Westport Lions Roar
By Lion Bob Reddick
Last fall, I was fortunate to travel in Japan for three weeks. There are many differences between Japan and Canada that you immediately notice, such as the crowded urban areas and of course, the food, although there is no problem finding Western-style food. Other differences that I didn’t expect was how mountainous the country is and how cities are mainly crammed into the valleys.
Additional surprises were the non-existence of private lawns, the excellent condition of the roads, the general prosperity of the country, the politeness of the people, and that most businessmen, taxi and bus drivers wore black suits with a white shirt and black tie. Our coach driver wore white gloves, helped us down the step and always had umbrellas ready to distribute.
Going to the bathroom in Japan was a new experience. Many toilets have more buttons and options than what you would find on a TV remote. In addition to heated seats and various spray options, some public washrooms have a button to play music to mast embarrassing noises.
Two things that surprised me the most were the train system and the cleanliness of the country. The Shinkansen, or bullet train, travels at a speed close to 300 km per hour. Before the train arrives, a white gloved, uniformed conductor opens a control panel next to the track and performs a very precise procedure. What amazed me was that the conductor always pointed their index finger to what they were checking, or to a particular button, before they pressed it. I assume this practice increases their focus. On your ticket is a gate number; each gate is clearly marked and has a yellow mat, similar to the ones you see here at street crossings. The first person stands on the mat, and the rest line up perpendicularly. When the train stops, the train door opens exactly in front of the yellow mat. In a couple of minutes, people get off and on, and the train leaves the station on time. If a train is scheduled to leave at 10:04, it leaves at 10:04. The average delay time for a Shinkansen train is 20-30 seconds, and all Japanese trains report an average delay time of less than a minute.
One of the most impressive characteristics of Japan was the cleanliness. The streets, trains and public spaces are generally litter and cigarette butt-free. You rarely see garbage containers, even in public spaces and washrooms. Many people carry a small hand towel to dry their hands and a butt container or plastic bag to dispose of waste until they get home.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could be more like the Japanese in regard to litter? Even small changes in our attitude would make huge differences in our environment and well-being. For these reasons, the Westport Lions, in collaboration with the Rideau Lakes Township, is organizing their annual Pitch-In event on Saturday, April 25. Participants should meet at the Lions Beach, located at 63 Mountain Road, to pick up yellow garbage bags and coordinate cleanup routes at 10:00 a.m. They will return to the clubhouse at noon to enjoy a free lunch provided by the club.
Lion Marty Hawkins kindly requests that anyone planning to participate in this event should email the club at westportontariolions@gmail.com, so he can prepare sufficient food.
Participating in Pitch-In is an excellent opportunity to teach children or grandchildren the importance of keeping our environment clean. Research shows that families, including grandparents, who work and play together develop stronger bonds and provide emotional support for one another. Volunteering as a family to collect litter is a win-win situation: young people learn about the importance of volunteering, maintaining a clean environment, and taking pride in their contributions to the community.
If you cannot join the Lions’ Pitch-In event on April 19, Rideau Lakes Pitch-In runs during the month of April. Yellow pitch-in bags are available at the Municipal Office in Chantry, community halls and libraries. Put only roadside litter in a yellow pitch-in bag and then place it out on your regular collection day; no bag tag is required. (Rideau Lakes website)
The most effective way to combat the problem of littering is for each member of society to take responsibility for proper waste disposal. The next time you consider tossing litter or leaving garbage in a public space, please pause to think about the consequences.
Westport Lions Club 