Keeping Picnic Places Clean

Written by: Mir aqa Etibar

Usually, people go to parks and picnic places with their family and friends on holidays, but; some families; especially children do not pay attention to cleanliness of picnic places. They throw leftover food, fruit peels, and other things in the the picnic place, which creates a series of problems.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some people about this issue.

Zarghona from Kabul city says, “Once I had gone to Istalif district, Kabul province with my family for a picnic. There is a river near the picnic place. I saw that all the garbage (babies' dirty diapers, plastic bottles, and plastics were accumulated and these things even blocked the flowing river. We had also prepared dough with food.

When we ate lunch, I asked one of the boys where they got the water from for the dough. The boy replied that from the river.

At the same moment, I suffered from nausea; later I fainted and was taken to the hospital.”

Haji Omid says, “Once we wanted to go to the north of Kabul city for the picnic. When we reached a green place, we wanted to equip the place; a man stopped us and said that everyone is coming for the picnic and throwing garbage, plastic, bottles, and leftover food into the water. These garbage have blocked the flow. We and our livestock drink water from the same stream, and if we or our livestock drink contaminated water, it might cause disease.”

What do some people think about the causes for not paying attention to picnic places cleanliness?

Iraj, says, “No one told us where to put the water bottle when we drink. I have even seen some men leaving garbage, plastics, and other materials in the park.”

Nasir Ahmad says, “I have gone so many times to the picnic. Some people do not care about the cleanliness of picnic place because their education level is low and they do not know about the urban culture.”

How can parents teach their children to keep parks and picnic places clean?

Tawab Ahmad, a resident of Safid Sang district of Logar province says, I and my several friends went to one of the picnic places in Kabul. We decided to cook the food ourselves. I told my friends to put plastic, extra bottles, and food leftovers in plastic so that they don't get blown away and make the area dirty.”

A religious scholar, Qari Abdul Samad talks about cleanliness, “There are many verses and hadiths about cleanliness of the environment, as Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, translation, “Damn is on the one who throws waste in the way of people and in the place that is intended for people to sit. And Allah the Almighty has cursed those who defecate on public ways and or are involved in environmental pollution.”