Doing a Maffi

[paddy r]

This is going to sound strange but.I was reading Maffi blog and then i went out today and picked a bag full of pop bottles ,papers,and old fishing tackle (yes i fish as well so i'm not picking on them).I feel so much better for doing it!I think we could go out when we have 5mins to spare and DO A MAFFI

[cotswoldsman]

Well done

[Graham Davis]

Good man.

Have a greenie.

[blackrose]

Well done, but perhaps the people who deposited this litter could be persuaded to feel better about themselves by not leaving it there in the first place.

 

As well as dealing with the symptom, we need to tackle the cause. I'm in favour of schools taking classes out on litter picking lessons, but of course our H&S culture would be outraged.

Edited January 29, 2012 by blackrose

[jenlyn]

Well done, but perhaps the people who deposited this litter could be persuaded to feel better about themselves by not leaving it there in the first place.

 

As well as dealing with the symptom, we need to tackle the cause. I'm in favour of schools taking classes out on litter picking lessons, but of course our H&S culture would be outraged.

thats quite a good idea, early learning

[blackrose]

thats quite a good idea, early learning

 

Yes, get the kids out to learn about their environment and do and hour or two of litter picking (with appropriate gloves, etc) and I'm sure they'd be less likely to grow up as litterers themselves. It could be combined with lessons in appreciation of the natural environment and/or the interactions between natural and urban environments. I really don't understand why this isn't being done. Most kids love getting out of the classroom.

Edited January 29, 2012 by blackrose

[bargemast]

Yes, get the kids out to learn about their environment and do and hour or two of litter picking (with appropropriate gloves, etc) and I'm sure they'd be less likely to grow up as litterers themselves. It could be combined with lessons in appreciation of the natural environment and/or the interactions between natural and urban environments. I really don't understand why this isn't being done. Most kids love getting out of the classroom.

 

 

I agree completely, and the children are even going to learn their parents (if needed) to pick up their rubbish, and to not make a mess for others to clear up.

 

Children are very good, and could become little teachers, a friend om mine has a 10 year old child, that had classes at school about how to behave in traffic, and she's constantly saying him that he should use his indicators more often, not go faster then the allowed speed, not brake hard at the last moment, respect the traffic lights, and the rest of a long list, and... miracle, it seems to work (when she is with him).

 

Peter.

[FrigateCaptain]

If you see a yoof drop a coke/cider/stella can or any other "hard" litter, pick it up and smash them in the back of the head with it.

Soft litter like wrappers and big mac boxes you can pin them down and force them to eat it.

 

That'll teach them, society is far to soft nowerdays

[Leni]

First thing to teach children, at the earliest possible age, IMHO, is : "When you throw something away, where is 'Away'?" Lots of useful follow-up on land-fill sites, sewage disposal, recycling, etc. follow.

[carlt]

I was walking along, one day, and a child, walking in front of me with his parents, dropped a crisp bag on the pavement.

 

My ex (former school teacher) picked the bag up, caught up with the family and the conversation went pretty much like this:

 

Ex: "Excuse me but your child dropped something." (hands crisp bag to Father of child)

Dad: "It's rubbish!" (looking at bag in horror)

Ex: "Don't you think you should be teaching your child not to drop litter? There's a bin over there."

Dad: "Fuck off!" (drops crisp bag on the floor and carries on walking.)

 

What hope do kids have when their parents weren't taught to bin their litter.

[Nightwatch]

Not so long ago we were in a senior school cleaning the carpets. Part of the brief was to remove chewing gum. There must have been in excess of 3000 bits of the stuff on just one corridor.

 

I got the chance to speak to the Head about this and suggested that as most of the 'droppings' were near the classroom entrances that maybe a collection bin be placed on the wall adjacent to the door frames. In addition a photo of his good self so that the 'children' could stick it on his nose.

 

I was most surprised when I returned to the next school holiday to clean the carpets again that there was indeed, as I suggested, a bin complete with a photo of the 'Teacher of the Day'. There was still loads of chewing gum on the carpets but no where near as much as before.

 

Will this catch on.

 

 

 

Martyn

[Purple Fairie]

Let's not blame the kids for all the rubbish please!

We have a lot of litter on our bank and not a lot of kids in the area, some of it is from the Polish fishermen, but most of it is from the 'refuse' area when it's windy.

Our 15 year old daughter makes it one of her weekend jobs to pick up all the rubbish from the bank and river, and she sorts it for the recycling.

[Nightwatch]

The majority of persons in a school are children, I think.

 

 

 

Martyn

[CV32]

People learn from example, children used to learn good manners, politeness and things such as not dropping litter from their teachers, parents and peers. Sadly it seems those days have gone.

As Carlt points out, challenging parents these days can also result in abuse, many people are not brave enough to do so anymore.

[davey b]

thats quite a good idea, early learning

 

I remember this was a sponsored event as a Cub Scout... Kids love rubbish as there is always something funny they find (or embarrassing to the parent/leader/teacher - dog poo is always a favourite, it appear magnetic to kids shoes, but the stash of porn mags or discarded underwear will take some explaining!)

 

The H&S considerations are there, but easily managed with forethought and parental inclusion. The risk assessment for litter picking on the tow path will be very water-centric first with the rubbish easily covered with tools, equipment, ppe and supervision.

 

I agree completely, and the children are even going to learn their parents (if needed) to pick up their rubbish, and to not make a mess for others to clear up.

 

Children are very good, and could become little teachers, a friend om mine has a 10 year old child, that had classes at school about how to behave in traffic, and she's constantly saying him that he should use his indicators more often, not go faster then the allowed speed, not brake hard at the last moment, respect the traffic lights, and the rest of a long list, and... miracle, it seems to work (when she is with him).

 

Peter.

 

 

I was walking along, one day, and a child, walking in front of me with his parents, dropped a crisp bag on the pavement.

 

My ex (former school teacher) picked the bag up, caught up with the family and the conversation went pretty much like this:

 

Ex: "Excuse me but your child dropped something." (hands crisp bag to Father of child)

Dad: "It's rubbish!" (looking at bag in horror)

Ex: "Don't you think you should be teaching your child not to drop litter? There's a bin over there."

Dad: "Fuck off!" (drops crisp bag on the floor and carries on walking.)

 

What hope do kids have when their parents weren't taught to bin their litter.

 

The former post is how the latter can be changed. Without turning this into an 'education standards of yesteryear...' dialogue, the effect children have on their parents is noticeable in most quarters. There will always be the ill-educated thugs that cannot be changed, but the child effect on attitude is mostly positive.

 

I don't have any children, but the change noticed in friends is remarkable. If this can be channelled positively then the society and environment can only benefit.

 

More bins would help. I know the problems but people can only be encouraged.