Green seems to be a favourite colour for many people these days, in that it represents the environment, and a concern for preserving it and taking care of it.
Over the last several years, the level of awareness has greatly increased about how important our environment is, and the importance of looking after our planet by such practices as the "Three Rs": reduce, reuse and recycle.
All of this is good and proper, and is taught as a matter of course in most schools, and practiced by many, if not most, households and businesses.
Thus in many places one can not only see garbage bins, but also bins for the placement of recyclables like bottles, cans, paper and cardboard.
Again, this is a great thing, and helps to keep recyclable or reusable items out of the landfill. The idea is also to keep refuse of all kinds off the streets, and out of the parks and other green spaces, so we can live in clean beautiful neighbourhoods, with clean green spaces for walking, running or enjoying recreational activities.
With all of this emphasis on loving and caring for our environment, why is it then that so many people litter the streets and pathways and parks of our beautiful city? Why are so many people tossing garbage out of their vehicles, or leaving refuse in or near parks where the public-at-large has to see it?
This is not only disrespectful of the environment, but of other residents and their children.
When a family or a group of friends, or a solitary walker or runner, goes out to enjoy the paths of the Tatagwa Parkway or on the Souris Valley grounds, or walking on the sidewalks through this fair city, should they have to put up with fast food wrappers, empty bottles or cartons, or empty bags and cigarette butts and so on?
Most emphatically, they should not - and it should be pointed out, this is setting a bad example to the children of the community, who see adults doing this shameful act instead of putting their garbage into refuse bins or garbage bags, the same adults who tell them about the wonders and beauty of maintaining and preserving the environment.
Adults and children alike need to relearn the importance of taking care of the environment, and that this includes picking up litter, and placing all garbage in the proper place.
