““It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty, the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.” ”
Sir David Attenborough locks eyes with an endangered Blue Iguana. Source: BBC.
Though climate change affects us all, here in the Caribbean and in Grand Cayman specifically, our gorgeous coastlines are increasingly being polluted with plastic bottles, cigarette buds, toothbrushes and damaging debris.
Want Not, Waste Not.
The effects of consumerism are tragic at best. Whether Cayman is your long-term or short-term home, the peace of mind that accompanies healthy living is hard to sum up in words. Once you’ve experienced the majesty of Grand Cayman, you’ll quickly appreciate why doing your part counts. Many advocacy groups have grown increasingly concerned about the condition of Cayman’s coastline. Last year in a beach cleanup a group of 87 volunteers picked up nearly six and half thousand plastic items from just one mile stretch of beach.
The planetary problem of pollution and plastic affects us all. Below are just a few of the ways you can contribute to change, simple advice and easy solutions to make the most of your experience on the island.
Just a few minutes spent picking up litter on a trip to the beach produces multiple bags of harmful waste. Image: Plastic Free Cayman.
For those among us who enjoy a beachfront stroll whether or not we’re cleaning up plastic packets - participating with one of the many local or internationally-led environmental groups in coastal cleanups is a great way to nurture a sense of community with your island neighbors and potentially make a new friend or two. Socializing at these events is often the perfect excuse to both live the lazy island ideal as enjoy a guilt-free productive day out. We’ve all heard about the floating island of plastic debris meandering through the Caribbean and can’t escape the stench of “Mount Trashmore” (the local name for George Town’s landfill). Volunteering in these coastal cleanup events might be the perfect way to be a meaningful part of the observable change in the world, instead of simply hearing about it on the news.
Simplifying The Solution
In our modern age we’ve split the atom and sent robots into outer space. Thankfully, recycling is far simpler! Learning about life’s niggling predicaments as we grow older is mandatory for all of us budding responsible adults and a part of our personal growth. Accepting that our actions have severe consequences when left unchecked is a step in the direction of change for the better.
Carry your own straw. Try keeping a bamboo/glass straw in your go-bag, since not all venues provide biodegradable straws. Plastic straws are harmful to the environment. Some estimates indicate that over 550 million plastic straws are thrown away every day in the U.S and U.K alone. Opting for reusable shavers, bottles and bags is an easy way to start on the road to recycling. Once the initial preparation in organizing these items are complete, you’ll find responsible consumption is easier than you thought!
Grand Cayman can be experienced is as both audacious and ostentatious, serene and sublime. It’s enjoyed for its natural splendor by residents and visitors alike. Visiting or moving here may be the perfect opportunity to quit old habits. “New decade, new ME” is a positive mantra we can get behind if it helps preserves the natural wonder of our tiny island home.
Quit bad habits. Chewing gum may be a tough place to start for some of us, but taking into account that it adds around 100’000 tons of plastic waste to landfills annually, is a good motivation for rethinking our attachment to it. Stop smoking. In 2018 over two million cigarette filters were found on international coastal cleanup day. Humans are creatures of (bad) habit, so take advantage of Cayman’s many sites, sounds, flavors, and luxuries and create the newest sparkliest version of yourself.
Support green companies. Find establishments that are implementing a “green scheme” and only buy from them. By popularizing local businesses that are making an effort to reduce plastic use, we as consumers help incentivize and shape those companies’ long-term goals. At an increasing pace, our culture is shifting in a way that makes it trendy for consumers to get rid of fast fashion and become sustainable in all way, it’s even become cost-effective for entrepreneurs to innovate and implement waste reduction methods.
March is Ocean Conservation Month. Find and join the army of volunteers eager to help remove plastic debris and local littering from the beaches and surrounds.
Spread word about the efforts made by the various groups on island and increase awareness about the growing problem of plastic pollution, here and across the globe.
Make sure to visit the plasticfreecayman.com to sign the 345 Pledge and for many more ways you can contribute to reducing your plastic footprint.
“The people who give you their food give you their heart”, and that’s especially true at the restaurants on Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman. Having visited the island with my family on eight different occasions during the last decade or so, I can honestly that I have been blessed with some outstanding meals at various eateries at this great location. The restaurants here are filled with passion, love and high-quality food. After a day resting in the Cayman sun, there is no better way to prepare for another day’s relaxation than to indulge oneself in a heart-warming meal on Seven Mile Beach. Here are some of my favourite restaurants on Seven Mile Beach, starting with a touch of Italy.