Kayaking on the Willamette

July 12, 2011

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A lovely time had by all kayaking on the Willamette last week. We toured around Ross Island lagoon and along the downtown west bank. I saw Not. One. Plastic. Bag.
Just making a note of it since the ethylene bag hatas keep moving the old goal posts on what the “problem” with these things are.
First it was that the bags were evil and corporaty. This is still their main objection but they can’t say it out loud because it sounds hysterical, emotional and unscientific. And it is.
Then they lied about the “swirling mass of garbage twice the size of Texas off the Oregon coast.”

Then they it was a litter problem but didn’t bother to ask for a ban on cups, containers and fast food which comprise most of the road side litter.
Then Washington State Senator Maralyn Chase said she was hit by a (I’m not making this up) “plastic bag storm” on a freeway in the Olympia area. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that if it’s storming, raining and there are plastic bags, they’re not ‘flying’ around as she put it. 
Then they said it was a recycling problem.
Then they said it was a littering problem but just not the kind you could easily see–such as on the embankments of Oregon rivers.
I’ve no doubt some people toss out these bags on the sides of …of…anywhere. It just doesn’t rise to the level of needing a ban. 
Please people, give it up.

Tell ’em where you saw it. Http://www.victoriataft.com