Christine Whelan FEO, April 27, 2023, VOL. 4 ISSUE 18

What stops you? I mean, it’s more convenient to just toss that Timmies cup out the window, rather than save it for the next garbage can you come across. So, what stops you from doing it?

Initiated by Mayor Redekop’s write-up in the previous Fort Erie Observer edition, followed up by a conversation between Jen Wilkinson, Publisher of the Observer, and me, the angle for this topic still remained blurry three days before deadline for me.

What else could I write about?

Looking back, all I kept thinking about was when I was a kid. What stopped me from littering? I realized it was growing up with the conditioning from seeing the No Littering commercials on TV, well-placed during my favourite shows. Remember “Give a Hoot, Don’t Pollute”?

It was also a consistent message from both my parents. There was always a verbal slap on the wrist when they heard my car window being rolled down from the back seat, assuming I was tossing something out. Whether I was or not, the message settled in well.

I wouldn’t dream of it now.

As a youth worker in the late 90s, I influenced and supported a group of teenagers to participate in the Adopt-a-Road program which is a public service program that allows volunteers to pick up litter along certain Regional rights-of-way. Under the program, groups and individuals agree to adopt a section of a Regional right-of-way and keep it clean.

The incentive I used for my group of teens was taking pride in a sign with the name of their group and their picture in the local newspaper.

What would work now?

Why are littering and vandalism an issue now?

Looking at it now, there are questions that can be asked. Are there enough awareness campaigns out there? Are we bringing our kids up with this value? Are parents role-modeling pride in, and respect for, their environment? Are there enough garbage cans available?

It’s easy to pass the buck when it comes to community contribution. However, it appears to be a solution of collaboration.

The Niagara Region is responsible for waste management in the Greater Fort Erie area. There is also an illegal dumping team that will respond to calls (1-800-594-5542) and lay charges. Organizations, groups, and local businesses, at times, will target an area for cleanup. The Town assists those groups by providing garbage bags and other paraphernalia.

What else can be done? Would a local Keep Our Fort Erie Clean campaign help the cause? How about more garbage cans wherever people walk?

Community members

We can take a look at how we, as individuals, can do better. Are we, as parents and grandparents, role modeling respect for our town? Words have power. Two or three words said at the right time for young children will help them remember. Remember what worked in the past? Again, I recall, “Give a hoot, don’t pollute.”

Actions speak louder than words. When the dog does its business in the grass, at the park, do you pick it up or just continue walking? And what young eyes just witnessed it?

Here is where the term partnership really plays out. If more garbage cans are put out, wherever we walk, will we respect them? Or will we use them as our personal dumpsters, giving the Town and Region reason to put the cans away again?

Is there a problem with the pick-up schedule and the soon-to-be $2.85 per extra bag?

Personal

I believe in that old adage, practice what you preach. So, I took the opportunity this past Sunday afternoon as I was walking along the lake shore with my son, Aaron, watching him teach his 10-year-old son, Benny, how to skip stones, to get a child’s perspective.

I asked my grandson what he thought about litter. His response was very strong in support of it being his, as well as everyone’s, responsibility to never litter. When I asked him where he got that message, he thought about it, then answered, “My mom.”

Moments later, Ben stepped over to where other children had dug a hole in the sand at some point. At a later point, a cigarette butt had been tossed in, as well as an A&W pop can. As we were about to leave anyway, Aaron, with a piece of paper, picked up the cigarette butt and Benny carefully picked up the pop can, tossing them into the garbage can on the way out. It was that really warm Sunday. Several beachers silently watched our exit, including other children.

It takes a village to raise a child.

What is Vandalism?

According to Preventing Vandalism by Urban Institute, “Individuals vandalize for a variety of reasons including: to convey a message, to express frustration, to stake revenge, to make money, or as part of a game.”

The information document, which is found online in downloadable .pdf format, also states, “Before implementing a strategy to prevent vandalism, it is important to define the specific nature of the vandalism problem affecting the town.

Although there are many methods that may be used to address vandalism or graffiti on one’s own, a community-wide response that incorporates other area businesses, agencies, and public services is beneficial to address any underlying community problems which may be related to vandalism, the document states.

It is suggested that community partners consider the questions provided. Answers to these questions will help understand the problem affecting the area so that an appropriate response strategy can be selected.

The questions focus on the number of incidents in a period of time, the type of vandalism, targeted areas, times of day and days of week vandalism occurs, and comparing different areas that have been affected.

To view these questions, type into your search engine “preventing vandalism urban institute”. The questions are on page 3 of the document under the heading, Defining Your Problem

Preventing Vandalism is a guide that is one in a series of crime prevention publications designed to equip current and potential Safe City partners with low-cost tools to assess their crime problems and develop strategies to address them.

Here is a selected shortlist of some slogans that can be used in the family home. Different slogans will suit different ages, using different strategies. Make it fun. You may recognize one or two.

• Be clean, be green, be a recycling machine.
• Be part of the solution, not the pollution.
• Don’t litter, it makes the world bitter.
• Every litter bit hurts.
• Feed the can, man.
• Fight dirty. Keep our parks clean.
• Give a hoot, don’t pollute.
• Here today, reused tomorrow.
• Join the green side.
• Reuse, Reduce, Recycle.
• Slam dunk the junk.
• Take care of the earth and she will take care of you.
• There is no planet B.
• You are the only cure for litter.
• Your mother does not work here.

To see all 51 slogan options, check out the webpage, brandongaille.com/51-good-no-littering-slogans.

“We are living on this planet as if we had another one to go to.” ~ Terri Swearingen