So today I took my daughter to feed the ducks in the closest stream to our apartment in Umeå , Sweden. We were there a total of maybe 20 minutes. Due to the fact it was extremely cold and rainy. Honestly, I do not know how the ducks even stand it. Why are they not somewhere more southern? Tough Ducks. While she kasta ducks, (throw ducks) her Swinglish is on point, we saw a glass beer bottle, coffee cup and plastic bag float by. The ducks easily dodge the garbage and find their crackers. It does not surprise me at this point. Trash is everywhere. It had been raining all day and so the high water was flushing everything down. Although Sweden, a country that is very green, and devotes much in time and resources to being sustainable they still have a trash problem. I do not think I have ever been on a hike, walk or out in nature and did not find a piece of trash. If you look it is always there. Even in the most remote places. I feel that The Theodores is on the right track to raising awareness and fostering activism. Starting The Theodores has allowed me to really take notice and discover other groups and projects fighting the worlds trash problem. I have reached out to many of these groups and mailed many a teddy package. In my opinion the more groups and individuals working on the issue, the more a solution becomes attainable. Sometimes the response is favorable many times I hear nothing back. Cooperation is needed to solve this problem. I encourage you to check out these other groups. Support them. Support us!
Project Schone Schie - https://www.facebook.com/schoneschie/ A dutch group started by a a guy Tommy -- He did a clean-up by his house over a month, documented and started a facebook group to encourage others to do the same. They are doing amazing things. Tommy was one of the first groups I mailed a Teddy Package to.
Trash Hero Langkawi - https://www.facebook.com/TrashHeroLangkawi/ I love this group. They really put their money where there mouth is. They do a clean-up every week in Maylasia. They always kill it on number of pounds collected. Other Trash Hero groups have started to pop up in Thailand. I reached out to them through message but have not linked up in substaintial way.
Operation Earth Day Everyday - https://www.facebook.com/Operation-Earth-day-Everyday-196181097558969/ Started by a kid in Canada. He does clean-ups by himself. Really neat to see someone so young tackle the problem with action. I mailed him a package to just say good job and that there are other people like him in the world.
A story about a 12 year old boy from Petaluma CA who clean-up 2,000 pounds of trash for a school project. http://abc7news.com/society/north-bay-boy-cleans-up-thousands-of-pounds-of-trash/1890045/ I mailed him a package to say good job and keep him motivated.
The Ocean Clean-Up Project -- https://www.theoceancleanup.com/ Started by a 20 something Dutch guy. Want to figure out a way to collect most of the trash in the garbage patches. He has raised millions in capitial and also sent boats throughout the oceans to scout the problem. Really neat. I often think of what I could accomplish with 10,000 dollars.
Pick n' Run - http://picknrun.com/ Really cool group. Started by a father and son team. They organize cleanup and trail runs. I have not reached out to this group but I will in the future. Also, they are working on developing an app to track cleanups. This is high on my list so maybe we can work together at some point.
Packing it Out - http://www.packingitout.org/ Packing it Out is a group that encourage people to get out on hiking trails and pack out all the trash they find. Started by two guys who did this while they were on various through hikes around the USA. I have sent an email to this group. It would be really great to link up in some way. They have a really great film about biking across the USA and doig talks at REI to encourage others to get on board. Check it out. Tons of sponsors and the like. It would be nice to talk to them about how to go about getting a sponsor or two.
Yesterday I stumble accross a story about two brothers in Brooklyn who paddle out in some of the most polluted waterways in the USA and do cleanups. Have not found a website but if you have insta you can find them at #BroCleanBKLN .
There are many other groups. Overall it is encouraging to know so many others are working on the problem too. You can tell awareness in growing. It feels like we are on the right track. I think The Theodores is on the right track. I am excited to see what we can do next year. I really want to work on something big. You know really big. I have been playing with the Idea of printing 10,000 flags. The flags would be attached with a letter stating they are ment to travel and be used. Not put on a wall or in a work place. Keep them moving, keep doing cleanups. Drop them different places . . .statues, bus stations, train stations, airports, etc.
We will be traveling back to Idaho shortly. Then I can pick up the heat press, and other printing materials. I think I can set up a small printing operation on my glassed in balcony. I wonder what 10,000 flags would look like and how many clean-ups 10,000 could inspire? Please leave a commet if you got any ideas for what to do with 10,000 flags. I am thinking kickstarter and a road trip. First I got to print them. I gotta plenty of time here in Sweden. Being unemployed and all. I have money in my Teddy account that would cover the materials. Just need to put in the time.
