Tourists picking up trash and cleaning up near the round-about next to Poipet International border gate (Photo: S. Amatak, Koh Santepheap newspaper)
Tourists picking up trash in Poipet (Photo: S. Amatak, Koh Santepheap newspaper)Koh Santepheap Newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Banteay Meanchey province – On 18 March, about 10 tourists started to pick up trash next to the round-about near the Poipet International border gate, located in Kbal Spean village, Poipet commune, O’Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province. The 10 foreigners said that they were traveling from Thailand to Cambodia to visit our country through the Poipet International border gate.
These tourists are resting on Poipet and they were visiting the border areas. They noted that Cambodia survived the genocidal regime, and just got out of war. Even though Cambodia seems to have a lot of major developments such as roads, electricity, large houses, etc… hygiene is still very lacking. When these tourists crossed the border gate, they walked toward the round-about nearby and they noticed that piles of trash are left on the sidewalks, and even the satellite hospital in O’Chrov district does not have trash cans to store the trash. This piling of rotten trashes in public places seriously affects the environment and health. The visiting tourists then decided to buy large black trash bags to collect the trash, they also taught the local people to understand about environmental and health issues that may be affected by the trash.
One of the visiting tourist said that, even though he is just a traveler, but when he reaches an area, and he sees that trash is left in the open like this, he does not allow it to remain as it is, he would go around and educate the local people to help preserve the environment in order to protect their health.
While well-intentioned tourists coming from developed nations are not afraid to pick up trash in our country, our authorities should think hard about this issue as well (and not allow trash to pile up in public places like this anymore).
These tourists are resting on Poipet and they were visiting the border areas. They noted that Cambodia survived the genocidal regime, and just got out of war. Even though Cambodia seems to have a lot of major developments such as roads, electricity, large houses, etc… hygiene is still very lacking. When these tourists crossed the border gate, they walked toward the round-about nearby and they noticed that piles of trash are left on the sidewalks, and even the satellite hospital in O’Chrov district does not have trash cans to store the trash. This piling of rotten trashes in public places seriously affects the environment and health. The visiting tourists then decided to buy large black trash bags to collect the trash, they also taught the local people to understand about environmental and health issues that may be affected by the trash.
One of the visiting tourist said that, even though he is just a traveler, but when he reaches an area, and he sees that trash is left in the open like this, he does not allow it to remain as it is, he would go around and educate the local people to help preserve the environment in order to protect their health.
While well-intentioned tourists coming from developed nations are not afraid to pick up trash in our country, our authorities should think hard about this issue as well (and not allow trash to pile up in public places like this anymore).
