” Don’t be trash: absolute disinterest in caring for public space ”

Romina Reser.

A brilliant Sunday. One of those that autumn gives away to walk along the stream, before noon. Thus we arrived at the South Park, on the “Hpico” side.

Just enter to realize that that road felt the passage of municipal machines and was recently repaired.

We walked, I loosed the straps and when I was about to reach the fig tree that is on the right and all bare with its branches, I came across Juan Manuel.

“I was looking for you. I told the Monkey that I was going to contact you.”

“Good morning. Who is the Monkey?”

And back there, as my dogs rolled and ran through the dirt just turned off the road, a man was seen collecting trash. “It’s been there since 9 in the morning. Everything got together. This is a disaster, mountains of garbage and nobody cares” he said angrily, as he took photos of the new sign posted there, over the entrance, before the descent and that the road branches out.

“It can’t be that taking care of the Park doesn’t matter to anyone. Or at least, what is he to put together. Four bags are already full,” he detailed as he searched in his head for a list of attitudes of a lot of people who enjoy space, but they don’t value it. Less take care of it.

Also while we walked at a slow pace, in the company of his dog and mine, he named projects that aim to reforest the place, to make it flesh as “public space” and to promote measures of care, lighting, security.

Sunday morning. My dogs in the sun and the park clean.

“I hope it’s worth something” he said in a farewell tone. We continued, and on the way down we met the man who was collecting the garbage.

Almost politely and automatically I said “Good morning, how’s it going?” and on. But not. “Bad, very bad” grumbled the man. “El Mono” went with two consortium bags full of garbage to put them under the new poster “to see if it works and become aware.”

Sunday afternoon. Full of cars and people.

Hctor Marcelo “El Mono” Corts integrates Remada Verde Olavarra told me with pride, showing me the logo on his shirt with bright green colors. “It makes me sad, it makes me angry that they don’t take care of the place. What you find is terrible,” he lamented.

Dogs, my dogs ran up and down in a now gleaming park, thanks to his selfless work. It was Sunday morning and the “serial trash shooters” had not yet been there.

We both regret that there are no controls, that Urban Control workers or police officers are not followed asking for the care of public space. Raising awareness of the need to take care of the environment.

He said goodbye in a hopeful tone, hoping that the image of the garbage under the new poster would change certain actions. At the very least, they take away the waste they produce.

Let’s see if you understand. The mountains of garbage are made up of beer containers, cans, wine bottles, bottles of other drinks, bags, cigarette boxes, plastic bottles or parts of these, feminine wipes, diapers, condoms – all this dirty in addition, used, and more.

Lots of grime from grubby people who use and throw away.

And the truth is that I was not very optimistic. “I don’t think they are aware, I don’t think they care either.”

After a weekend like this, to enjoy the outdoors, at that point in the city on Mondays the mountains of garbage appear. Tomorrow we will have to go.

The most complete example of the lack of empathy, disinterest in the public, the null individual responsibility and the inability to understand that our small actions change the world.

“El Mono” later told in his networks that he plans to meet with the person in charge of Transportes Malvinas to ask that they put an Eco Point there, to encourage healthy practices of environmental care.

Don’t be trash, drink it up and take it away.