QUESTIONS OF HEALTH AND THE PROTECTION OF NATURE – GENERAL INFORMATION
Nevertheless, in spite of local efforts, the new habit spread faster than the protective defence could educate. There is an awful attitude and saying that poisons the minds of children, youths and adults alike: “That’s the way it’s done today. Someone else can clean up after us!’ Just take the following experience. While waiting for their train, two fresh-looking girls from the Engadine littered the whole platform with peanut shells. An observer’s remark of ‘Well, now!’ caused nothing but the weakest indication of embarrassment on their part and the thoughtless excuse: ‘Everybody does this nowadays; the cleaner will sweep it all up anyway.’
If this is the attitude of modern youths, it is no wonder that we encounter a lack of concern and love for untouched nature even in the most beautiful areas. Today, it is quite common to see rubbish in gorges and streams. A campsite, picnic area or wayside frequently tells us that visitors have enjoyed themselves without giving as much as a single thought to the fact that other people want to enjoy the beauty unspoiled. How can they do so if they have to sit down in the midst of empty cans, bottles, paper and all kinds of rubbish? Neither meadows nor forests, not even rhododendrons and the white snow escape this antisocial behaviour! It is amazing how quickly good habits become forgotten when bad influences take over. How superficial the sense of beauty really is when it can close its eyes to ugly disorder!
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