The destruction of La Poza De Las Mujeres Beach In Manati, Puerto Rico
Update: I wrote this in 2016, but the destruction continues today as people continue to treat this and the whole island like a landfill. Here you can read of the continuation of the destruction of this beautiful beach.
This post was written in 2016 before hurricane maria and hurricane maria did cause damage to the entrance to this beach. But the damage that hurricane maria causes is nothing to what the destruction the people do to this and many other beaches and rivers around the beautiful paradise as the people continue to trash the island and treat it like a landfill.
Here we have Poza de las Mujeres en Manatí, Puerto Rico. A beautiful beach with tranquil waters. This is one of the beaches I decided to be the guardian of as you can read here as to why I decided to be the guardian of the many beaches and rivers of Puerto Rico.
This beach in particular was not well known as it is kind of out of the way where you have to either climb down those rocks below the 4 palms in the center which is the what you will see further in this post or through a path to get there, which was as worse as this one.
But now with the power of social media, people are finding these beautiful gems such as this beach and the adjacent beaches around.
So uh yeah some would say that I complain a lot about the garbage here in Puerto Rico. But when you see this day in and day out in such a beautiful place, why would anyone accept this as normal.
This is the walkway to the beach I was in yesterday, La poza de las mujeres. So people would pass through this like like it was second nature.
DA DA DA nothing to see…. move along.
This went on all the way to the other trail going out. Bottles of beers scattered about, it’s truly sad that this is what we as a “society” have become and again it’s not only here but all around this world. this is humanity’s pattern, it has become our way of life. Worldwide.
We have become numb to it, we have become nothing but a world of consumers. We buy plastic cups just to use them once and throw it to the side when we could use a reusable cup, but washing that cup would be too much work for most as we live in a world of convenience.
In my observation, We just want to get drunk from this world. People just want to go the beaches and get wasted and have a good ol’ time.
I think Alcoholism is a huge problem in this island and not only on this island but across the world.
We have become disassociated with nature and we continue to live a life filled with stress and where we want to numb that stress away,we want to break out of the shell and so we have become numb to the world.
The primary garbage that I find all over this island is alcohol, beer bottles and cans. Of course plastic everywhere. Don’t we ever stop to think of our actions. I wrote a blog on plastic and why we should use less and what we could do to change our consumption of plastic, which could be found here.
There once was a travel documentary in the 50’s called “Welcome to Fiesta Island”. Which can be found on that link.
That is what seems like the people just want. To just party all the time and there is no problem with wanting to have a good time.
But we should be responsible for what we do, we should strive to try to change this world and our bad habits. We should want to try to better this world instead of engulfing it with our ignorance.
Garbage should not be second nature. It should not be something we should be used to. We should not sit next to garbage like if it was a normal thing, our children should not be playing in garbage.
This is what your children inherit from their parents. This is the cycle we pass on to them, We no longer know the meaning of respect and like one of my signs read, “You don’t respect the earth, because you don’t respect yourselves.” A radical sign, but something that had to be said.
Enjoy the beaches of Puerto Rico
Come enjoy the beaches of Puerto Rico, Just gotta walk over the garbage to get to the beach.
This is what happens in just one day. This the path going down to the beach through the rocks below.
One person throws garbage the next person follow because this world has become nothing but a world of followers.
We allow ourselves to be manipulated by the actions of others. We become that product of this environment. We see that others don’t care and so we start not caring.
It becomes infectious.
When we should not allow the stupidity of others influence our frame of thought.
People want Garbage cans in beaches like this where it would be difficult for someone to come in to pick up their garbage.
But it all goes back again to convenience, people want others to come pick up after them.
They have this mentality of entitlement. There method of thinking is well if they don’t have a garbage can for us we are just gonna leave it here and that is the kind of mentality we breed and pass on to our children.
It’s just too much work to carry your lighter than you brought it in garbage.
I always say if you want garbage cans and others to come pick up after you then you should pay to enter that beach so that others can come clean up after your entitled buttocks.
It;s that simple, and even more simple than that is you take the garbage that you brought with you back with you.
Most of the people I encounter at this beach come from the metropolitan area, around the capital area of the island, San Juan.
So people come from afar to leave their garbage in this and other beautiful beaches.
WHY?
I ask WHY?
How hard is it to put it back in your precious car, oh no, can’t have garbage in your car.
We are in need of an expansion of consciousness because we live in a world where the people’s consciousness has become numb and sedated.
We and I say we as the world not only Puerto Rico, we need to open our eyes and see what we as a humanity are doing not only to our world, but to the species that call it home and to what we leave our future.
They should not inherit this world. This concrete mentality and environment that we continue to create along with our ignorance.
This is the destruction of the poza de las mujeres and the destruction of our own HOME.
This is what happens not only in this beach but many beautiful beaches and rivers and along the sides of the road of this beautiful enchanted island.
It’s a widespread infectious disease and we just can’t stop burying our home, it’s species, including our own selves.
It pains me to see such a beautiful island and the rest of this beautiful world be destroyed and allowed to be destroyed by our own ignorance and stubbornness.
The stubbornness to change our ways and instead of leaving nothing but footprints. we leave a path of destruction.
Such a beautiful paradise that we have confined into a hell that we continue to make it. We took heaven and confined it into hell and we continue to go no where in this world but to our own demise.
I want to get paint and paint on this giant wall,some of the signs because people need signs in order to remind them what they need to do. But something like what is written in this world won’t suffice in a world to numb, which is why my signs had to be “radical and extreme”.
Well I know most people won’t like what I have to say but it has to be said. The problem of this world is we stay silent about things that matter.
I am not trying to paint this island in a bad way. I just want to bring attention to the problem at hand.
We have to stop the mass consumption again bring your own cups and you can use your cooler as a garbage can the same way your brought it in.
WHAT A CONCEPT!
We have to reduce our consumption as best we can.
Let’s wake up, lets change the way we see this world, lets not accept this as normal, we are the change,we can either be the plague or be the cure.
We have to pave a better path for a better future, we should not be handing down our shovels. We should only pass down shovels if we plan to grow food, not garbage!
Here is a video
Born and raised in Manati, in my early teens, going to La Poza de Las Mujeres, was sort of a picnic family affair. We frolicked, enjoyed the pristine water, ate, took naps, etc. It was an all day affair. However, there was an unwritten law, no trash on the area. If we had to get rid of something, usually there was a good size cardboard box were we discarded what we did no need or ate, candy wrappers, cigarette butts, etc. Then before leaving, we went around picking whatever was left behind. This was back in the late 40’s early 50’s, when we used to address our elders with lot of respect (yes sir, no sir, etc). Also, there were no buildings or houses around there. It was a very quiet , clean place enjoyed and kept clean by the visitors. It is a crime shame the way it looks nowdays. People should be ashamed in not taking some action to clean the area so it can be more enjoyable.
Respect does not exist in this world nor consideration. Puerto Rico must have been much more beautiful and pristine back then. I wrote this blog and have a video of Puerto RIco in the 50’s which could be found here Thanks for the comment
The Puerto Rico government needs to put TRASH CANS throughout the beach. Also, hire sanitation workers or people doing community work, volunteers, youth that have committed petty crimes pick up the garbage. Start with the local politicians implementing these programs that I’m describing as projects for the betterment of their country/state. It can be done!!
I think it’s the people that need to get together as a community to start changing things and that starts by firstly not throwing the trash. I think people can reverse the trend and start cleaning up. Again garbage cans in beaches that are hard to get into and rivers is not a feasible option. When there are garbage cans, the people would stuff them and leave the rest of the garbage to the sides where the cats dogs and wind get to, leaving it scattered. It just breeds a mentality of entitlement as is the case. As I said in a previous comment. to hire others you would need to raise taxes and pay admission to enter these beaches. The people need to start taking action for the power of change lies in their hands. Thanks for the comment
Hello; I’ts about time someone do something about this. Puerto Rico tiene los recursos para seguir adelante. Las playas ,rios, y con hspitalidad .Pero muchas personas se quejan de esto cuando vienen a visitar la Isla . Si todoes ponen de su parte para mantener la Isla limpia seria una Bellesa Espectacular ,,Y es por supuerto .Entonces tendran que poner camaras en todos los lugares y desacerse de la basura que no le importa o valorisa la casa. Mandarlos para atras de donde vienen. Nos tienen ciegos con tanta gente de otros paises que en realidad no les importa como el mundo nos mira ,pues Ni son de nuestra tierra es por eso que la criminalidad y la basura que Estados Unidos nos envia o abrio las puertas para que entren cualquier puerco (a).Entonces tenemos a las Naciones unidads en P.R. salgan de los que no son indigenas de aqui y entonces nuestros hijos y hijas tendran mas trabajo y a los que se quieren quedar entonces ,Keep Eye on them like the big “fish America ” lo hace. Ya ahi que reclamar la isla , Now.
I applaud your activism. It takes a long time to raise awareness and change habits, sometimes a generation or 2. Don’t give up. You’ve started a movement
thanks for the comment. A long time indeed. I think the people need to start waking themselves up. but alas, this world is too much in a dream state.
Me gustaría contactarte para colaborar. Escríbeme a mi email opticpleasurepr@gmail.com
Disponemos de varias agencias que si coordinarán entre sí..le dan un detente de manera punitiva a la situación Pq esto es peor que salvajismo. Unasen; DRNA, POLICIA MUNICIPAL Y DE PR, OSFL, UNA LÍNEA PARA QUE TODO CIUDADANO RETRATE Y DENUNCIE
I have been considering this topic and what we can do to help. I’m thinking of making signs to put up in these areas with “fun facts” to help educated the ppl. I feel like if they were more informed we will naturally take better choices. I was at this beach not long ago and there were several trash bags in the areas which to me looked like an organized mess in a way. I assumed it was the place that the trash was normally picked up and i left my stuff there aswel. If i would have known better I would have never done so. So maybe simple things like getting a few big trash cans before the trail begins and signs around the trashy areas letting ppl know this stuff is sitting here and traveling into oceans would really help. As obvious as it may seem when ur out having a good time, by the end ur drunk and a little dehydrated and not thinking straight.
Which is why I always say if you bring it, take it back home. It’s like when their is just one garbage can found at a beach, people would lay their garbage to the sides, when dogs and cats would come to rip up the garbage bags and where the wind would come to finish blowing it all around, leaving it scattered all about. It’s about changing our mentality on what we do and of our actions because each of our actions leads to consequences. Thanks for the comment
Esto escrito en español seria excelente para que le llegue a mas personas! La situación es preocupante
Gracias. lo puedes encuentra en espanol aqui
There are also people who care and do whatever they can to help. I moved to Isabela in 2004, in 2006 after a disadisastrous long weekend where garbage covereithe coast, many in our community organized businesses, and individuals to meet with the mayor to address the garbage problem but it wasn’t enough. We made an organization called Rescate Playas Isabela and started with beach cleanups, and coordinated with DRNA to install garbage cans on stakes in the areas most needed. We also got permission to paint a large wall at Jobos beach and asked for people to donate paint and take part in painting a large mural. A local artist drew abstract art / outline with chalk and with donations and volunteers as well as beach goers the mural was completed within a week. Since it was a community project we also knew it would be protected because everyone pitched in. We later made wooden signs to hang up along the beach roads and held workshops on recycling, reef life, etc. We try to have volunteers hand out bags on long weekends and always approach people in a friendly, non confrontational manner and are well received. Nobody likes being scolded so much of the success is due to the approach used. you can visit our facebook page for more info.
That is great. I have been trying to get others here to pitch in on painting the walls with a nice mural. your comment has motivated me futher to get it done and reach out to others. thanks. I know there are people who care but it’s in the minority. Too many people who don’t care engulfs the island. I am a bit extreme with my approach, but I found that it works because people just don’t respond to please clean the beach. When I walk around with my signs, people stat cleaning up their areas and making sure it was clean. I did organize beach cleanups, but not many people would show, so I decided to just do it on my own. I issued a challenge to change things which could be found here a simple challenge for everyone, because if everyone did their part we could change the world. Well thanks for the comment. much peace and love.
Well said. People expect the government tp go out and clean. They expect to find a clean beach to enjoy but at the end of the day they leave the garbage behind because someone else will take care of it.
. Oh yea, people expect others to come wipe their ass for them. People have grown inconsiderate of their world and others. garbage is what they want to leave behind for the next people who come to enjoy the beach and their children. it’s a damn shame. Thanks for the comment. much peace and love and be sure to visitmy site again some day radicallywild.com
Lo mismo está sucediendo aquí en Survivor en Aguadilla. Y para vergüenza y tristeza quienes la dejan sucia son los nativos nosotros los, “Orgullosos” puertorriqueños. Llegan con Neveras llenas de cervezas y bolsas y no las recogen. Se le rompen Los zapatos y allí Los dejan tirados, latas, chanclas, botellas de cristal, plasticos y cualquier clase de cosa que no quieran cargar de regreso a sus vehiculos con ellos. Los Qué no Viven aquí en PR no traen BBQ ni bolsas porque tienen otra mentalidad
Exacto, todas las playa estan asi aqui. Como dices “orgullosos”, la gente le importa una bandera mas que su propio pais como escribe aqui la cruel verdad. No soy de esta isla pero yo demuestro que me importa y hice mucho por esta isla que muchos nacidos aqui, cada semana limpiabas las playas. Bueno espero que la gente se despiertan. Gracias por su commentario. puedes encuentra este blog en espanol aqui, Please share. Gracias, mucho paz y amor
Tienen razòn, más espero hayan ayudado a recoger.. la limpieza de las playas ha mejorado pero nunca será perfecto y ahi es donde entran los municipios y ciudadanos. Dado la quiebra nacional puede que necesitemos activar el ejercito de gente que no solo no ensucie sino que saque unos minutos para limpiar un poco.. es parte de mis hábitos playeros.. ese es el próximo paso..
Durante los 4 anos pasado yo estube organizing limpiezas de las playas y protestaba con mis letreros todo los weekends, durante protestando siempre limpiabas las playas solito por la costa. Pero yo soy solo una persona por eso hice este reto Para cambiar las cosas, pero mucho no lo compartan. parace que es mucho trabajo para muchos. Sorry for my bad spanish. Aqui puedes encuentra este post in spanish. Thanks for your comment. Much peace and love
YEA PR IS A BEAUTIFUL.PLACE WHERE U COULD GO AND ENJOY UR DAY IN A BEAUTIFUL BEACH ..BUT SOME OF THEM ARE NOT TAKEN CARE OF I WOULD SAY TO THE PUERTORIQUENS TELL YOUR ALCADE TO SEND PEOPLE TO CLEAN THESE BEACHES OR PRISIONER THAT COMENOUT TO DO LABOR SEND THEM TO THESE PLACES FOR OUR BEACHES COULD LOOK AMAZING ….
As I wrote before, it’s not the government who should be cleaning up after the people. It is the people who should take responsibility of their actions by taking out what they bring in. Many beaches and rivers here in Puerto Rico are found in places that is hard to get to. Many rivers you have to walk miles through a forest. Again if people want others to come clean as you say, then that would only mean higher taxes and admission to enter to pay for those people. This is our home and it’s up to the people to maintain it to be amazing. Thanks for your comment. Puedes encuentra esto en espanol aqui
This is why Monica lives in Miami and not in Puerto Rico. We are champion on despite the beauty of the island and like to promote the development new ways of steel the dignity, the soul, and the image of Boriquen . Our leaders careless give rules of moral in social caracter, direccion without a valid goal on education and structure economics proyects to the island and do not understand the meaning on economic and his purpose and make it to work. This is why people do not care do to lak of care fron leaders and
Sorry, I can read in English but I can’t write in that language. Es una pena que la gente haya “descubierto” esta hermosa playa y la esten destruyendo de esta manera. Tengo 54 años y durante mi niñez y adolescencia mi padre nos traía en las vacaciones a este bello lugar. No había basura ni destrucción. Nosotros hacíamos lo que tu dices, traíamos bolsas para la basura o la llevábamos dentro de la nevera de playa, ya que habíamos consumido lo que trajimos en ella. La gente necesita de personas como tu, que nos obliguen a crea conciencia. Gracias por hacer y decir lo que otros no se atreven.
Gracias por el comment. Aqui lo escribi en espanol Si un pena que la gente ya no respetan la tierra. No se si la gente pueden desperta ya que parace que este munder has retrecido. pero tengo la esperanza que puedemos cambiar. o que yo haz hecho no es facil pero sigo por ahi. gracias de nuevo, y visita mi pagina de nuevo algun dia. mucho paz y amor