Small Deeds Are Complete Rubbish | Anthony, Caleb & Brendan Hazel | TEDxKapiti
The Waste Warriors claim that small acts of cleanup are insufficient because littering is a widespread, dangerous problem rooted in systemic issues. The central argument is that individuals must shift focus from the uncontrollable ("the outer circle") to influencing their community ("the middle circle") by adopting a growth mindset. They conclude with the mantra: "Reduce, reuse, and recycle."
## Speakers & Context
- **Anthony, Caleb, and Brendan (Waste Warriors)** — Three children leading the talk.
- **Teacher** — Adult guiding the presentation, introducing concepts like the "circle of control and influence."
- **Context:** The presentation revolves around the positive feeling derived from small community deeds (picking up litter) which fades when confronting the scale of the problem.
## Theses & Positions
- Small deeds (like picking up litter) are not enough because the underlying problem of littering is massive and widespread.
- Litter poses dangers to the environment through creating water, soil, and air pollution.
- The primary responsibility for environmental protection rests on individual influence and community action, not solely on external authorities.
- Individuals must adopt a growth mindset to effectively address environmental issues.
## Concepts & Definitions
- **Waste Warriors:** Group formed by Anthony, Caleb, and Brendan dedicated to cleaning up local litter.
- **Circle of control and influence:** A model used to guide action, dividing concerns into three zones:
- **Inner circle:** Things out of control, requiring minimal worry.
- **Middle circle:** Things one may not control but *could influence* (where the most power lies).
- **Outer circle:** Things one has no control or influence over (associated with fixed mindset comments like "It's the council's job").
- **Growth mindset:** The mental framework needed to make positive changes regarding environmental issues.
## Mechanisms & Processes
- **Waste Warriors Action Cycle:**
1. Experience the positive feeling (*warm fuzzy feeling*) from completing small deeds (picking up litter).
2. Realize the problem is bigger than the small deed (*disillusionment*).
3. Identify systemic issues (litter everywhere: beaches, parks, rivers).
4. Shift focus from just cleaning to behavioral change by re-thinking purchases and repurposing items.
5. Utilizing the *circle of control and influence* to direct effort toward points of influence rather than points of no control.
- **Pollution mechanisms:**
- Litter leads to **water, soil, and air pollution**.
- Litter **destroys the ecosystem** and harms marine wildlife (e.g., glass hitting creatures).
- Litter **leaches toxins into the soil**, causing poor ground conditions for plants.
- Plastic materials can take **hundred years to break down**, posing a great risk to global warming.
## Numbers & Data
- **80%** of the bridge found in the sea started as litter from the land (according to Keep New Zealand Beautiful).
## Examples & Cases
- **Initial Deed:** Picking up litter found gated across the local park in 2021.
- **Physical Danger Examples:**
- Litter causing children to be hit by pieces of glass.
- Litter threatening animals ("disgusting with the critters").
- Litter breaking down into components that pollute water, soil, and air.
- **Material Example:** Plastic materials taking **hundred years to break down**.
- **Systemic Example:** The **80%** statistic regarding sea bridges.
## Tools, Tech & Products
- None explicitly named beyond litter (plastics, nappies, glass, etc.).
## References Cited
- **Keep New Zealand Beautiful** — Organization cited regarding the origin of sea bridge litter.
## Trade-offs & Alternatives
- **Consumer Level Change:**
- **Alternative to plastic cups:** Using items with cardboard packaging for dinner parties.
- **Action:** Rethinking the items purchased.
- **Scope of Action:**
- **Reactive (Inner Circle):** Worrying about litter spots.
- **Influential (Middle Circle):** Working together within communities and changing habits.
- **Unhelpful (Outer Circle):** Blaming institutions ("It's the council's job").
## Methodology
- Community cleanups and subsequent educational discussion guided by environmental science concepts (pollution pathways) and behavioral models (Circle of Control).
## Conclusions & Recommendations
- **Immediate Action Required:** Due to the severity of pollution, immediate action is necessary.
- **Primary Strategy:** Working together within communities.
- **Guiding Principle:** The mantra is *Reduce, reuse, and recycle.*
- **Focus Shift:** Activating the influence sphere within the circle of control and influence.
- **Mantra Reinforcement:** "Until then, small deeds will remain rubbish."
## Implications & Consequences
- Failure to act means pollution continues, leading to uninhabitable environments due to leaching toxins and plastic breakdown.
- The shift from focusing only on removal (small deeds) to focusing on prevention (systemic change via influence) is crucial for future generations.
## Verbatim Moments
- *"A warm fuzzy feeling after doing something good for somebody else?"* (Opening question)
- *"A problem with litter, arranging from knots and peas to nappies and plastic in between."*
- *"Small deeds are rubbish."*
- *"Litter poses a danger to our environment - creating water, soil, and air pollution."*
- *"According to Keep New Zealand Beautiful, 80% of the bridge found in the sea - started as litter from the land."*
- *"There are oxford general items that use cardboard packaging rather than plastic, for example."*
- *"Please take a moment to look at the circle of control and influence."*
- *"This is the part where you can use influence."*
- *"Reduce, reuse, and recycle."*
- *"For us - for your children, and future generations."*
- *"Until then, small deeds will remain rubbish."*