Jake’s Sunday Post challenge for this week was on the broad topic of, “Concept.” In Jake’s outline of the topic he included the following description of the idea of concept as a, “broad principle affecting perception and behavior: a broad abstract idea or a guiding general principle, one that determines how a person or culture behaves, or how nature, reality, or events are perceived…”
That got me thinking about the Ecuadorian government’s ongoing effort to change the populace’s paradigms regarding the environment here in Ecuador.
My wife and I started to become enamored with the idea of retiring in Ecuador almost seven years ago. We did research, read books, corresponded with scores of people who knew about Ecuador, and finally set a date to come on an exploratory journey to Ecuador in June of 2009. We loved almost everything about Ecuador from the mountains to the coast and especially loved the people we met and talked with along the way.
However…
One of the things that disturbed us most was the attitude the people seemed to have about garbage. We watched people drop garbage on the street and saw piles of waste surplus along the roadway or in vacant lots. Then when we flew into Manta Airport and boarded the bus to drive northward along the coast we saw that the old highway was littered with trash. It looked like the residents of Manta had been loading up garbage in sacks or otherwise and discarding the garbage along the first twenty feet of both shoulders of the roadway for miles and miles. One had to direct his or her vision above the shoulders to appreciate the beauty and majesty of the ancient ceibo trees growing in abundance there.
Our Ecuadorian guide on the bus even commented that as the workers complete the new highway the area would be cleaned up. But, it was obvious that a major change would be needed in the thinking of a populace that would create the problem in the first place.
Wisely, the government recognized that need and started with the children. Every public school that I have seen here in Ecuador has murals and signs painted on the walls near the entrance to the grounds like this teaching the children and reminding all to care for the environment:
In addition, the signs posted as one enters or leaves any city generally have a reminder regarding littering.
This one prohibits dumping garbage and reminds us to, “Care for our beach.”
Along the roadway official highway signs have messages reminding us that the trees purify the air and should be protected and not cut down, or that it is our responsibility to protect the environment.
This one says that the trees are life, do not cut them, they purify the air.
This one simply says that nature is our lungs.
While that last sign might have lost something in the translation, the message is loud and clear and has been heard by the people of Ecuador! The major effort on the road work between Manta and San Clemente has resulted in almost the total removal of garbage from the roadside and the trees appear to be cared for and more healthy.
Some people still seem to have problems with wrappers, and cans or bottles as they walk along and carelessly drop them. After all change comes just as hard here as anywhere else. But the army of young people trained in the schools is stepping up to help one of God’s most beautiful and diverse countries remain clean and pure and to instill a new “concept” regarding the need to protect the environment.
Thank you to Jake of Jake’s Printer – http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/ for this week’s challenge.
Life is good in Ecuador.
Written by John
I’m glad the light bulb went on. What a concept! Love Mother Earth! (I sound like my old hippie self.) 😀
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Yes, it was pretty sad to see the garbage before, but now things are getting cleaned up and the people seem to be buying in to the need to take care of the environment.
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Thank you Mary & John. You know I have an “above and beyond” fetish about basura!! Your challenge-blog was a lovely Birthday gift. I thought “bugs” in the Tropics could present a challenge when I decided to retire here, however they are living creatures and as your blogs have enlightened me, are…in general…both beneficial and benign and sometimes even beautiful! However, I will NEVER adjust my acceptance meter to become tolerant of LITTERBUGS!!
I am so thrilled that Ecuador has become alerted and educated to the environment and the threats it faces. It is such a beautiful country, you have a thumbs-up from me and all who agree! Love, J. .
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Happy Birthday! See you soon – John and Mary
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