Re: [obsnw] Liesbeek River Cleaning A[n Observatory] Community Project - TWENTIETH CLEANING DAY, Saturday 9 May 2015 Feedback

[Stefan]

Hi, I know a lot of them. Most of them ( almost all ) are drug adicts and hopeless cases, sorry to say that. I observed drug dealing, consuming and drug related prostitution there. There are people in this country who deserve help before anybody cares about this people. This people are living there bcs. its free and not controlled by social workers or anybody else. They would not use a trash bin even if its just right next to them. Besides littering they disturb the trees, some of them already burned down bcs. of fires right next to them. I`m sorry to say that, I work with such people in Switzerland  where a huge amount of money is spend for them ( free flats, therapy, free drug substitution, regular hand money ... ) . Even this does not help them - there is only less crime as long as they are pampered. What would help are only strict rules similar to beach rules : no camping, no fire, no alcohol. Sorry that I destroy illusions :-( ... , Stefan On 5/12/15 10:57 AM, Marc Turok wrote: Hi Sybrand, Ricardo and ALL... Thanks so much for what you have done now and previously! I am very grateful for this clean up!   I was wondering if there may be a way to make things easier and more sustainably successful?   My proposals as a start to raising possibilities...   1. Stop the littering before it gets into the river. There are so many people who set themselves up to camp on the river, under the bridges, in the bushes. Many if not most arrive with big bags of garbage they take out of bins, bring it to their nest, sort through things to eat and other goods AND LEAVE THE REST TO ROT in / next to THE RIVER! In my view this is illegal and destructive behaviour. I believe it would be better to provide dry, secure and supervised sleep-over space as a temporary alternative for a maximum two to three nights each to be met by a social worker, assessed and assisted to move to a more promising alternative lifestyle. I have suggested that payment for the short term food and shelter could be temporary work to pick up and clean up some of the hot spots (other litter mess), before it gets into the river system!   2. Set up a ‘stepping stone’ supported bridge over the weir, with a catchment grid and possibly another at the upstream side of the N2 Liesbeek bridge, also with a catchment grid, that can be cleared every second day or more, so all litter floating down the river is trapped and cleared BEFORE it spreads all over. There will still be a need to get a clean up in other parts since wind and local littering will still happen, but I believe the problem will be substantially reduced. The regular clean up at catchment grids and ‘vagrant nesting spots’ can be a preventative job creation project that addresses the cause and the symptoms.   3.The proposed temporary shelter facility I propose is under N2 bridge on mountain side of Liesbeek Parkway, where there is a managed toilet facility already existing. I suggest this large space could be be well utilised, made safe and isolated from the road system, fully transparent except for a wind protection barrier. The facility could have additional toilet and shower inside a lockable fenced area similar to under Mill Street Bridge in Gardens. It could be divided into three or four areas so groups can feel safe, men separated from women and the sober from the intoxicated where needed. There would need to be rules about lock up time and a system for supervision.  When this temporary facility has been replaced with a better alternative, the space can be used for an all weather skateboard facility for teens in this part of the world, not wanting to go all the way to Gardens, not needing to do their tricks in public roads, irritating others with their ‘click- clacks’. What do you think about it? Marc   Turok          From: Sybrand Strauss Sent: Monday, May 11, 2015 10:24 PM To: obsnw@googlegroups.com Subject: [obsnw] Liesbeek River Cleaning A[n Observatory] Community Project - TWENTIETH CLEANING DAY, Saturday 9 May 2015 Feedback   Hi all,   Thank you to everyone who came out and helped. We picked up 111 bags of litter!   The next cleaning day will be on the 6th of June. (We don't yet have a supervisor for the day - please contact me if you're interested or want to know more.)   A special thank you to the Obz KWIKSPAR for keeping us hydrated, Friends of the Liesbeek for their support, and Ricardo Sá for starting this initiative.   Sybrand Strauss 071 067 1962   PS. The "Trash Picker of the month award" goes to Werner Steyn who came armed with 5 litter bags for some "meditation", but simply couldn't stop once he got going. Werner, you're an unstoppable machine!   PPS. Sorry if I missed any volunteers - we're covering a very large area and it's easy to get lost in it. -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- OPS [Obsid Public Safety] - 24/7 control room   TEL: 021-447-1066 or 072-063-1653 ----------------------------------------------------------------------   EMERGENCIES: 10111   ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ONW email: o...@obs.org.za WEB: www.obswatch.org.za FACEBOOK: facebook.com/obswatch ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Useful Obs Numbers: obs.org.za/obsdir   You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups The Observatory Neighbourhood watch group. To post to this group, send email to obsnw@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to obsnw+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. 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