All The World's A Dustbin

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.