I often ask for your thoughts on my musings in these Leaders - I like them whether you're in agreement or against what I say - and while I receive a good number of emails and calls, most of those who respond don't want to be identified, often because their personal views don't completely align with their company's ethos. This is a shame but in many cases I can understand why! I just had to share this though from someone I'll refer to as 'a regular reader across the pond with the same frustration', in response to my concerns voiced a couple of weeks back that there's a growing pattern of disrespect for our environment and with it, those who are paid to maintain it. It read:

"Here in the US I see varying areas. Some cities all I see is trash along the roadways that people dump from their cars. Other cities I see none of that: beautiful, natural, cared for... The last subdivision I lived in was a nice upscale subdivision in a quiet area. However, every Saturday night I could count on a fast food bag with some leftover food being found on the street to blow around the neighbourhood. Based on the location and direction of the scatter I could tell that the car it came from was heading into the nicest portion of the neighbourhood where there's no excuse for such behaviour. I suspect it may have been a teenager coming home, not caring about the consequences, or perhaps a spouse on a diet who didn't want the significant other to know they'd cheated on their diet, or who knows! For years I've wished that there was a 'Magic Button' I could push that would draw upon the forces of the Universe to cause all the trash that's dumped in places it shouldn't be, to return to the dumper and cling to their bodies for a week or so, just so they can personally enjoy their mess for a while, giving it time to further ripen on them."

Oh how I wish his 'magic button' idea could become a reality as it would quickly stop the rot! His words reminded me of the action of Britain's ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who, in his previous role of Mayor of London, cycled up to a car from which he'd seen an apple core thrown out into the road, (which he'd managed to retrieve) and chuck it back in the open window. I wish more of us could be that brave!