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Ajay · 07-16-2008

I recall in the 1950's I think, in the U.S. there was a big push to eliminate litter. That was the first time cars started carrying litter bags, and after ten or fifteen years of hard marketing, most Americans had learned that it's not cool to throw your trash into the street.
Panama has never learned this lesson, and although there are occasional half-hearted efforts to educate the public, I'd say 80% of Panamanians think nothing of tossing their coke can or their Mcdonald's bag out the window and into the street.
They DO have the "hormiguitas" - the ladies dressed in yellow overalls busily sweeping up the trash all over the city. But they can barely keep up with the volume.

07-16-2008	#19 (permalink)
Ajay Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 18 Rep Power: 0	I recall in the 1950's I think, in the U.S. there was a big push to eliminate litter. That was the first time cars started carrying litter bags, and after ten or fifteen years of hard marketing, most Americans had learned that it's not cool to throw your trash into the street. Panama has never learned this lesson, and although there are occasional half-hearted efforts to educate the public, I'd say 80% of Panamanians think nothing of tossing their coke can or their Mcdonald's bag out the window and into the street. They DO have the "hormiguitas" - the ladies dressed in yellow overalls busily sweeping up the trash all over the city. But they can barely keep up with the volume.