BajaNomad

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Osprey - 10-14-2008 at 07:56 AM

Praying for the Next Deluge


It is often my pleasure to show visitors from the states a little of my personal Southern Baja California surroundings. The Laguna mountains, about 20 miles to the west of my little village are home to rugged canyons that often hold the surprise of waterfalls and crystal streams. The trips are best in October when rains from the Pacific, from monsoons and the occasional hurricane or tropical storm or depression grace the long, thin range with everything wet from fog as thick as pogonips to thundering deluge.

Every canyon has its own look; some straight, deep and narrow, others winding stair steps rising randomly to peaks more than a mile above the sea. I have witnessed droughts that leave the whole range dead and barren; the canyons no longer lush and inviting, more like ancient wrinkles in a tattered tent strung between the hilltops.

On one recent, memorable trip to a steep canyon with easy access I had the chance to swim in the movie set pools, lay out on the rocks above the water to dry and daydream. I wondered who or what used this place before I arrived. Didn’t have to look far to see that picnicking families left evidence of their day in the canyon – empty beer and pop cans were strewn about the rocks and pools. On my walk up the canyon the jungle hid any unsightly basura as it does every rainy season. I have learned to ignore it, rain or drought, everywhere I travel in Baja California. Taking special note of the almost demonic habit of blatant disrespect for the land by natives and visitors can be ruinous to the spirit.

We are all guilty. The skunks and babisuri who lived here long before human visitors left their awful stench, the inedible parts of young water snakes and snails, tuzas and lizards and birds eggs. Likewise the first humans here left animal and fish parts carried up the canyon to sustain them when they filled their skins with life-giving fresh water. They filled their bellies with the tender shoots and roots of fall punkweed, not knowing when or what they would eat next. Perhaps some of them left messages on the burnt basalt rocks that make up the canyon walls.

A quick study of the structure of the upper canyon tells you the water has flowed for all the 4 plus million years the finger of land was drifting west and north away from Mexico. Some granite slides and bowls have been ground deep and smooth by the constant flow of water and detritus over those eons – there is much evidence that really heavy rains at the peaks above have created incredible falls – powerful cascades of water pushing every small thing down and out of the canyon. So I guess we can all take heart in the fact that all the ugly human waste we see now will one day be down below, not up here in this timeless paradise.

I’m a little guilty myself because in each unique and everlasting crease I have left something behind – a little piece of my heart. Each one holds a bittersweet mixture of emotion; ecstatic that I had the chance to visit, saddened beyond words that tourism has found this place and I know it cannot be saved.

[Edited on 10-14-2008 by Osprey]

[Edited on 10-14-2008 by Osprey]

wilderone - 10-14-2008 at 08:35 AM

"it cannot be saved."
I can be saved. Organize a community clean-up brigade; post a discrete sign; place a trashcan; volunteer to collect and empty the trash can; write a story in the local paper; educate; have school children go on an outing and teach them that to litter is to disrespect nature. All of those ideas an more are a reality where I live: "the Canyoneers"; "docents"; Sierra Club Inner City outings; organized clean-ups; fund raiser potluck at a church to buy trash cans and signs. I would love to pay you $10 for a hike in those canyons, armed with a couple trash sacks for the privilege of helping to save it. If not you, then some other family.

Osprey - 10-14-2008 at 08:43 AM

As the Mexican landowner/managers who hold dominion over these national parks sell each canyon to Zip Liners they take away our opportunities to change anything. As long as Mexico continues to sell all its riches to the highest bidder our good intentions will be just smoke in the wind. I report violations, I clean up where and when I can. Don't preach to me and don't tell me re educate Mexico's children. That's nobody's job but Mexico.

wilderone - 10-14-2008 at 08:51 AM

"That's nobody's job but Mexico"
RONG
"they take away our opportunities to change anything."
You're a THEY the same as THEY are. Except you allow them, with your acquiescence by silence, to hold dominion.
Isn't there a Sierra Club in the San Jose area?
Is there not a SEMARNAT with land use regulations?
So it's everyone else's task - not yours - to take care of the community that you live in?

Osprey - 10-14-2008 at 09:12 AM

The piece was a little lament, not a complaint about garbage. Lighten up. Go get busy with missionary work and let me enjoy a country I love, one I try not change but for the better without meddling.

oldlady - 10-14-2008 at 09:42 AM

I liked your piece, Osprey. My husband and I "went for a drive" a week ago.
You captured our day very well.

Pescador - 10-14-2008 at 11:50 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by wilderone
"it cannot be saved."
I can be saved. Organize a community clean-up brigade; post a discrete sign; place a trashcan; volunteer to collect and empty the trash can; write a story in the local paper; educate; have school children go on an outing and teach them that to litter is to disrespect nature. All of those ideas an more are a reality where I live: "the Canyoneers"; "docents"; Sierra Club Inner City outings; organized clean-ups; fund raiser potluck at a church to buy trash cans and signs. I would love to pay you $10 for a hike in those canyons, armed with a couple trash sacks for the privilege of helping to save it. If not you, then some other family.


I think I have a much better idea. If you hate the culture so much and find that the only salvation is to "Americanize" and introduce them to your rather narrow interpretation of right and wrong, why do you even bother to "stoop so low" to even come to Baja?

I was helping a good friend to install a window in his house and next door a "Norteamericano" was moving in and he was busy cleaning things and hauling off the trash and he came over to my friends house and wanted to haul off some of the "fine collectables" conveniently stored in his yard but his manner was one of superiority and disdain. Later, when my friend and I were sharing a Tecate, he laughed and commented that he should have let the silly newcomer haul off some of the stuff he did not really notice but he said that would have made me a little higher than him but when he acted a little higher than me, I decided it was going to stay right where it was to keep us closer to equal.

I especially love Osprey's account of how he has learned to sort of ignore the basura. I am but a visitor in this land I love so deeply and am ashamed to be seen as equal to those who come across so misguided and superior that they feel the need to educate the locals as to the right way to live. I keep my property neat, my house painted, my trash picked up and if that serves as an example fine, but if it doesn't then that is just fine too.

bacquito - 10-14-2008 at 12:15 PM

Thanks for the article Osprey. I have never been bothered by trash such as paper cans food, etc. Such items in time are broken down. But what does bother me are plastics thrown about. It is decades before plastics are broken down

wilderone - 10-14-2008 at 04:31 PM

" If you hate the culture so much and find that the only salvation is to "Americanize" and introduce them to your rather narrow interpretation of right and wrong, why do you even bother to "stoop so low" to even come to Baja?"
WHAT? Are you nuts? I never said I hated the culture - how in the world did you surmise such a statement? "Stoop so low as to come to Baja" Somebody has had one too many cups of coffee this AM (or beers or ??).
Littering a wilderness area with modern-day styrofoam and plastics, and especially in the face of signs (not seen 10 years ago, but still a new concept to Mexicans) to no tire basura, is just plain wrong. Yes - school children need to be educated by politicians and their parents, and understand that wilderness areas need to be protected for all the reasons that you should be well aware of, and of which I will not elaborate here. You're just as happy to see trash? Well, I feel sorry for you if you can't distinguish between nature's pristine beauty and Mexicanized nature and accept trash-strewn natural areas and do nothing to clean them up. They don't call the plastic bag flying in the air the Mexican national bird for nothing. If zip-lines are intruding into remote canyons and inviting yet more people, trash, and degradation with parking lots and whatever, then that is certainly not my Americanization initiative. You have it totally backwards. If you don't want to take any personal responsibility for your own community and just sit back and watch these canyons fill with trash, that is certainly your choice. Buenos tardes.

Barry A. - 10-14-2008 at 04:45 PM

-----in the SoCal desert, the BLM had 100's of trash cans out at trail heads, and where people gathered. That lasted for about 4 years. What we found is that the trash cans became magnets for household garbage, and would be overflowing within a day, often. We finally had to gather up all the trash cans, and no longer offer them to the folks. It simply was impossible to keep up with it, and it caused more problems than it solved.

Barry

gnukid - 10-14-2008 at 05:06 PM

Cleaning up garbage is one of the easiest, most effective and spiritually rewarding tasks that takes little training and can be done at any time. Its really fun. Try it.

Sallysouth - 10-14-2008 at 07:54 PM

Beautiful story Osprey, and your sensitivity to the history/surroundings is eloquent, to say the least. You took me right there with you.:bounce:;)

Ken Bondy - 10-14-2008 at 07:58 PM

You are a superb artist with words and a helluva philosopher Osprey!!

Saludos,

++Ken++

Udo - 10-14-2008 at 08:20 PM

Your writing is heartwarming, George!
I wish schools in the US and Mexico taught cleanliness as an ongoing project.
So often I bring a couple of bags of sweets for the kids everytime I come to Baja, and when I give the candy to the kids, they immediately open the wrapper and promptly throw it on the ground. I generally mildly scold them and ask to pick up the paper and put it in a trash container, hopefully they will follow suit in the future.
The trash left in your part of the forest, George, appears to be left by pic-nickers that think someone will clean up after them. Somehow we need to teach everyone ...if you pack it in, pack it out. That is something I learned in my backpacking days...some 40 years ago.

Keep up your terrific and inspiring posts, George!

Barry A. - 10-14-2008 at 09:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by gnukid
Cleaning up garbage is one of the easiest, most effective and spiritually rewarding tasks that takes little training and can be done at any time. Its really fun. Try it.


gnukid--------well said, and you are so right. I long ago gave up displaying any kind of "attitude" about others throwing trash-----I just pick it up now, as best I can, and it makes ME feel so much better, regardless of what others do. I almost always carry a little white plastic grocery bag in my pocket, and whip it out when I see multible pieces of trash. Don't really know how much good it does, but it makes ME feel good.

It sure upsets my wife, tho, when others see me and laugh-----I think it embarrasses her that I am so weird!!! :lol:

Barry

LOSARIPES - 10-15-2008 at 02:19 AM

Beautiful, sensitive and well done piece.
Yes, we all wish local culture were a bit more ecologically oriented. There is a complete lack of understanding of the damage caused by littering and contaminating.
The government should be much more attentive to what happens in our surroundings. Perhaps they are too busy looking for their next mordida victim.
I have seen -almost daily- people trash the beach with: Diapers; Pollo loco plastic bags, Aluminum foil; Paper napkins; Orange peel; Too loud hoompa music; Beer cans and bottles; Used condons; etc. etc. They even leave behind their unwanted little pups.
It seems there is the attitude of "not my job to pick up after myself" and "The beach is everybody's.... so no one can tell me what to NOT do"
I have sent my concerns to El Sudcaliforniano. I have called the City. They don't even acknowledge receipt. They are too busy working on their next mordida.
What is really sad, is when I see Mom and Dad littering in front of their children... that's bad... it is bad education...it's sad when mom tells the kid "tira eso"... (throw that away)... and they do. Right there, on the beach, just aside their chairs and blankets.... and their other garbage.

I don't give up. I will keep on sending my notes to the newspaper and occasionally, pick-up the trash myself.

God Bless America
and while at it, bless Baja tambien

redmesa - 10-15-2008 at 06:16 AM

Before Ladybird Johnson, the U.S. was a large garbage dump. There were no laws against littering and beer cans and other items were always seen flying out of car windows. We have so much more consumable trash now so the problem for Baja is 10 fold larger. I just view Mexico as the U.S. 40 years ago. . I am hopeful that in time there, too, will evolve a standard of individual responsibility and group support to make Baja a jewel in the crown of North America. Until then can't we just help where we can and enjoy the wonders of the place and people?

CaboRon - 10-15-2008 at 06:34 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by wilderone
" If you hate the culture so much and find that the only salvation is to "Americanize" and introduce them to your rather narrow interpretation of right and wrong, why do you even bother to "stoop so low" to even come to Baja?"
WHAT? Are you nuts? I never said I hated the culture - how in the world did you surmise such a statement? "Stoop so low as to come to Baja" Somebody has had one too many cups of coffee this AM (or beers or ??).
Littering a wilderness area with modern-day styrofoam and plastics, and especially in the face of signs (not seen 10 years ago, but still a new concept to Mexicans) to no tire basura, is just plain wrong. Yes - school children need to be educated by politicians and their parents, and understand that wilderness areas need to be protected for all the reasons that you should be well aware of, and of which I will not elaborate here. You're just as happy to see trash? Well, I feel sorry for you if you can't distinguish between nature's pristine beauty and Mexicanized nature and accept trash-strewn natural areas and do nothing to clean them up. They don't call the plastic bag flying in the air the Mexican national bird for nothing. If zip-lines are intruding into remote canyons and inviting yet more people, trash, and degradation with parking lots and whatever, then that is certainly not my Americanization initiative. You have it totally backwards. If you don't want to take any personal responsibility for your own community and just sit back and watch these canyons fill with trash, that is certainly your choice. Buenos tardes.


BajaBad - 10-15-2008 at 06:54 AM

Osprey your post makes me wish I was there hiking today, beautiful writing. Who came before and who is going to come after isn´t something I usually think about, but maybe should. :yes:

I do think ´we´ can help educate and change the situation. When my son tried to toss a can or wrapper on the ground, like all his buddies were doing, I ripped him up one end and down the other. He needed to be ´taught´ that following the crowd isn´t always appropriate - and I did the same thing everytime I was with a Mexican child who was doing it, asking them nicely to put the basura in the basura. They never balked at doing it, and were always a bit suprised to be asked -- culturally it was strange for them to have an adult care about that, because culturally their parents didn´t / don´t. With enough ´new training´ maybe slowly the generations will evolve so that they teach their children what their parents neglected to teach them.

BajaBad
www.vivalabaja.com
vivalabaja.blogspot.com

shari - 10-15-2008 at 09:21 AM

Very interesting topic you spurned or spawned? Osprey...
as someone who has lived here a long time, it is so frustrating to see some of the cultural "faux pas"(to us). I am a proactive person...if I dont like something, I try to do at least a little something to put things right....like pick up the offending garbage and show the kids how nice clean areas look and how to put thier candy wrappers in their pockets...sometimes I reward them for picking up garbage too...have contests...try to think of creative ways to address the problem.
Things ARE changing here slowly...more gargabe bins are being placed strategicaly and schools organize garbage blitzes. There is a litter law so the offenders need to be reported and fined.
It drives Juan nuts when I pick up other peoples garbage...I think it's embarrasing...its a cultural thing about embarrassment...a pride thing...my wife shouldn't be picking up garbage....walking to the store (when we have a car) etc...
While I respect the culture and dont feel it's my place to change it, I DO live here and take pride in my community and so WILL do my part to help keep it clean and show the kids...education...that litter is something we can all help clean up.
I also try to talk to the kids who beg for money when gringos come to town...I teach them it's not cool to do that and talk to them about ways to have a positive interaction with them instead of negative...ask if they need help, or want their car dust wiped off, or carry their bags, or whatever...instead of hitten em up for change.
Changes are happening and we must each take personal responsibility...however small...to help make it as positive as possible.

Osprey - 10-15-2008 at 09:33 AM

"Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking." Good attitude Shari, you do what you think is right without deciding, on your own, that you need to tell everyone they must follow your example. Sometimes difficult on this forum to not evoke controversy when there are a vocal few who present themselves, on any handy stump, as teachers, professors, guidance councilors bent on galvanizing us sluggards to do as they say for the good of the country, the people, the planet, etc. etc.

durrelllrobert - 10-15-2008 at 11:05 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bacquito
But what does bother me are plastics thrown about. It is decades before plastics are broken down

True but every plastic bottle I've seen in MX has been reused many times before discarding. The cut the top off to use as funnel and use the bottom for drinking.:lol: