Marcia Harden with MEET (Mermaids End and Eradicate Trash) America, joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this mornign to talk about the program.
What is MEET America?
Harden said, “I am a swimmer, therefore I call myself mermaid. So we came up with the concept of MEET America walking from the arches in Daytona to Key West. It was a challenge by a friend who saw me walk up and down Daytona Beach for miles and miles picking up trash. I moved to Daytona in 2018 and saw the immediate need to clean the beach. Our country is a botanical garden. The world is a botanical garden, and all of its complexities and diversities combine to create unity. We, however, have become complacent to that unity, and are apparently cleaning our cars by trashing our country. It’s not just Florida, it’s the whole country.”
Harden is more than 70 years old and has already picked up a half a ton of trash.
She said, “I am 72. I am a very healthy senior citizen, and I refer to myself as 18 for the 54th time. I will be 18 for the 55th time, 73 on Christmas Eve.”
She walked 406 miles in 36 days.
Harden said it was “10 to 12 miles per day was, that was our average, and dependent upon the amount of trash we came upon. The length of the day, we walked anywhere from eight hours to 10 or 12.”
Has she gotten support along the way?
Harden said, “It was a precious little concept. We pulled a wagon with us. My husband, Bill was my mule, and on the back of the wagon, there was a sign that said, support vehicle for MEET America walking Daytona to Key West, with two American flags on each side of the back of the wagon. So it was an invitation for people to ask questions, and we just pointed out the fact that we need to be more aware of the ecology of our world, the innocent children of this country, in order to have a future, need a clean environment. They need clean water. Enough has been said about that. Let’s put it into practice. The innocent animals of the sea need clean water in order to swim and live and thrive. The birds of the beach and the inland animals cannot pick up this trash. We’re taking them for granted. We’re taking the universe for granted. The creation of our world is perfection and unity in all of its complex diversities, and we need to appreciate it. We need to put trash in trash cans.”
Did anything surprise her?
Harden said, “Certain areas, I was astoundingly surprised. For instance, Big Pine Key where the deer roam freely. And I think there are as many deer live there, as people live there, I was astounded at the amount of trash. Other areas Miami Beach, beautiful. I was astounded at the cleanliness of Miami Beach as crowded as it is. So hats off to areas who already control our litter problem. Compliments to Mayor Dee Dee as she literally controls litter in Key West. I look forward to taking back to Daytona Beach Shores where I live her plan to our mayor. The depth of my heart began when I picked up a plastic bag on Daytona Beach that had a hatchling Loggerhead in it. So among my tears, I didn’t know what to do with that tiny baby turtle. Thankfully, we have a Marine Hospital on Ponce Inlet, similar to the one in Marathon. So I took the turtle there, and they told me that was the right thing to do. Hence, from that point, I joined Volusia turtle patrol, and am doing my best to enhance marine life, because all life circles around and complements all other lives, and we want to keep it going for our children’s future. I’m very thankful for my health, and I think the answer to staying healthy is remaining active. Therefore I chose to do mine through a walking program. And senior citizens can remain active, and in so doing, we can be productively active. There is a lot of exercise in bending over and picking up trash, however dependent upon your health status, when you begin an exercise program or start something new in your life, regardless of your age, please consult your primary care provider and create what’s right for you within your lifestyle to benefit the Earth, but put your health first and consult with your primary care provider before starting an exercise program.”
Does Harden have any other endeavors?
She said, “When I return to Daytona, I will go back to work as a home health care nurse, and then next year, when turtle season comes in in early May and ends at Halloween, I plan to walk the northern portion of the state of Florida from the Daytona arches to the Georgia Line. Therefore, I will be able to say I have picked up trash from the entire eastern coast of Florida. The second trip will be less than half the journey as the first, but it will also be the cooler. And being a mermaid, I like warm weather. As we have met America, we have encouraged everyone to commit to picking up a bag of trash a day or a bag of trash a week, dependent upon their health status. Thank you for giving me the time this morning to ask for further commitments to our cause of cleaning up the country.”