The lectures for this semester are over, and although I still have some exams and assignments to deal with, I can once again organize my time freely. And I’m using this freedom to take longer morning walks with my dog again. Since we haven’t been to our local beach in a long time, we’re granting it a visit this morning.
Snow still has a firm grip on the landscape, but the first migratory birds have already arrived.
While the greylag geese (Anser anser) are taking the day at a leisurely pace and still seem rather sleepy, the oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus) are already busy searching for food.
I usually look for beauty in the details during my walks on the beach. But today, nothing beautiful seems to catch my eye. Quite the opposite! My gaze keeps falling on all the litter from civilization that has washed up here over the course of the winter. Even though purple is my favorite color, it has no place in the landscape in the form of a plastic flowerpot. The sight makes me feel both sad and angry — sad at seeing all this trash in nature, and angry at humanity, which so carelessly and thoughtlessly discards everything it no longer needs. Wouldn’t it be better to dispose of all the politicians and decision-makers who are responsible for the poor state of our planet instead?
