Humans have been thoughtless again, Says Sigatoka Sand Dunes manager
Iwas on patrol duty the other day. I, stupidly, chose the hottest time to perform that duty but it had to be done.
Our tracks are looking a little shabbier than usual and I’m going to blame the ‘wear and tear’ of our only single brush cutter. It’s frustrating because the machine is giving us attitude and the weather has been extremely kind with rain.
The grass has responded so well that I’m literally swimming through sections of our walking tracks. I walked through overgrown grass to the unstable dunes. Thankfully, my hairy legs provided extra protection from the grabby grass blades.
Once you scale the dunes and reach the top, the view will always get you. A scene of rolling hills, patchy vegetation, a narrow river mouth and a sea that extends as far as the eye can see.
And if it’s a really good day, you can spot a hazy outline of Vatulele. I did see Vatulele on the horizon. My eyes also caught the many footprint impressions on the dunes. People have been training on the dunes. They’ve run nearly everywhere.
I felt an act of great disrespect was done to this grand old lady. An act that’s repeated numerous times every year.
Her existence in my opinion, transcends our human urges and short human life.
She is part of a bigger plan that we don’t comprehend now, but a generation to come will look back bitterly on us and accuse us of injustice.
I sit at the edge of my world and look out to sea, reflective and sad. Things haven’t really gone as I had played it in my head many times. And in the deep recesses of my remorseful mind, I hear the echoes of ‘that’s life’. From the top to the bottom, I take the easiest route.
One travelled by countless visitors. It’s a dash down a sea facing steep dune slope. I was hoping the run down would re-energise me and I forget some of the more forlorn thoughts that came to be earlier. The run was exhilarating but the thoughts remain heavily in mind. I continue my patrol.
EXPOSED ARCHAEOLOGICAL
A visit to an exposed archaeological site followed. I stood at the place, looking down at history, scattered, wind- beaten and sunbeaten. One that all Fijians, one day will get to really appreciate. Sooner rather than later.
This sand is a repository of a time past, for both Man and Nature. Much has been garnered from the study of the dunes, yet it remains in the realm of academia.
Perhaps if we brought more of it out to the general public, perceptions may change. We are nothing without a historical context, though it’s a human one.
After the short historical reminisce, a stroll along the Park’s high energy coast drew me nearer to the conclusion of my patrol.
It’s a calmer sea and the waves are breaking surf leisurely. Trust me they can be a little more energetic than this. Today, they break along the shoreline much gentler and rush up the beach with less gusto. I don’t mind as I don’t have to play dodge the crazy white wash. I enjoyed the stroll, taking in the super quick dashes of ghost crabs, the scared flight of feeding birds as I intruded on their scavenging and the many human trash enmeshed
in the thick driftwood that covers the dune beach from the Sigatoka River mouth side to the quieter Naqwarai side.
There is a lot of litter on the beach. A lot! Humans have been thoughtless again. And the evidence is sprawled along the beach, in the disguise of plastic bottles, containers, bags and many other human paraphernalia that we think should be part of our existence. I’m disgusted!
Have we not learnt anything in this trying time? Have we not fully come to terms with the imbalance we’ve caused the world around us? Are we so naive to think that things will get better?
I’m saddened by the sight of trash. It’s too many and already making me feel defeated. I dragged my heavy feet along the sand. I’m really annoyed now. I wanted to punch a few humans in the face. Really, just keep throwing your rubbish in the river! You intelligent creature!
PLUSHY CARE BEAR
So by now I’m feeling hopeless and throwing out some serious negativity into the universe. And the sun was bloody scorching. My skin already tingling with sun burn.
This patrol was turning out to be sour. But in the midst of the eyesore and over excited brain, a small saving grace manifested in the form of a child’s toy.
It was one that brought nostalgia and happiness. Lying as if sunbathing on the bleached bough of a driftwood, was a Care Bear. I remember Care Bears from my childhood, generally happy bears who helped repel evil and made the world a happier place.
I loved them as a child and watched a number of their cartoons. And the Care Bear I found was the ‘Wish Bear’.
Did the universe respond to my outburst? I would like to think so.
Finding the Care Bear softened my gloomy mood and I was transported to a time and place where a child called Jason watched gleefully cuddly little bears save the world and told himself that he too would one day do that. And here I was in the throes of my environmental challenge already losing heart. With the plushy Wish Bear in hand, I threw a wish out to the universe. I wished that the woes of frustration seen through my older human eyes don’t make me a defeatist so easily and that the hope of the child I once was continues to fuel my determination to make everyone care about our living planet. Talk about a mood swing. I had one but it was a good one. I lost the plot a little bit but through some cosmic intervention, I was reminded of what a life I had and continue to have. So my life’s work is set in stone. I am where I am meant to be. The passion has not fizzled out yet and I’m keener to have more impact. I’m going to have those itchy moments where I question the worth of the journey but I’m always going to find the impetus to continue, be it a Wonder Woman action figurine, a Care Bear plushy doll or whatever the universe sends me. The show must go on!
So the patrol ended on a high note but the report is still to be done. And sweet plushy Care Bear sits on my work desk, a wonderful reminder. I started off with mixed feelings but I returned reinvigorated. Spending time in nature should be a prerequisite every day.
And my day at work ended at Value City. I’m a strong believer in recycling and it’s time everyone gets into the mindset that we should be doing good by our planet.
Earth is Heaven and Heaven is Earth and it’s only we that’s making a hell out of it!
Stop the barbarity and be part of the true global movement, nature.