What Pisses Me Off: the state of our environment

I have lived in the same town for 32 years – koala sightings were part of everyday life. We even lived next to what the council called a ‘Koala Corridor’; they said it would always be protected, the koalas would always be there. The council has not chopped the big trees down but they have approved development around, in between, and beside the Corridor which obviously stressed out the koalas, because they are long gone.

I was in the library yesterday and was handed a leaflet while checking my books that said, “If you see a koala, dial the hotline”. I remember when I could see them high up in the trees while hanging the washing on the clothesline, that was a long time ago; I haven’t seen one for years. Now they want me to ring a hotline if I spot one, it just pisses me off. It’s not rocket science – the council keeps interfering with their habitat approving more and more development, naturally koalas are going to keep disappearing. I remember the only time we ever rang council about koalas was if one of them had a dirty bum or dodgy eyes. The councils need to stop blaming dogs and cars for the koalas’ demise, because the one thing that brings dogs and cars is development.

Same with kangaroos – I was asked to sign a petition to stop the government from sending roo meat to China. The fact the government is even considering allowing that to happen pisses me off. I realise in some parts of Australia they are a problem, but if they start culling and sending overseas, I have no doubt before I am dead I will see flyers saying “If you see a kangaroo, dial the hotline”!

Another thing that pisses me off is live export – I don’t see any need for it– overseas countries want our meat, O.K., but kill them humanely on our soil first. Why stack them into ships where they can barely breathe? A lot die on the trips because of the sheer stress and disgusting conditions, a lot that survive the trip experience cruelty, torture and a horrific death when they get there and for what, politics? Money? I say stuff money, stuff politics. Do the right thing, we are all God’s creatures after all.

On that note, there is yet another thing that pisses me off: trying to give up plastic…that’s impossible! If I could get plastic out of my life I’d be a happy camper…But to do that I have to give up milk, yoghurt, anything that comes in a plastic jar, container, package. Why aren’t we given a choice? Every piece of plastic that was ever created is still on the planet, clogging our waterways and oceans, choking our wildlife. It does not degrade. There is no such thing as bio-degradable plastic. It just breaks up into tinier little pieces and still sits in the same place. It is a convenience product that rules our world and is potentially a bigger problem than anything else we can do to the planet.

People that ignore the existence of global warming are just one more thing that pisses me off: anyone that thinks global warming is a myth would have to have the intelligence of a carrot! Ice caps are melting, I remember when seasons were very defined, not any more, it’s getting hotter every year! I cannot remember the last time I felt I needed to wear a jacket of any description, the water temperature is changing, coral is dying; mankind will be the downfall of mankind!

Do you agree with Christine about the state of our environment? Does it piss you off as well? What can be done? Or should we leave it all be? Tell us below.