Now that we caught a tiny bit of YOUR teenager eyes (not your Teenager’s eyes) with their lingo; “That’s sic” that the Rotary Club of Fort Erie (RFE) continued with its annual Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup on Earth Day.
The Great Lakes contains almost 20% of the world’s fresh water and is arguably the largest source of fresh water on the planet. It borders 8 states and 2 provinces and has 15,323 km of shoreline. 15 Districts, encapsulating hundreds of Rotary Clubs have participated in the clean up as part of 2023’s Earth Day.
Trash, plastics, and other littered items pose a threat to terrestrial and aquatic life. The terrestrial life includes you, the reader. Micro plastics and harmful toxins coming from 10 million kg of trash and plastics polluting the Great Lakes annually may harm you over the longterm.
[Side note that this article was NOT written with ChatGPT AI as “I” believe the “AI” part is overblown and any results would rather be like the items we collected. Any Computer Science or Engineering Graduate will have experience writing algorithms to sort data and use it. They can easily design an algorithm to pick a pronoun/noun, a verb, a definite article, and an object/subject, etc. to compose a sentence.(Eliza was designed over 50 years ago to simulate conversation.) Finally, these so called AI “litter” products are filled with adjectives making the so called sentences very descriptive but cold. Teachers and Professors will recognize AI written homework very easily after reading a few of them. Now that’s lit.] Opinion by Q.
Swaying back to cleanup. RFE with volunteers and 4 students from GFESS and one from FEIA participated in cleaning up 3 streets and their trenches: Helena St., Alfred St, and part of Dominion Rd. These 3 stretches and their trenches were filled with water all leading down to Waverly Beach Park and then to Lake Erie. We ended up with 36 large garbage bags and one toilet. Now that’s sic.
Last year we also cleaned up Kraft Rd., but this year we DID NOT do it because we DID NOT have as many volunteers. Imagine that, less volunteers, less clean up. If you live on Kraft Rd,…maybe next year you can help out too.?
Here’s the “sic” thing. Last year’s garbage bag count was about 63 (we subtract out the count from Kraft Rd.). This years garbage bag count is just slightly over half of last year’s, so thanks to drivers for not throwing out garbage. But again, that’s really sic, that 36 bags were still picked up, meaning some of you were still throwing it out your window. Sigh. Some drivers heading SW on Albany St. just before hitting Helena are the main polluters. Over 50 bottles were picked up there. And the toilet. 5 bags were from that tiny intersection. Now that’s sick.
We want to thank Kathy and Dave from Royal Lepage for supporting RFE. With their sponsorship, we were able to supply volunteers with mini rakes and gloves. Also thanks to Jeff Hill from Rona Fort Erie for supplying mini rakes as well. I believe thanks also go to the town for supplying garbage bags. Of course, thanks to our volunteers.
RotaryFortErie participated in another clean up as part of Earth Week a few days earlier: RFE and other Rotarians from other clubs visited Niagara Chapter of Native Women on Garrison to help clean up their backyard and prepare it for a vegetable garden. Old logs and brush were removed, junk discarded, and one waste container was completely filled. A new vegetable garden bed was built so that any handicapped in a wheelchair could have access to the plants.
As usual, we are looking to grow and add new members. Please email us. Remember, don’t litter; you could be eating you own microproducts in the future.
