE IT. Kindly say no thank you and walk on by. If it is absolutely killing you to see what they are advertising, take one. Then stop walking, read it, and return it to the person. Sometimes you'll get a funny look, but just tell them you live a paperless life - simplified and very eco-tastic.

Rebecca says: Flyers are a big pet peeve of mine. Since starting greenerMIAMI, I've often called out individual companies that pay for this form of advertising that creates litter in the streets. Since then, I have made a conscious effort to not accept fliers, to help get them into trash cans, and to convince marketers that this is not the answer. Please join me!

Photo credit Wikipedia user Ld