Growing up in Australia's island state, Tasmania, the ocean was never far from home. From as early as I can remember, I wondered what adventures lay over the horizon. As soon as I finished university, I gave into that wanderlust and sailed the world onboard super yachts. I was fortunate to see some of the world's most remote, fragile and beautiful environments, both above and below the water. My respect for the majesty and mystery of the oceans has always been profound and as a mother now, I realize that my children and yours, will not have these same privileges. Over recent years, I've become increasingly aware of the damage our consumption habits are wreaking on waterways, remote islands and familiar ports all over the world. Still to me, it seemed like a distant problem - one that wasn't impacting where I live.
My penny drop moment happened one stunning Summer's day on Noosa Main Beach with my hot, tired and cranky children who were whinging for the long-promised ice-cream. So, while I packed up the beach kit, I said to my kids that an ice-cream would cost them ten little pieces of rubbish. To my astonishment, within 20 metres or so of beach, my kids returned to me with a shopping bag full of bottles, cans, straws, little plastic spoons, food wrappers and cigarette butts.
We washed our hands and as we got the ice-creams, my son Liam asked for his in a cone because he didn't want the little plastic spoon that came with the cup. "They're not turtle food mum" he said "they should make them (spoons) out of biscuits".
The car trip home was filled with bright conversation and once we arrived, we got out the pencils and wrote a letter to the ice-cream store with his suggestion. My 6 year old had connected the dots between what he consumed and what could end up on one of the most beautiful beaches in Australia. I asked myself, what could I do to help other children connect those same dots?
And so, Ten Little Pieces was born. An empowerment movement for ordinary folks to make a big difference to the places they love by collecting ten little pieces of rubbish, anytime, anywhere, especially with children involved. It's an easy mantra for children to remember and repeat, developing respectful habits that connect them to the places they play, knowing that every little piece of rubbish we can stop from reaching the oceans is one less that might suffocate a bird or be ingested by a turtle. The act itself, of leaving places better than we find them, opens conversations regarding conscious consumerism, environmental stewardship and a rethinking of our concept of waste. It presents precious opportunities to develop awareness and responsibility in children by empowering them to make a huge difference to their immediate environments. In an age where disempowerment and feeling overwhelmed are commonly experienced, this simple activity demonstrates that it feels good to do good.
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Anytime, anywhere, #tenlittlepieces This is after a group training session for #exxpedition with the awesome crew from @fullbodyfitnessau 💚🌏💪 #litter #pickitup #binit #dotherightthing #leaveitbetterthanyoufoundit #ecofitness #greensquats #bendandsnap #plogging #lunges #fitnessmotivation #fitnesscoach #fullbodyfitness
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Since our humble beginnings only 18 months ago, Ten Little Pieces has become a 5 Gyres Ambassador, a community ally of Clean Up Australia and we've just been welcomed into the United Nations Environment Program – The Global Partnership on Marine Litter. What started as a Facebook group has evolved into a Not For Profit Organisation delivering empowering education programs with a growing global following.
I love the famous Maya Angelou Quote: "Do the best you can until you know better, then when you know better, do better''. When we honestly answer children's questions so that they know better, you know what happens? They do better, and they take their whole communities with them. The most powerful actors in cultural change are our kids, and I don't for a second underestimate their ability to influence not just their own environmental impact, but that of their families, their school communities and wider society.
As we engage with youth both here in Australia and internationally, I'm increasingly aware of the sense of justice and injustice they feel in the environmental context. They see right and wrong with clarity and deserve every effort to support their ambition to remedy the challenges our oceans, wildlife, air, climate and freedoms are facing.
They will reconsider, without hesitation, whether they "want" or "need" something once they understand the consequences and impact of their choices. Time and time again, I see them choosing the option that benefits the greater good and that brings me so much hope. This hope drives my passion for the education of children in regenerative concepts and closed loop systems. Could the simple act of picking up a little bit of litter really alter the perceptions of connection in a child's world? Yes it can, and it turns out, it can do so much more.
As guardians, we adults instinctively want to protect our children from danger and from fear but I caution protecting them from the truth. We're in trouble. The climate science and the burning eastern seaboard of Australia tells us that. So be ready to listen to your children, answer their questions and guide them towards action. It's very difficult to resist a teary-eyed child who begs you not to cook animals for dinner anymore.
And as we learn about the consequences of our own consumption, embody your children - put aside guilt, shame, regret and remorse and remind yourself of Angelou's wise words…. do better.
Read this next: My Community Is On Fire. To Mark World Children's Day, I'm Calling On Scott Morrison To Protect Our Kids' Future.
Written by Alison Foley
Alison is the Founder of Ten Little Pieces, is a mother of 3, a former chief stewardess, and a passionate advocate for the empowerment of children through education in conscious consumerism, regenerative concepts and closed loop systems helping them to contribute to the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
