Civic sense

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” We are so slaved in this era that we do not have little time to spare expecting others to do our little homework.

In line with the latest breach on littering, I feel this should have been imposed long back and in fact, this is patent common sense that we refrain from littering, isn’t it?

Back home some of my close friends cite smiling at me we need to litter and if we don’t that’s the problem. Although it might be a witticism it’s a reality. Some lack basic common civic sense absolutely and I awe if they even litter the place where they reside. Although not all intellects have the same thinking capacity at least we try to sensibly use it.

Why is it that only a few of us need to do our homework and raise an alarm? There are many instances that I have caught people spitting on the roads, littering the parks, and throwing garbage bags from the top of their buildings which eventually hits someone’s head passing by.

There are so many products that we use mindlessly every day, without a thought to how they might be affecting the environment around us. The time has come for us to think carefully before we use any product and look for healthy alternatives.

Maybe it’s high time for the authorities not just to impose fines on people but make them clean the dirt up. Although there are garbage trucks and janitors who clean the streets and lanes every day the general public must be conscious of not dirtying the surroundings and giving them a hard time, especially taking the mere remuneration they get living in sharing camps.

As most of us are educated, having the basic sense to not litter our surroundings is key. If educated people start acquitting so uncivilised what lesson are you teaching to those who are uneducated?

People need to fathom the gravity of the situation and realise that if not for us, nobody else can keep the milieu clean. Controlling the urge to litter and develop an attitude would help in keeping our environment clean and green. Each of us has a responsibility of keeping our city clean so let’s do it and not wait for others to come and clean our gutter.

Mathew Litty,
Dubai