It is so easy to drop litter but a tuned conscience helps you stop this bad habit.

I disagree with the violent self-righteous rhetoric…a far more effective method is to pick up the litter that they drop for them and throw it away. This simple act of sacrifice and kindness has a far higher chance of changing a littering person, than yelling out slurs. In my opinion, nonviolence is highly effective in shaming individuals into changing.

As long as they see it being disposed of that would also be an effective method, but if it goes unseen, and unpunished, it will happen again and again.

My method is not meant to be in any way violent. It is meant to be embarrassing. I wouldn’t would someone calling me an effing litter bug on a crowded sidewalk. They will think twice next time they have trash in their hand. I am certain.

Perhaps they will think twice and choose not to. Another potential response to embarrassment (which I would characterize as violent rhetoric), would be anger and disdain for the entire idea of green living. I know many people who stereotype all environmentally conscientious individuals as self-righteous hippies, and go out of their way to not live similar lives. I think that it is best to avoid offending people, if your goal is to change them.

Well put. I get accused of being a hippie just about everyday, and I do understand what you are saying. I think it could work both ways, but I do feel the vast majority of people would simply think twice before tossing. Just my opinion, It may suck now and then, but it’s still mine.

Nice talking to you Chris, I have enjoyed your posts thus far…particularly the one on the effect of factory farming and the environment (which was spot on)...I look forward to engaging in more constructive dialogue with you as rethos expands into the future

You as well Elias. Peace.

Cheers to that!

I call out all my friends -everyone already knows my thing with littering…
with people that i do not know (especially living in such an unpreditable place) I usually pick it up and throw it…

On the corner of my house, there use to be a restaurant and now that it closed down the older men of the community sit there, smoke cigars etc.. and throw alll there buds and litter on the floor, Instead os saying anything, since I have moved in. I go there whenever I get the change, get a big bag, and gloves and clean it up. they see me do it and now they try to keep it cleaner :)

I saw them bring little bags by them to throw out their garbage….

small acts sometimes produce huge progress

Very well done Christine!

lol- “get the f*ck off my planet, litter bug!”

Wouldn’t it be great if every city had a team of “Litter Maids”, like metre maids who could roam the city all day, ready to give tickets to litterers they catch in the act??

Since we don’t have those (yet) one of the best ways to illustrate the enormity of the problem is to join in, or initiate community clean-ups.

Here in Calgary, there’s a riverbank cleanup every spring. The city organizes it, and gets companies or groups to gather their members to volunteer. My boyfriend and I did it this spring with his company, and it was great.

The best part was that, because it’s become such a big event, it gets front-page news coverage, complete with pictures and a report of the total weight of garbage collected – 15 000kg this year!

It puts the issue front and centre, at least for a few days, and does it in a non-confrontational way.

I’ve been told I look damn fine in tutu. I think I could make a great litter fairy. I would probably also carry a whip. Everyone would fear my tutu..

I love this post. I hate it when people litter. It’s stupid considering there’s probably a trash can of some sort just a short walk away.

I especially hate it when people throw litter out of their cars. My car may look like a tornado hit it, but at least it will make it to the trash eventually rather than on the side of the highway! The trash of course, not my car!