Written by: Luma Q
Amman is beautiful.
Amman is home.
Amman is clean.
Yet over the past couple of years, Amman has changed. Amman is still beautiful, still home but not as clean as it used to be, which breaks my heart and makes me furious.
Every day I find myself lecturing someone on the street for littering, for ruining our home and its beauty.
I get told to mind my own business, to clean it up if I don’t like it, but some do feel ashamed and apologize.
Young teens gather in different areas of Amman every day to chat, catch up, drink, eat and when they leave, they leave their garbage behind.
Why?
I have done some extensive research on why people litter, why has our generation become so careless towards our country and its cleanliness?
- Is it because they believe the ‘Garbage men’ or Muncipality workers should clean up after them?
- Is it because we lack public garbage bins?
- Is it because people see the litter everywhere so they don't think their litter will make a difference?
- Is it because there is no sense of loyalty or pride or responsibility towards our city and country?
Even our great historic sites, the reason tourists flock to our country are filled with litter. What a shame!
Who is to blame?
Us citizens? Schools for not educating and creating enough awareness? Greater Amman Municipality for not doing enough? The Rangers and police for not ticketing litterers? The government for lack of campaigns?
We all share the blame in my opinion, but mostly the citizen and businesses who just doesn’t care.
The citizen who has become so careless that they don't see the impact of their actions on our city, country and the environment.
You don’t need to be a tree hugger to know littering is wrong.
Some argue we are better off than other countries. I don’t want to compare with worse-off countries. I want to compare with developed, clean countries, because we were once a clean country and city and we have no reason not to remain one.
Some people understand loyalty and patriotism in a whole different manner. They raise a flag or a dozen out of their car; play loud patriotic music as they sing along passionately while throwing out garbage out of their car window. Hypocritical?
A wonderful resident took the issue into his/her own hands and decided to clean up after people who come to his street to hang out, he/she even put up signs on light poles and some garbage bags. It worked for a little while, until someone tore the signs up in protest.
We all have a responsibility towards our street, neighborhood, city and country.
If you agree with me, then you must do something, clean up after a litterer, tell them this is our home, make them understand that this is unacceptable.
If GAM, the Rangers/police are not doing enough and some irresponsible citizens and businesses don’t care enough, we should take it into our own hands.
Sometimes I just wish I became a Ranger.
Amman is beautiful.
Amman is home.
Amman is not as clean anymore.
