Most internet challenges are mindless and silly; some are extraordinarily stupid and some actually dangerous. Then at times, we come across something that is actually a ‘challenge’; a call to action that is useful and meaningful rather than an exercise in narcissistic self-absorption. #Trashtag or #CleanUpChallenge, #trashchallenge and #ChallengeforChange are viral challenges cleaning up neighbourhoods. The challenge is making people more aware of hygiene and sanitation in their communities and about the huge problem of garbage disposal that confronts the planet today.
Instagram handle @thescientistfacts posted this before and after set of pictures to show the transformation of a given place and the amount of garbage that was collected in the process.
This was a quaint birthday gift; a truly meaningful way to spend one's birthday: by filling up 4 garbage bags to clean up tin cans and other trash by the side of a road.
Places littered with garbage are an eyesore and many people decided to clean up those. Some decided to clean up the invisible submerged garbage that harms aquatic life.
The challenge struck a chord with people all over the world. This before and after response was from Nepal.
As this clean-upper said, this was the work of just about one hour. We can all take out some time to contribute to our communities, can’t we?
Recently the Mahim Beach cleanup which gathered and cleaned up 700 tons of plastic, was in the news.
Many local communities have already been working to clean up their beaches, residential and other areas.
This has been a worldwide phenomenon that has spread all over the world; from the poor to the rich countries. The privileged as well as less well-off people are pitching in to do what they can; help anyway possible.
The #trashgagchallenge is truly inspiring for people. Perhaps it is that one little push towards doing something that people always knew needed to be done.
The change is nothing short of amazing in a lot of cases; and certainly a lot better than swallowing tidepods or snorting condoms!
The challenge has served to bring about a dual benefit: sensitising people about a perennial problem in most communities and actually inspiring people to get down and do what is required to clean up areas. The real challenge is bringing about behaviour change that will prevent people from littering in the first place. The real challenge is putting workable garbage disposal systems in place to efficiently collect, manage, dispose of and recycle garbage.
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