We have litter laws in Ireland too, and even litter wardens to
enforce them. But much of the dumped stuff isn't easily identifiable
- the litter louts are getting smarter with every prosecution. And in
some areas the litter wardens appear to suffer from serious eyesight problems.
kathryn
And in the city, a lot of the problem of commitment to society is
that in workless-class or low-income areas, people have less
commitment - understandably enough.
I was walking through the impoverished north city centre a few weeks
ago when I saw two young women with their children put litter on the
ground.
I picked it up and put it in the litter bin *beside which they had
been when they left it!* and as I passed them I said to one in a
pleasant, neutral tone: "I put your litter in the bin for you."
She looked at me glassily, and I realised that the two girls were
stoned out of their heads. Litter was the least of those kids'
problems.
