Environmental Action Research Paper

I was going to change the world. That was the goal I set out upon when starting out my action project. I knew that it was supposed to be a small project, but I thought I could change Missoula in just fifteen hours. After numerous attempts to get in contact with organizations that could have a broad, long term impact on the community, I decided to simply pick up trash from a local park. This job wasn 't glamorous or exciting and it wasn 't going to change the way people looked at recycling and waste, but after a few thank you 's from people passing by or simply watching the ducks swim in the area I had recently collected trash from, I knew that I had made a difference in my community. For my action research project I picked up trash at Ogden …show more content…
The area that I worked around was very susceptible to the harmful effects of these pollutants because of the ecosystems that they were in. In McCormick Park, there is a pond that is beneficial to many species including, but not limited to, insects, fish, and ducks. These species along with many plant and microbial life that makes up this micro ecosystem is important for providing a recreational and healthy environment for humans and species to enjoy alike. This area is able to provide species with a healthy environment where they can get nutrients and food to survive on in an area that has become more and more urbanized. This pond, however, is in danger of being polluted and the ecosystem rendered useless to the species that rely on it. One side of the pond I picked up trash such as plastic bags and cups surrounding the outside of the pond. On the other side, I picked up nine beer bottles plus the shattered remains of two others. This trash could very easily cause a species such as a duck to choke and die, which could lead to a much larger chain effect on the entire ecosystem. My environmental science class also has a major impact on this garbage pickup because it is a destruction of the commons. The trash that has been dispersed around this area was done by many people. One person leaving a cup behind is not a large threat to the …show more content…
Whether I was at the pond to watch the ducks, watch a baseball game with my family, or just on a run through the park, I always noticed the trash. This trash took away from my overall experience of enjoying the outdoor activities that the beautiful city of Missoula has to offer. The creatures and citizens that use this area are being robbed of this environmental oasis due to the laziness and ignorance of a few citizens. This trash can rob the area of its natural beauty and its ability to fully function as a habitat for species. This realization of trash pick up 's short term scale, has changed my career path in a large way. Through this project, I have seen that these small actions like picking up trash can have a big impact when many people do them, but it is not a regular occurrence for people to do on a day to day basis. Numerous times on my trips I was given some very interesting looks. Whether it was a double take from seeing a student carrying many cardboard boxes across a parking lot, or watching that same student push his bike while carrying those same cardboard boxes along with a bag full of glass bottles. Even in progressive Missoula, the idea of someone taking several hours of their time to pick up trash is seen as odd. That is why I am now looking into large scale solutions to damaging effects on the Earth, such as climate change and pollution. I am now looking to become more involved in the