Monday, December 13, 2010

Litter - keep Oman tidy (! or ?)

Oman is due to launch a version of the "Keep Britain Tidy' campaign!

Notwithstanding the fact that many Omanis believe it is perfectly acceptable to drop litter where ever you choose, the Government has decided that Oman needs to tap the eco-tourist.  The eco-tourist wants to visit unspoilt landscapes demonstrating the natural beauty of the world, without sight of empty plastic water bottles, plastic shopping bags or any form of natural effluence.

Example 1: Beach Games - family having just watched beach handball - where does the empty plastic water bottle go - the beach!! The fact that the bottle is thrown next to the kids' painting competition (first prize to the poster extolling the virtues of keeping the beach clean) is lost on the family.

Example 2: Wadi Bani Khalid.  Went swimming in the pools, ignored the concrete monstrosities (the picnic shades?!) to jump into the pools.  What's swimming next to me?  Its clear the local builders produce cr@p in every means possible...

Example 3: travelling to Sur, what game do we play in the car?  Not eye-spy but count the plastic shopping bags!  Not enough immigrants on the East Coast to keep it tidy...

Its so upsetting to see what should be the most beautiful country in the world spoilt this way - what is the solution? how do you educate the local population to preserve the beauty?  I wish I knew...

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