To my delight, the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE launched in the spring of 2023 a campaign called A Million Garbage Bags to encourage Finns to pick litter on they everyday walks. The garbage bags were recorded on the campaign's website (https://yle.fi/aihe/a/20-10004613).
Although the campaign did not quite reach the goal of a million bags of collected trash, the astounding number of more than 200 000 garbage bags shows that people are willing to work for the environment even though the only reward is their own happy feelings and the thanks of the community.
There are still countries in Europe in which littering seems to be perfectly acceptable. But even in my neat and tidy home country there are areas with different "littering cultures". As an example, I have been living in a neighbourhood where people immediately started to litter places that had just been cleaned, whereas I now live in a town where there is not even a single piece of garbage visible.
In my country, the most littered locations seem to be those where people come and go, like stations and areas near malls, as well as in neigbourhoods where migration is high. Perhaps it is easier to throw trash in the environment in a place that does not feel like home? On the other hand, I have been travelling in countries where it is the locals who are not aware of the risks of littering.
In order to reduce littering, much stronger enlightenment is required from the side of the authorities in different countries. Especially urgent it is in countries where disposing of garbage in nature has never been seen as a problem. Also in tidier countires, enlightenment should be an ongoing process.
An efficient way would be to increase environmental education in schools everywhere. As to adult citizens, YLE:s campaign was a good example of raising awareness. If needed, littering should be sanctioned more heavily.
The fastest way to clean up the environment would still be fun, communal events and campaigns. At least I would be happy to embark on a journey during which I could spend some time with locals or other travellers cleaning up nature from trash. The event would of course end in a fun evening out. Hopefully some companies or authorities take this idea and develop it into something that really works.
Text Anne Räisänen
Photo Pixabay
Comments