As a frequent visitor of the exhibition centre in Sharjah, I noticed something peculiar during one of my visits. One of the flower pots that I generally admire had become a place to dump trash. I was shocked to see empty juice bottles, plastic bottles and cans left in the pot.
When there is a dustbin nearby, I do not see the need to throw waste in undesignated places. The cans blocked sufficient sunlight that was needed for those plants to survive. I have never seen this kind of apathy towards the environment before, which is why I was taken aback when I saw it. The flower pots were located right in front of the entrance of the building, so it would be difficult for anyone to miss it while entering the area.
Even while walking in residential areas, I notice that garbage is often strewn beside the trash can. This kind of negligence pollutes the environment, as we do not pay attention to our surroundings. The UAE is a beautiful place, and these kinds of incidents can change our perception regarding our surroundings. For me, it is upsetting to see garbage piles on the corner of streets, around building areas, outside parks and near small groceries in Sharjah.
If we could be more careful, it would go a long way in helping the environment. Litter takes a long time to degrade and affects our entire ecosystem. It’s such a shame that even in this day and age, there are people who do not take the environment seriously. It is high time that we start raising awareness against littering and find permanent solutions to tackle this problem.
— The reader is a student of Our Own English High School, Sharjah.
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