Gwangju Citizens “Clean Gwangju” Together

Written by Joey Nunez
Image courtesy of Adam Greenberg

This month’s Rights to the City showcases “Clean Gwangju,” an initiative that uses social media to challenge international residents to clean up litter around the city.

Taking part in the Clean Gwangju campaign is easy. Participants are encouraged to take the “10-Minute Challenge,” which involves picking up all the trash they can find in 10 minutes, disposing of it, and posting a photo to social media with the label #CleanGwangju.

Lianne Bronzo works alongside Clean Gwangju creator Adam Greenberg armed with bags, gloves and a camera. “I love being outside, so it is a great way for me to soak up the sun and make my area a nicer place to be. It takes a few weeks for all of that litter to accumulate, but only a few minutes to pick it all up,” she said.

Amy Badenhorst shares Bronzo’s love of being outdoors. She reports, “Every Saturday morning when I take my dog out for a walk, I buy a 100L trash bag and pick up the trash in Pungam-dong. I have also incorporated this project into practical English lessons by having my students help me pick up trash.”

Some participants were surprised at how much trash they picked up. “In the end, my large garbage bag was filled up before I had even walked 200 meters,” said James Sharp. “I had walked that route [many] times before and noticed the litter, but I never noticed just how much of it there was.”

Calen Cygan was also alarmed by the amount of litter. “I have about a 20-minute walk between home and work, so I decided one day just to grab a bag and see what I could pick up on my walk home. It was ridiculous how quickly I was able to fill it—five minutes!” she said.

International residents are not the only ones to recognize the problem of littering. “I have told a lot of my Korean friends about this project and everyone thinks it is a step in the right direction,” said Jennifer Mae Terry. “Young Koreans are often embarrassed about the trash problem, so people need to start making an effort to make a difference.”

Peizhi Lee agrees, knowing how much of a difference 10 minutes can make to our everyday environment. “This movement certainly made people pause in their footsteps to think about litter or reminded people to think twice about littering,” she noted.

Doaa Ghareeb appreciates what Greenberg has created and wants to ensure that this project will continue. “How awesome to find more than just one person who cares about the environment and making the community better and build awareness about a problem that many of us ignore,” Ghareeb said. “I am glad to be a part of it and to be a useful addition to the group.”

Cygan additionally stated the project’s importance to her. “We only have one earth and we have to do whatever we can to take care of it, not only for future generations but also for us now!”

Lee emphasizes the need for a common effort: “It takes more than a few people, [as] it requires the entire community to act together, by stopping from littering and throwing away our trash responsibly.”

Ultimately, Greenburg and Bronzo’s love for Gwangju motivates them to care for the local environment. “Cleaning up around my neighborhood a few minutes a week is a very easy task,” Bronzo said. “I have actually found it to be therapeutic and addicting. If everyone did this, imagine what Gwangju would look like.”

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