The very first activity planned and carried out by our volunteers was centred on the theme of littering. Littering had always been an issue Malaysians face but this idea was further strengthened when it was featured in the national news sometime in January. According to the report done by the news reporter, despite the efforts by the government to curb this issue such as fines, campaigns’, proclaiming certain areas as Clean Zones and placement of rubbish bins at various locations, this issue has pullulated. The three questions that we wanted to explore were:
1. Why do people litter?
2. What are the steps needed to overcome them?
3. Would citizens willingly pick up litter that they see on the road?
Initially, the plan was to visit one of KL’s dirtiest roads and start a flash mob of picking up trash. The public’s reaction would then be documented. This soon proved to be unworkable as the traffic was moving at a steady pace and barely anyone took notice of us. We had also chosen the wrong location. Without proper planning, we headed off to the Sogo mall where the roads and areas nearby were kept clean by cleaners.
Unwilling to call it a day off, we decided to run an interview instead and took the LRT to Dataran Merdeka. The place was crowded with tourists and citizens and we set off to ask the three questions to random people of different nationality and race that we pass by.
The following are the results that we manage to compile:
1. Why do people litter?
Most people litter due to habit and mind-set. To them, it is seen as a norm to litter and ‘not a big deal’. “It’s just a small cigarette butt”. They do not see the bigger picture or the consequence of littering cigarette butts or candy wrappers because the volume of the trash that they throw is so little, it seems quite harmless.
Their conscience tells them that littering is not wrong because majority of people do it and they have never been punished of doing it which strengthens their belief that there is nothing wrong with it. They see restaurants do it, they see their neighbours do it, and soon it becomes something that they practise too.
Even worse is when they back up this idea by putting the responsibility on the government or another party, like cleaners, to keep the streets clean. They don’t take ownership of their country and their surroundings. As long as their cars, pockets and houses are clean, the cleanliness of public streets should not be their concern.
Some people create excuses as well. “Sometimes when I want to throw rubbish, there’s no rubbish bin nearby at the moment”. Keeping their trash with them a bit longer before reaching a rubbish bin is not practised and seen as a burden. Or sometimes they use the ever famous line “It’s biodegradable hence good for the soil” as an excuse to throw away food wastes especially on the highway. It is quite common to see windows rolled down, a hand peeking out and food wastes thrown out.
2. What are the steps needed to overcome them?
“Fines don’t really work because there’s barely anyone implementing them. People are not afraid” That was the comment made by most of the people we approached. We agree that whilst the government should put extra effort in implementing fines, it is quite impossible for officials to always be around when the crime occurs. Hence, we, passer-by and onlookers, should be law enforces in our own way. We can either walk up to that person to tell them it’s wrong or, in the case of industrial rubbish dumping, report it to the police so actions can be taken.
Campaigns and education is important too. What it does is that it counters traditions and practices at home. But education and campaigns can only do so much to create awareness. Families have to support kids and practise it at home as well. This is a very vital step to ensure that what the kids learn at school sticks and becomes a habit.
Here at Project Monkey X, we believe there’s always something you, as a normal citizen, regardless of age and position, can do to make things better. In the midst of preparing this report, we came across Mr Ismail Shafiee, a 75 year old man that demonstrated this belief. He is an ordinary senior citizen, with no position or power in his community whatsoever. Yet, every morning, he makes it his duty to pick up rubbish around his village. This routine takes about an hour of his time and he has been practising it ever since his retirement. When asked why he does it, he replies “It is my village, hence my responsibility to keep it clean.” He takes total ownership of his surroundings and makes it his responsibility without having to be given awards, recognition or power to do it.
Not everyone has the strength or time to do what Mr Ismail did but we all have the same responsibility towards our country and this includes the responsibility of keeping Malaysia clean. Start with ensuring you, your family and those around you don’t litter then take that extra step by picking up and properly disposing litter that you see on your way. If a 75 year old man can do it, you can too.
3. Would citizens willingly pick up litter that they see on the road?
“No, it’s too weird”, giggled a 19 year old girl that we came across.
“Would you do it if others did it too?” We asked. After some deliberation, she answered “Absolutely. I mean if everyone is doing it, I would chip in too. If I’m not in a hurry lah.”
The key note here is everyone. Notice that she would be willing to pick up litter on the road if others around her did it too. We live in a community and psychologically, we think and act the same way. The psychological term here is ‘herd mentality’, or ‘groupthink’. We follow a certain trend that we see in our society. People rarely do things outside the norm. Knowing this is not enough because even though it is possible to create a new habit in a society, it takes a lot of people to set that trend.
After the activity, we learned that while we are on the right track, we cannot do it alone as we lack volume but we are far from giving up. To us at Project Monkey X, now more than ever we have to strive to affect and influence as many people as possible and gain volume. To those out there who believe in our cause, we welcome your participation with open arms. But you don’t have to be a member of our project to be a trend setter. You can be a trend setter in your own community by being the change today.
1. Why do people litter?
2. What are the steps needed to overcome them?
3. Would citizens willingly pick up litter that they see on the road?
Initially, the plan was to visit one of KL’s dirtiest roads and start a flash mob of picking up trash. The public’s reaction would then be documented. This soon proved to be unworkable as the traffic was moving at a steady pace and barely anyone took notice of us. We had also chosen the wrong location. Without proper planning, we headed off to the Sogo mall where the roads and areas nearby were kept clean by cleaners.
Unwilling to call it a day off, we decided to run an interview instead and took the LRT to Dataran Merdeka. The place was crowded with tourists and citizens and we set off to ask the three questions to random people of different nationality and race that we pass by.
The following are the results that we manage to compile:
1. Why do people litter?
Most people litter due to habit and mind-set. To them, it is seen as a norm to litter and ‘not a big deal’. “It’s just a small cigarette butt”. They do not see the bigger picture or the consequence of littering cigarette butts or candy wrappers because the volume of the trash that they throw is so little, it seems quite harmless.
Their conscience tells them that littering is not wrong because majority of people do it and they have never been punished of doing it which strengthens their belief that there is nothing wrong with it. They see restaurants do it, they see their neighbours do it, and soon it becomes something that they practise too.
Even worse is when they back up this idea by putting the responsibility on the government or another party, like cleaners, to keep the streets clean. They don’t take ownership of their country and their surroundings. As long as their cars, pockets and houses are clean, the cleanliness of public streets should not be their concern.
Some people create excuses as well. “Sometimes when I want to throw rubbish, there’s no rubbish bin nearby at the moment”. Keeping their trash with them a bit longer before reaching a rubbish bin is not practised and seen as a burden. Or sometimes they use the ever famous line “It’s biodegradable hence good for the soil” as an excuse to throw away food wastes especially on the highway. It is quite common to see windows rolled down, a hand peeking out and food wastes thrown out.
2. What are the steps needed to overcome them?
“Fines don’t really work because there’s barely anyone implementing them. People are not afraid” That was the comment made by most of the people we approached. We agree that whilst the government should put extra effort in implementing fines, it is quite impossible for officials to always be around when the crime occurs. Hence, we, passer-by and onlookers, should be law enforces in our own way. We can either walk up to that person to tell them it’s wrong or, in the case of industrial rubbish dumping, report it to the police so actions can be taken.
Campaigns and education is important too. What it does is that it counters traditions and practices at home. But education and campaigns can only do so much to create awareness. Families have to support kids and practise it at home as well. This is a very vital step to ensure that what the kids learn at school sticks and becomes a habit.
Here at Project Monkey X, we believe there’s always something you, as a normal citizen, regardless of age and position, can do to make things better. In the midst of preparing this report, we came across Mr Ismail Shafiee, a 75 year old man that demonstrated this belief. He is an ordinary senior citizen, with no position or power in his community whatsoever. Yet, every morning, he makes it his duty to pick up rubbish around his village. This routine takes about an hour of his time and he has been practising it ever since his retirement. When asked why he does it, he replies “It is my village, hence my responsibility to keep it clean.” He takes total ownership of his surroundings and makes it his responsibility without having to be given awards, recognition or power to do it.
Not everyone has the strength or time to do what Mr Ismail did but we all have the same responsibility towards our country and this includes the responsibility of keeping Malaysia clean. Start with ensuring you, your family and those around you don’t litter then take that extra step by picking up and properly disposing litter that you see on your way. If a 75 year old man can do it, you can too.
3. Would citizens willingly pick up litter that they see on the road?
“No, it’s too weird”, giggled a 19 year old girl that we came across.
“Would you do it if others did it too?” We asked. After some deliberation, she answered “Absolutely. I mean if everyone is doing it, I would chip in too. If I’m not in a hurry lah.”
The key note here is everyone. Notice that she would be willing to pick up litter on the road if others around her did it too. We live in a community and psychologically, we think and act the same way. The psychological term here is ‘herd mentality’, or ‘groupthink’. We follow a certain trend that we see in our society. People rarely do things outside the norm. Knowing this is not enough because even though it is possible to create a new habit in a society, it takes a lot of people to set that trend.
After the activity, we learned that while we are on the right track, we cannot do it alone as we lack volume but we are far from giving up. To us at Project Monkey X, now more than ever we have to strive to affect and influence as many people as possible and gain volume. To those out there who believe in our cause, we welcome your participation with open arms. But you don’t have to be a member of our project to be a trend setter. You can be a trend setter in your own community by being the change today.