Picnics are the ideal way to appreciate life’s simple joys especially when the weather is suitable and in this regard, there’s no better way to do so than grabbing some nice food and friends and go to a relaxing scenic location. Also, a picnic might do wonders if one needs a quick mood boost.
However, everyone must create a culture of cleanliness. We all need to instil the so called ‘Clean Cultre’ in our children and family members whenever we get together for a picnic just like we are required to do at our homes. Encouraging children to leave places cleaner than they found them is a moral practice that is spreading among Omani families.
Jamal al Nabhani and his family are role models for environmentally friendly outing. Jamal advises his family to always leave the campground cleaner than when they arrived. “If you find a mess on the ground, you clean it up regardless of who made a mess,” he says.
“You improve the environment on purpose for the next group of campers,” he explains, while teaching his children to do the same. He also urges people to put their food in reusable containers and utilise them to preserve leftovers for a snack later in the day or to carry home for another meal, and avoid leaving the leftovers for animals on their spot of picnicking.
“Leaving food around will attract bugs and vermin to the picnic spot, and you will be not be able to enjoy the rest of the picnic peacefully,” he says.
zero-waste
As we all know, some of the food, products, and packaging used during picnics can pollute the environment. Whether you like it or not, zero-waste picnic is an achievable goal.
The Environment Authority continuously educates the public on proper picnic conduct as part of its efforts to maintain clean environment. Efforts usually begin in one’s own home. Each family must collect garbage in trash bags rather than leaving it on the streets. And to save the environment more, we need to learn to use glass plates instead of plastic containers because glass produces zero waste.
In addition, people in the neighbourhoods need to help in cleaning the streets, planting trees, and prevent tossing waste from their cars onto the street for the better living environment.
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