Over the past few months, I've become increasingly angry at the sight of people littering public spaces. The way I see it, all those Environmental Education Classes and posters that instruct you to "Keep Mumbai Clean and Green" are a complete waste (no pun intended) because people just don't seem to get the message.
I am not an eco-fascist, nor am I trying to reiterate the "India's such a damned dirty country and nothing can be done about it" stance that a lot of people seem to have. I just have an issue with people who refuse to CLEAN UP after themselves. Apart from appreciating the aesthetic value of a "Don't Litter" sign, it seems to have NO instructive value to people for whom clearing up after yourself doesn't seem worth their time.
This is not a rant based on random incidences I've come across. I see it every single day. For example, Kavita and I will walk down to Andora's for a cup of coffee, only to find that every table is covered with wrappers/coffee cups/tissues. This, inspite of there a being a dustbin 6 feet away big enough to fit a baby beluga into. The same thing happens at MacDonald's from time to time. "Self Service" dammit... it means you order it yourself, pay for it yourself, and clear it yourself!!
The way I see it, I have three options:
1. say nothing, do nothing, and then fume about it.
2. say nothing, do something after they leave and fume about it.
3. give them an earful and hope for the best (this never works and I personally don't like to use it except when someone REALLY deserves it).
4. politely mention that they might have ..er.. 'accidently' dropped a tissue/cigarette butt and hope for the best.
More often than not its options 2 and 4. The strange part, is that the most unrepentant litterers are often the affluent sort - wrappers thrown from Honda Accords, face wipes left on the basins of swish restaurants, stubs left on the floor of a cafe. Does being rich excuse people from having a civic sense?
I certainly don't expect that magical things will happen, like waking up and finding that Mumbai looks a lot like Barcelona (sigh ... :) ). But it would be nice if the 'clean-up after yourself' advocates weren't looked upon as a bunch of freaks whose ultimate aim in life is to save the rainforests, and if people realized that the "Please Use Dustbin" sign does not come with a "If You Feel Like It" clause attached.
Sunday 25 February 2007
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3 comments:
You've exactly echoed my sentiments there. I was always disgusted with the kind of people who manage to keep their own homes spic and span, also maybe go to Singapore and never ever litter there but always seem to find a way to make a clean and empty spot full of used tissues, ciggie butts and what not. Then I went to Welingkars for my MBA and the whole batch there went through some hardcore Kaizen and 5S papers - am proud to say that at least those 65 people not only never ever let a stray piece out of their hands in any public place but even have the nerve to stop and correct others who do so; wherever they may be right now!! :)
Another such person is my wife, she has managed to pick fights with annoying ladies in the ladies FIRST class who insist on eating oranges and throwing the peels out of the window. I am always scared she doesn't get beaten up one of these days!!
Rock on!
It ain't never going to stop unless we DO something. Which we do, now. So give it sometime. I'm with you on this one.
kd, thanks..
and sachin, your wife has an ally in us!!
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