Back to the Old Clean Days [Archives:2000/40/Health]

Tawfeek Al-Sharaabi
Yemen Times
It is vital to see ones city clean and beautiful. It is unquestioned to affirm that a civilized society is measured by how clean it is. Thus cleanliness should be paid heed to achieve a real civilized society. What is unusually noticeable is that cleanliness is such a secondary matter in our society. It is not given the attention needed and as a result piles of rubbish frequently accumulate in streets, corners, alleys, etc. However, when it comes to times of celebration, things radically change.
It was undoubtedly clear that cleaning campaigns were extensively launched during the past few months, particularly during the unity festivities. Not only that but this was associated with a regular supervision by the authorities concerned whose activities used to be in full swing. Streets were cleaned and re-asphalted, walls were painted white; pavements were well-built and planted. It was also associated with developing-awareness programs on TVs, radio, and other media, to keep the city clean. However, the time celebration was over, there has been a visible mark-down in such activities. One of the virtues of the unity festivals was that walls were built and painted white. Actually that was a good action to be appreciated. It reflected a good and clean picture.
However, it is a pity to say that good things never last. As soon as these festivities were over; developing-awareness programs disappeared, the authorities supervision dwindled, and cleaning campaigns receded. What is more distressing is that the white picture we used to see has been changed into a defaced one as companies, computer and English institutes and other institutions have started putting their logos and mottos on public and private building walls.
Advertisement Value:
It is a fact that advertisement is such a pivotal device for marketing goods. It is a science by itself. Many a company spends a great deal of its capital on advertising. These companies are highly aware of the value and meaning of advertisement. They also know how to advertise following the state-of-the-art techniques including putting ads on newspapers, magazines, space channels, etc. Some put their logos on T-shirts and distribute them for free. Competitions may be organized and draw is made for valuable prizes, consequently attracting the public attention to their goods and products.
However, the case in our country seems to be different. Companies and institutes owners are not aware of advertisement value. If at all they think of it, they ask some guys to go and paint their mottos on public and private building walls or in any space available. However, they are completely mistaken for instead of gaining in publicity, putting ads randomly on streets will makes all feel repulsive and loathsome to such ads and goods. Besides, ads deface the beauty around.
Therefore, they did this out of their ignorance and their premature awareness to the importance of cleanliness. They also carry out that as they find it a money-saving way. This has actually made streets and walls appear like a real dirt.
The funny thing is that some people go on writing their names and memories for remembrance. Others may put and write graffiti. How stupid?!
What is killing is that this is done before the very eyes of the authorities concerned who have never bothered to move to stop this bad and chaotic conduct.
Problem of Authorities Concerned:
One can easily attribute the occurrence of this phenomenon to the lack of sense of responsibility on part of the authorities concerned. It is their duty to launch cleaning campaigns; introduce developing-awareness programs to create awareness among the people on TV, radio and in schools, companies and all other governmental and non-governmental institutions. By this all sections of the society will derive direct benefit. The authorities concerned have also to set up special boards in streets, specially for ads, posters and stickers; put litter-bins in streets; conduct field supervision to enhance rules and force their application, imposing fines in case violations were reported.
Putting litter-bins in streets only will never do as long as these officials will never come up with the goods and carry out things out of interest and responsibility. Not when there are high instructions from top officials in the Authority.
In short, maintaining cleanliness in our society, in general, and in the capital in particular, will never be achieved unless there is an interest and sense of responsibility by those officials in charge. It should not be restricted to some time and some occasions. Rather, it should be for all the time. I do cherish the idea that our arm-chair officials will respond to this clarion call and move to retrieve things before going back to the old DIRTY days.

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