Litter

[Isaak Brodsky]

Anyone besides me ever notice how nearly every possible horizontal surface on this island seems to be a suitable place to set an newly emptied can of coffee, tea or soda?

Empty cans turn up in the oddest places throughout the island and seem to wait upon anyone besides the person who set them there to dispose of them.

[Trail]

There is a lot of litter around period, especially on base. :( Many parents lte thier kids litter and many themselves litter as well. I think it's sad and disgusting.

[Asshat]

Ian, have you been on many other islands? It's like that all over. Kiributi for example is one giant dump. What were considered pristine and sparsely inhabited are now gone.

Certain Eagles lyrics come to mind... Okinawa is actually clean.

[dweener]

It would help if they had garbage cans anywhere on this island......but i am not condoning littering........

[Asshat]

It would help if they had garbage cans anywhere on this island......but i am not condoning littering........

And the funds to pay for someone to empty them.

[Jazz]

I've seen some pretty nasty spots on the island as far as litter goes. One real bad spot, so bad it stinks is the stretch of 58 between just past Futenma and the bridge, mostly the left side. I've also seen the nasty habits and lack of care in many people, mostly Americans on base but also some lazy, mentally disturbed looking Okinawans.

The most litter I've ever seen in my liife though was the streets of Seoul in December 07', I'd imagine due to the mass quantity of people................ but I seemed to be able to find a proper receptical after holding on to my trash for long enough. I guess when a lady or husband of a lady has just aquired their 5th or 6th knock off designer purse of the day and they get a hankerin to patronize a street vendor for some sausage on a stick...............

[dweener]

Me and the wife were looking for a garbage can one day while walking down kokusai for a very long until we found one in front of a shop. After we dumped our trash, this lady came storming out yelling at us. She then took the garbage out of the can and threw it at us, and went back in our shop. I dont know what she said, but i think she was angry that we were not throwing our garbage on saome random beach.

[Isaak Brodsky]

Ian, have you been on many other islands? It's like that all over. Kiributi for example is one giant dump. What were considered pristine and sparsely inhabited are now gone. ...

Besides Tokashiki, I haven't been to any of the other Ryukyu islands. I thought that Tokashiki was quite nice.

I don't really, it just bothers me seeing some much disinterest in the general beauty of the island - especially by some of the locals, like high school kids.

Of course, even adults dispose of automobiles as if they were cigarette butts. They're tucked away in the most bizarre places for others - like the authorities - to take care of.

Chaps my ass.

[Asshat]

Besides Tokashiki, I haven't been to any of the other Ryukyu islands. I thought that Tokashiki was quite nice.

I don't really, it just bothers me seeing some much disinterest in the general beauty of the island - especially by some of the locals, like high school kids.

Of course, even adults dispose of automobiles as if they were cigarette butts. They're tucked away in the most bizarre places for others - like the authorities - to take care of.

Chaps my ass.

Tokashiki totaly depends on tourism now. Fishermen are all but gone. Clean equals revenue. It's sister island, Zamami faces the same issues and is also very clean.

It simply costs too much to dispose trash on an island.

[Daniela]

I am amazed by all the trash too. I wonder why doesn't anybody care? I am I the only one that is bothered by the dirty beaches? First thing I did when I moved into my new house is pick it all up.
Tokashiki island is really nice, but we opted for camping on a far off beach and there was nothing but trash. Very sad really.

[Isaak Brodsky]

Yeah, true dat.

I was thinking about starting up a blog or something that featured images with commentary of all the abandoned vehicles and trash that litters this island, so as to invite the scorn of would-be travelers here.

That way, depending on its popularity, the site might really motivate the authorities to do something substansive about this sort of conspicuous dumping here.

If Okinawa really wants to invite serious revenue from foreign vacationers here, I think that the attitudes of those who make this place home have got to change. This is island is a gem that needs some polishing up, seems to me.

[Asshat]

I am amazed by all the trash too. I wonder why doesn't anybody care? I am I the only one that is bothered by the dirty beaches? First thing I did when I moved into my new house is pick it all up.
Tokashiki island is really nice, but we opted for camping on a far off beach and there was nothing but trash. Very sad really.

on the more remote islands, the trash is carried in by the tide.

[billhilly]

Miyako is usually pretty clean. Amami too. Fishing and farming, but highly dependent on tourism. Maybe all the satokibi hid the junk cars and trash.
Did a few beach clean ups here. Used the tongs and everything. Day was done, my pile was pretty big, and I was asked to stand to the side while the orginizers got their pics taken for the paper. Didn't even get a t-shirt. Probably all my fault all the garbage (fishing net pieces, plastic bento boxes, tires, and beer cans mostly) was there in the first place. Even so, I still help with local clean ups.

[dweener]

I am amazed by all the trash too. I wonder why doesn't anybody care? I am I the only one that is bothered by the dirty beaches? First thing I did when I moved into my new house is pick it all up.
Tokashiki island is really nice, but we opted for camping on a far off beach and there was nothing but trash. Very sad really.

Some people believe that trash adds to the natural decor. It's outdoors feng-shui!

[Sex Wax]

I've been on a couple of Beach clean-ups. We went to the same place twice, and there was more trash there the second time not more than 1 month later! I think it is mostly young people and constuctions workers because it was alot of bento containers and coffee cans and tons of cigarette buts. That and i think we pissed off about 75 stray cats taking all thier stuff away.

[dweener]

Me and the Wife go Geocaching, and bring big garbage bags when we go. We have cleaned up a lot of junk.....dont think its helping though.

[Daniela]

I've been on a couple of Beach clean-ups. We went to the same place twice, and there was more trash there the second time not more than 1 month later! I think it is mostly young people and constuctions workers because it was alot of bento containers and coffee cans and tons of cigarette buts. That and i think we pissed off about 75 stray cats taking all thier stuff away.

Hell, I think I pissed off the home less lady living on my beach. She has a sign up about no one at night and no "insert n word here". I knock down her sign every time and a day later it's back up.
I deceided I am going to feed her and make friends with her. Maybe then I am allowed.

[Asshat]

Miyako is usually pretty clean. Amami too. Fishing and farming, but highly dependent on tourism. Maybe all the satokibi hid the junk cars and trash.
Did a few beach clean ups here. Used the tongs and everything. Day was done, my pile was pretty big, and I was asked to stand to the side while the orginizers got their pics taken for the paper. Didn't even get a t-shirt. Probably all my fault all the garbage (fishing net pieces, plastic bento boxes, tires, and beer cans mostly) was there in the first place. Even so, I still help with local clean ups.

Amami is a good example of my point about the sea bringing the trash in. It's well off the kuroshio. Go to some of the remote islands to the west, and you will find the trash. Also, Amami is very protected with either large bays or cliffs on it's coastline.

[Sex Wax]

Hell, I think I pissed off the home less lady living on my beach. She has a sign up about no one at night and no "insert n word here". I knock down her sign every time and a day later it's back up.
I deceided I am going to feed her and make friends with her. Maybe then I am allowed.

Thats messed up. She might be crazy in the head though. Good idea cooking her some food though.

[okisteve]

Amami is a good example of my point about the sea bringing the trash in. It's well off the kuroshio. Go to some of the remote islands to the west, and you will find the trash. Also, Amami is very protected with either large bays or cliffs on it's coastline.
I think it happens on hontou also. A friend who lives in Tokujin always comes home with bales of flotsam when they go down to the beach.