Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

The Belediyesi have been working very hard over the last 3 weeks or so cleaning all the verges of vegetation & rubbish it makes such a difference to see such nice clean streets.
However it is of course very disappointing to see that people are already throwing their rubbish out of their car windows mostly bottles & cans also take away bags & general rubbish. Whilst I can sort of understand the mentality of 'just one more can won't make a difference' when there is already a lot of rubbish around why cannot these people recognise how much better it looks when clean & think twice before being the first to discard their rubbish on a pristine verge. It does not seem to have made the slightest difference to them it will all sadly gradually build up again.

Totally agree nice clean streets, being ruined by mindless individuals. Do my bit by picking up cans etc on our walk. But sometimes just to many!!

The term "these people" is a term used a lot by guests to this country. While i'm sure it is used innocently, I do find it offensive, as I would if it were used to describe me as part of a generalised grouping.

frontalman wrote:The term "these people" is a term used a lot by guests to this country. While i'm sure it is used innocently, I do find it offensive, as I would if it were used to describe me as part of a generalised grouping.

"These people" are those throwing rubbish out of their car windows - nothing sinister in the phrase - or are you picking a fight for the sake of it?

It's the mentality ,should start fining the litter louts,a paradise island turned into a rubbish dump

Thank you Groucho for explaining my post. Frontalman if you find it offensive you are certainly reading things that are not written or even hinted at - why do you feel the need to do this?

Groucho wrote:

frontalman wrote:The term "these people" is a term used a lot by guests to this country. While i'm sure it is used innocently, I do find it offensive, as I would if it were used to describe me as part of a generalised grouping.

"These people" are those throwing rubbish out of their car windows - nothing sinister in the phrase - or are you picking a fight for the sake of it?

I didn't say it was inappropriate in this case but I have heard it over and over again in different contexts which are condescending and demeaning. Not picking a fight, just expressing how I feel. I am as pissed off as anyone else about the rubbish by the way. It's just that "these people" probably have no idea that they are doing anything wrong as it is endemic, I'm afraid. Sorry if I pushed the wrong button.

North Cyprus lacks system approach to problem solving, IMHO. Yes, town councils started doing a much better job at cleaning streets and maintaining 'social' spots for the locals, however, if kids at schools are not taught basics of eco-friendliness, awareness of the current and upcoming damage from polluting the island, ideas of recycling batteries, plastic, aluminuim, you name it - the problem will recur over and over again.

The government shouldn't be reactive, it should be proactive. They should start massive programs at schools, social advertising in the streets, install dustbins on every corner, force local business to tidy up in front of their shops and install dustbins as well, carry out "clean nature" festivals instead of "eat another kebap" festivals, and perhaps 10-15 years down the road there won't be a necessity to clean TRNC streets anymore.

Rubbish collection is great twice a week better than the uK full marks
But what happens around the bins is a major problem green waste is then dumped around the bin plus builders waste making the area a tip
There is no infrastructure for this green waste and general rubbish
The consequence is areas of uncontrolled dumping that blows waste across fields and groves
There is no penalty for dumping builders waste it just happens there needs to be a system otherwise as the population grows the whole place will be a tip

frontman, are you not an 'expat', ergo part of a "grouping" nomenclature? Turks, Cypriots and many other Mediterranean nationals do not care for the environment, as I found when serving in GIbraltar, Croatia here and other Balkan countries.

Well just been into Ozankoy and yes the tarmacing has been done on most of the furrows they created to lay the the new pipes. However, I did see a few leakages or what appear to be leakages where the new pipes have been laid.

I visited a friend who owns the Happy Garden in the centre of Ozankoy and there are loads of stalls being set up for the festival this weekend which starts Friday, it will be very busy so I would imagine road closures may come into play.

I am sure it's going to be a great weekend so why not pop along and join in, pop into Happy Garden where I am sure Huseyin will look after your every needs with some great dishes.

tomsteel wrote:frontman, are you not an 'expat', ergo part of a "grouping" nomenclature? Turks, Cypriots and many other Mediterranean nationals do not care for the environment, as I found when serving in GIbraltar, Croatia here and other Balkan countries.

Yes, I could describe myself that way, but I chose the word 'guest' on purpose. As Groucho Mark once said, "I don't want to join a club that would have me as a member!"

frontman, whatever semantic term you apply to your status here, you are still 'part of a generalised grouping.' That is fact, be it guest, visitor or yabacinilar or whatever. Your personal wish to be disassociated with grouping is, of course, valid but irrelevant. Groucho, what value did he add to the world? However, we are not contributing to Ozankoy cleanliness.

I live in lower Ozankoy,and believe me the bele has made no effort whatsoever to clear up all the rubble they have been dumping in the last few months all over the place, it might look pretty in the centre of the village but believe me, the outskirts are a rubbish tip,piles of rubble everywhere you look.
Worst of all they (beli) dump it on private property-bloody disgrase

I am still in shock at hearing the "streets" of Ozankoy described as "Lovely, clean".. Perhaps it is another misunderstanding due to the wrong word. "Streets" are roads in a town or village mainly lined with houses. Ozankoy proper (he old centre of the village) is still recovering from the pipe laying and is now suffering from the creation of dangerous and totally useless pavements and an appalling housing development. True a bit of tarmac has been slapped on the worst potholes but nothing has been done about the appallling traffic situation which turns houses in death traps with fumes, nor have the drainage works needed to prevent winter flooding and damp penetration of said houses apparently even been contemplated. Also true that in normal times the streets are usually regularly cleaned - not that it is needed as most of the beer can, chocolate papers etc. are neatly placed on my windowcills.!

However "lovely" is certainly not the word I would have used, particularly aftera hot and exhausting day trying to remov all the much from inside my house"

Perhaps the thread refers to roads on housing estates on the outskirts of Ozankoy'/Catalkoy where concrete box man lives, and where they appear to be digging up all the wonderful anenomes, cyclamen, violets etc. and covering them with concrete verges.Again not my definition of "lovely"! And it will do nothing to stop the rubbish.

frontalman wrote:

tomsteel wrote:frontman, are you not an 'expat', ergo part of a "grouping" nomenclature? Turks, Cypriots and many other Mediterranean nationals do not care for the environment, as I found when serving in GIbraltar, Croatia here and other Balkan countries.

A while ago I lived on verges (I hasten to say not in) the Royal Borough of Windsor where some of the best of the British have a residence and where others of the best of British go to school at Eton. My nearest "bottle bank" was in Eton Wick and it was filthy and dangerous with broken bottles which had just been thrown down when the designated bins were full.

Funnily enough not many Turks, Cypriots, Gibraltese or Croatians etc. live there!

Actually, the apparent lack of care in Mediterranean races is probably because they are closer to a natural agricultural way of life with biodegradable rubbish, Eg they used to leave dead donkeys outside the villages for the Raptors to eat. Tractors are not so digestible! And just who is responsible for the introduction of plastics, unnecessary cars etc.?

I suspect the "Big Cleanup" and fixing of water pipe potholes in Ozanköy village centre has more to do with the Pekmez (Carob Molasses) Festival this weekend.
Not that we're complaining, having just moved into the said village centre

I do actually know what a street is & can assure you that if not quite all, but certainly most starting from the centre of Ozankoy & emanating outwards in all directions have been systematically cleared of rubbish & vegetation & look clean & well cared for.
Who is 'concrete box man' presumably he drives a '4x4'?
I just thought I would write a harmless little post praising the efforts of the Belediye but as usual people get on their hobby horses & hijack it.

Mowgli597 wrote:I suspect the "Big Cleanup" and fixing of water pipe potholes in Ozanköy village centre has more to do with the Pekmez (Carob Molasses) Festival this weekend.
Not that we're complaining, having just moved into the said village centre

I think you are right Mowgli: the problem is that what is being called "cleaning" is just temporary measures for the Festival.

Btw has anyone seen a programme for the festival thisyear?

tomsteel wrote:frontman, whatever semantic term you apply to your status here, you are still 'part of a generalised grouping.' That is fact, be it guest, visitor or yabacinilar or whatever. Your personal wish to be disassociated with grouping is, of course, valid but irrelevant. Groucho, what value did he add to the world? However, we are not contributing to Ozankoy cleanliness.

I don't know, send him a pm and ask him! You seem to be making my point for me - if a TC politician, for example, was making a disparaging comment about expats and used the term "these people", I would be peeved to have been included by default.

Ragged Robin wrote:Btw has anyone seen a programme for the festival thisyear?

RR - see here https://cyprusscene.com/2017/08/23/9th-ozankoy-pekmez-festival-25th-to-27th-august/

OMG here we go again. Moan Moan Moan. Ozankoys only said it was nice to see clean streets!!! Yavas Yavas

we live near rafters and no sign of nice clean roads here .we are one of the forgotten as the roads here are terrible. what with speeding cars dust from the new building site on the olive grove they are tearing up(marvelous they have put up hoarding to hide the ripping up of maybe up to 100 olive trees).The lower end always gets forgotten .i see the muchtar road has been done nicely along with the village square area.we have been asking for speed ramps for years because one day someone will be killed at the junction because they just dont stop.so mr mayor when will we get our half of the village cleaned up.

frontalman, do you have a contact for Groucho Mark? Whatever, you ARE part of a group nomenclature, like it or not.

I wish they would do something about the graffiti around the school . It's a gang of girls and one guy .

Many thanks for the programme Mowgli. Seems they have been so busy "cleaning" ! they forgot to circulate a programme this year!

scaffman wrote:we live near rafters and no sign of nice clean roads here .we are one of the forgotten as the roads here are terrible. what with speeding cars dust from the new building site on the olive grove they are tearing up(marvelous they have put up hoarding to hide the ripping up of maybe up to 100 olive trees).The lower end always gets forgotten .i see the muchtar road has been done nicely along with the village square area.we have been asking for speed ramps for years because one day someone will be killed at the junction because they just dont stop.so mr mayor when will we get our half of the village cleaned up.

I quite agree Scaffman, I drove from the Village centre to Erdener (another issue ) this am and it was like driving through the old London Smogs the amount of dust the lorries going to the building site were throwing up. And just as dangerous - I wonder if there is any point reporting to Environmental Health

As the the Olive Groves what a crime, I have been driving tht road regularly for 20 years now, and the sight of them always lifted my heart when I passed then, Now even more of upmarket concrete box man and his monster vehicles to depress me more!

Karakum cove needs a clean up,they cleared the weeds 2 months ago and now piles of rubbish needs picking up by the lorry

tomsteel wrote:frontalman, do you have a contact for Groucho Mark? Whatever, you ARE part of a group nomenclature, like it or not.

I do prefer the company of women if that's what you mean, you stubborn jewellery thief! Anyway it's Groucho Marx, not Groucho Mark - I made that mistake in an earlier post. I believe he was one of the funniest men who ever lived - especially for his time. I may be getting to see him soon, in which case I'll pass on you good wishes!