#97: Мусор
In my previous post, I wrote how frustrated I was with public (and private) bathrooms in Kyrgyzstan. There is another problem, which is getting out of control: trash, garbage, rubbish. Bishkek's streets are so filthy that if you stand for 10 minutes on any intersection, you will observe rats jumping between holes and ditches trying to cross sidewalks. Ditches along roads are filled with cigarette packs, plastic bottles and cans, and plastic bags.
However, Bishkek is not the only place where it is a problem. Just drive to neighboring villages around Bishkek, or for that matter anywhere in Kyrgyzstan, you will see white and orange plastic bags and plastic bottles scattered around along roads and all over fields. Kyrgyzstan has to have a national campaign on. We have to learn to throw trash in bins. Even bigger problem are the waste dumps. The government should do something about taking the trash out as frequently as possible and do something with dumps (burying it in safe places?).
Every time I drive from Osh to Nookat (and further to Batken), I pass by a huge dump, where all the garbage from Osh is dumped. Poor people have build small shacks on it. They work and live there with their kids, who dig the dump looking for scrap metal, food, clothes, and anything that can be sold.
It is the same along the road to Issykul and on the beaches. We have to change our habits.
5 comments:
Bakiev has turned to this question as well, at least in Bishkek. As he promised akims of the filthy districts will be fired.
However, I think Kyrgyz government should put restrictions on plastic production, especially bags.
kairatbek, why would you restrict production when you should restrict littering?
Well, restrictions on either production or imports, whatever is dominant. Because, there's too much of it. Bags presented by sellers for FREE, encourages people to trash more. At least my trash can is mostly filled with bags from my shopping...
How can you possibly expect people whose a) many basic needs are unfulfilled and b) education is inappropriate care about the environment? When I had little food when I was growing up and lived a generally difficult life, I could care less about trash. As soon as standards of living began to improve for me personally and continued to be educated, my outlook onto taking care of the environment changed drastically.
I think what would make a difference in the current state of affairs in Kyrgyzstan is to think long-term (and oh so many politicians in the former Soviet Union lack that....they just want to steal as much as they can and run). You have to raise a new generation (meaning you're thinking 30-50 years ahead) that will be environment conscious even in the difficult lifestyles the Kyrgyz people are forced to live. That means 30-50 years of sustained financing of a nationwide campaign to raise that generation, educating people from very early on. Does that sound real to you?
Sorry for a huge comment, just my $0.02 worth. :)
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