A few thoughts on the concept of 'working together'

(Baonghean.vn) - In the countryside, after the storm, people voluntarily cleaned up, and everything was clean and tidy. In the city, in some places, people pitched in, making it easier for sanitation workers, while in other places, they considered it someone else's job.

Due to the heavy workload, workers clearing trees after Typhoon No. 10 on Le Mao Street, Vinh City, only had time for a quick breakfast at their workplace to ensure the road and sidewalks were clear. Photo: Mai Hoang

Walking down the street that afternoon, I gave my younger sibling a bowl of freshly cooked rice because they hadn't eaten rice for days. They're a sanitation worker, so in the days after the storm, with trees scattered everywhere, they spent all day and night clearing debris, barely having time to chew their food or drink, just to get the job done quickly and on time.

She said: "In many places, the people are conscientious and help out, so it's easier. But in many places, they're not, and it takes us a long time to clean up." She laughed brightly, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead, and giggled: "It's tiring, but fun, sister." Then I asked: "So, who do you leave your child with while you're away like this?" Her voice softened: "I leave her with everyone from grandparents to neighbors. Every day when I come home, she sleeps, and in the morning when I leave, she hugs my neck and cries. People get to be with their children, protect them, but I have to be away from my child, it hurts so much...!" Her eyes welled up with tears, so I changed the subject.

In areas where residents did not participate in the post-storm cleanup, the work of environmental workers became extremely difficult. Photo: Mai Hoang

It's true that everyone has their own profession and responsibilities. However, preserving the environment is everyone's responsibility. Often, we become so preoccupied with our own egos and self-interest that we forget that sharing and helping each other are also essential. Self-awareness becomes more meaningful and fulfilling when we treat it as if we were doing it for ourselves.

Thinking this, I hurried home to clean up the ditch near my house, cut down the drooping acacia trees, and bundled them neatly. I never dared to be proud of what I thought or did. Knowing how to take care of ourselves, nurture our own needs, and worry about what exists around us, without expecting anything, anyone, or any organization... then everything will become easier and more humane.

Speaking only about the scope of stormy days, if we are mindful of the environment around us, we will undoubtedly contribute a great deal to environmental sanitation workers. This will also minimize the risk of accidents for pedestrians and reduce traffic congestion. Ultimately, it will save a great deal of effort, money, and health for many people, and for our own homeland.

My friend, simply because she loves the route she takes for her exercise, even though it's quite far from her house, rolled up her pants and helped clear away all the broken branches after the storm. She said: "If I can do it, I'll do it, and I'll do it quickly to help myself, so the sanitation workers can clean up other, more complicated areas." She explained that even during the storm, they still have to clean up our household waste as usual, and then there's the post-storm cleanup, but the number of workers remains the same. In reality, many neighborhoods in the city are very conscious of this, but there are also many who are still complacent, waiting for the authorities to come and clean up, thinking it's not their responsibility.

Suddenly, I remembered the people in my hometown, a rural area that had never known about environmental sanitation companies, never waited for the government to urge them to clean up. Yes, I'm from Nghe An, a land always at the epicenter of storms and floods, the "southern region" (Nam Dan) with its lush green cornfields stretching along the alluvial plains bordering the Lam River, flooded even before the rain, and with the wind already tearing up vegetables and rice.

That's why, after the full moon of the seventh lunar month, the people in our southern region take matters into their own hands. They cut down all the trees that are at risk of falling and then dry them to make firewood. Everyone is self-aware of the area around their own garden, not waiting for anyone to urge them. After the storm, everyone cleans up the area in front of their house, with sticky brooms scraping on the hard ground or wading through puddles of muddy water. Fallen leaves are spread out to dry before burning, and branches are chopped into smaller pieces and dried for firewood.

I feel that my people are always confident and somewhat "relaxed" when facing storms. This is because of a very simple reason: people in my hometown are aware that the public living environment is also the living environment of each individual, of themselves.

Mai Hoang