Health of the city - Cleanness of the Streets

Clean

DRI NK

T HI NK

CLEANING EXPERIMENTS. done by

Vera Charniak.

Athens.Creece.

STUDYING HEALTH OF THE CITY:

Cleanness of the streets Research

done by

Vera Charniak Greece. Athens

content INTRODUCTION .......................................................................... 5

PHASE 1 ........................................................................................ 6-27 CLEANING EXPERIMENT RESULTS ................................................ 8-9 INTERVIEWS ........................................................................... 13-25

interviewer 1 .................................................... 13-17 interviewer 2 .................................................... 18-23 interviewer 3 .................................................... 24-25

CONCLUSIONS ......................................................................... 27

PHASE 2 ........................................................................................ 28-37 INTERVIEWS ........................................................................... 30-35

interviewer interviewer interviewer interviewer

1 2 3 4

.................................................... .................................................... .................................................... ....................................................

31 32 33 34-35

CONCLUSIONS ......................................................................... 37

PHASE 3 ........................................................................................ 38-39

INTRODUCTION

Streets and public spaces are significant part of our daily life. We pass them by, we meet, we eat, we sit on it enjoying a sunny or rainy day. But have you ever asked yourselves, how clean are the streets?

This research project was focused on the cleanness of the streets in the Metaxourgeio area. Along with gathering data, was created a ‘cleaning device’, which was used not only for interviewing people on the street and draw their attention on the problem itself , but also to try to get them involved in the cleaning process, as I believe that once you clean the street by yourself, the relation to public space will change.

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Metaxourgio. Athens .

Granikou street

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PHASE 1

After general research was made a decision to go deeper in cleaning process. I decided to choose one street and clean it during one week.

The goals of my cleaning experiment were: 1. To get involved in the cleaning process: - experience the cleaning process by myself; - to see how difficult it is to keep the street clean; - to find out where the trash is concentrated on the streets; - what kind of trash etc.

2. To include social aspect: - to see people’s reaction seeing me cleaning the street; - to learn what they think about the situation with trash on the streets.

Especially I was interested in people living on this street. Through my cleaning action I wanted to become closer to the residents of this street.

I found Granikou street suitable for my experiment: - there was a bar next to it, - there were 2 abandoned buildings on it, - the buildings itself were not big, what could give me opportunity to find out quicker who lives here and interview them after.

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USED TOOLS :

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CLEANING EXPERIMENT RESULTS

AMOUNT OF BOXES

TYPE OF TRASH

CLEANING TIME

X 6

55 min

X 2

23 min

DAY 3

X 3

24 min

DAY 4

X 2

30 min

DAY 5

X 1

27 min

DAY 1

DAY 2

food packaging

shit

bilding materals

papers

fallen leaves

bags

food leftovers

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DAY 1

DAY 2

DAY 3

DAY 4

DAY 5

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GERANIKOU STREET PHOTOS

PROBLEMATIC ZONES FOR CLEANING green zones

-corners; - abandined buildings - road obstacles

stairs

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Along with rich information I got about the cleaning process and trash on the street, I was able to get to know 4 residents of Granikou street.

Further you can read 3 interviews I have recorded. The 4th one was very short and, unfortunately, not properly recorded.

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INTERVIEWS

INTERVIEWEE 1

- How long do you live on this street?

them. They don’t care about the others.

It’s 14 years now (from 2002).

- Why do you this this problem has occurred? I did not see an aviary for dog’s? Could it be because of the lack of this special places to walk dogs?

You’ve seen I was cleaning the street for a week. I am curious, have you ever done something like that before or have you tried to gather people to do this?

No. I’ve never done it before. It would be nice…

Actually I have never thought about that before I saw you and now the idea to clean the street doesn’t seem impossible.

- After cleaning the street for 6 days I can say that it seems possible to keep the area clean. Of course, the first day was the most difficult one and may be even disgusting, but next days I had not so much to work. There were mainly fallen leaves on the pavement and some papers.

- Do you have a dog?

No. - I am asking this as during my research i found out that there is a lot of shit on the street, which first of all destroys the its view and secondly it smells very strong when the temperature is high.

Do you see it as a problem that people walk their dog and don’t clean the street after?

I think the situation with pet’s shit on the streets os horrible. It’s everywhere. You can see it in the center of Athens and in its suburbs. People just do what they like and what is comfortable for

It could be of course, but in another hand you can see some people walk with a plastic bag in their hands. I have friends who do that, so I don’t think that the problem is in the lack of aviary for dog’s.

- Do you know your neighbours well? Are you in a good relationship with your neighbours?

I know people who lives here. We speak some time, but I can’t say we are all in a good relationship.

It depends on a person. For example the woman who lives on the second floor next to me doesn’t seem very respectful to her neighbours, but the woman on the third floor is nice and we are in a good relations with her.

- If somebody from your neighbours start cleaning movement (as I did), would you join?

Yes. I would join, but the problem is in the start. Somebody should take responsibility and be active to gather people and this is the problem. I don’t think that people here are ready for that. But I believe that if somebody would initiate something like the rest will join!

Could it be also the problem of the trash on the street because of the lack of education or social programs (like

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social advertisements and so on)?

Y es. I think this is one of the

main reasons. I think people are still have to be thought to be more respectful to the city and its environment. If parents don’t teach their children to be respectful to the city and its residents, then the society should try to do it.

It like a chain. A child see its parents behaviour and copies it. If its parent throws a paper on the street then a child thinks it’s normal and will do it as well.

I am a teaching philosophy in a university and I always ask my students take their garbage out of the class (like cups of coffee, packaging etc.), but after every class I have to throw their garbage by myself. They think that somebody else should do this job for them. It is really upset me. It is very sad.

- Was it always like that or may be you see the change in the last years or decades?

I don’t know. I think from the beginning there was not knowledge about public space, as people came from villages. There were not so many people around.

There was quite clear borders of what space belongs to who and people knew each other. I can say even that in the village it was a nonsense do not care about public space as there were no public space. People took care about When people moved to Athens the relations to the space has changed, in particular, there were not anymore clear rules and people did not know how to behave in a new environment.

For example, when my family moved to Athens my father was shouting always, as he used to do it in the village to say ‘Hi’ to somebody or grab somebody’s

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attention. I remember also that on the bus station or any station it was always a chaos. You could wait for a taxi and when your turn has come somebody just could come in front of you and it was normal as there were not still these unspoken rules, but situation has changed and may be we need to wait till the city culture in Athens will grow.

- I heard that the situation with the garbage on the street is not so acute in whole Athens. Some people said that there are some rich areas of which government take care of. Is that true?

Can you comment this somehow?

I don’t know. I can’t be sure about that.

But it is true but in some areas the pressure from people is stronger (they are more demanding).

Anyway I think the situation in general is equal everywhere and the infrastructure and services are bad everywhere as well.

It could be also, that some politicians and other powerful people who live in a certain area of Athens can take care of the space and provide a proper care of it, but tat’s it. It’s attention usually concentrated on that area and they don’t care about the rest.

- I heard that the situation with the garbage on the street is not so acute in whole Athens. Some people said that there are some rich areas of which government take care of. Is that true?

Can you comment this somehow?

I don’t know. I can’t be sure about that.

But it is true but in some areas the pressure from people is stronger (they are more demanding).

Anyway I think the situation in general is equal everywhere and the infrastructure and services are bad everywhere as well.

It could be also, that some politicians and other powerful people who live in a certain area of Athens can take care of the space and provide a proper care of it, but tat’s it. It’s attention usually concentrated on that area and they don’t care about the rest.

- Do you spend a lot of time on the street/public space? Would you spend more if the areas were cleaner and nicer?

I don’t know. I did not think about this… I think we don’t really have this culture of hanging out in public spaces, but we do spend a lot of time in cafes and restaurants. It’s our culture.

I think now it is also not really common to invite friends to your home for a party. We prefer to go out and meet in cafes/restaurants.

But again, I can’t say what could be if we had nice public areas in Athens as for example you have in the Netherlands. And I am afraid politics and business stops this process. Do you know this nice square around Metaxourgheio metro station? If you noticed, there are no benches, because the owners of cafes and restaurants around asked to do not put them as people will have to go to cafes instead.

It’s strange and complicated situation.

You know, I moved to this area in 2002 and there were no bars, restaurants. It was very nice, quiet neighbourhood. I really liked that. After some time cheap cafe/ restaurants appeared. This area became very popular for students, alternative culture. New cafes/bars are opening constantly.

- Do you like this trend?

No, not at all.

Do you think that can make the area more clean and/or safe?

Nooo.

- I was waking around observing and interviewing owners of the shops/bars and it seems like they

try to keep the area around clean.

They broom it in the morning and sometimes during the day.

I don’t know. I’ve never seen somebody cleaning the street around. May be. I don’t know.

In my opinion it doesn’t help to make the area clean.

- Ok. I want to return again to the question about green spaces. If the environments would have changed and there would have appeared more green areas, would you spend your time there more?

I don’t know.. I thought about that but I think I more walker. I like walking.

- Is it just your habit (walking) and greek in general like promenading around the city?

No, no. It’s just me. My habit.

Do people in Athens like doing sports?

I saw some runners, but so much? Do people go to gym? I did not see so many sport facilities here.

I can’t be sure, but it think doing sports or go to gym is not so popular here.

Personally, I prefer cycling and I used to cycle a lot in mountains as well as around the city, but I didn’t do it yet for years as it became dangerous. Especially in the city.

- How about yoga? It became very popular around the world in recent 1015 years.

Oooo, yeaah. True. There are a lot of yoga studios around. So, yes. Even in this area you can find some practices.

Yoga is very popular in alternative culture or I also can say in alternative Athens’ areas.

- Do people also do yoga outside? In parks, for example.

I did not see people do it outside. So, I

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So, I think no…

And as I said earlier, there are not parks or area suitable for that.

You know. I thought about running, but I don’t do it, as the area is not good for that. I went up and down and concluded that I will not do it. To many cars, dust, people… Not healthy at all.

- And the last question. Do you like this area?

Yes! A lot. I moved here in 2002 as I like its quietness and all these old nice houses around. At that moment this area was also quite and cheap, so it was perfect for me. You know, it seemed very exciting to live in the center of Athens and still have the village like style.

But now the situation has changed. We have so many abandoned buildings and also this problem with homeless people…

It is not so nice anymore.

- THANK YOU!

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INTERVIEWEE 2

- Hi! We’ve already met and spoke on the street a couple of days ago, but today I want ask you some more question about this area.

-So. How do you find the area where you live?

Difficult question as the area has changed in last 10 years a lot. Before it was very nice and quiet neighbourhood, but after crisis things has changed. As you see now there are a lot of homeless people around, but also in the last years a lot of bars and restaurants opened.

- How acute is the problem with homeless and junkies on the street for you?

Of course, I don’t like it, but I still would feel Ok if the institutions which are responsible for cleaning and which take look after these people could also take care of the area. Nobody is taking care of it. It became dirty.

This area is not a priority for the government so we have what we have now.

- Is there a difference between

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in general don’t behave so respectful towards public area. You know, there is a clear division in their minds into public and private space.

- Could you say that this is cultural thing? Is this situation the same in all Greece?

I can’t say so much about the whole Greece or other cities, but ,for example, compared to New York people walking with their dogs and live its shit on the street would get a fine. And people pick the shit from the street.

It was nit a culture before but it became now.

I see a lot of people who behave very carefully in their house, but as soon as they get out everything changed.

And I see it a lot from my house and sometime I don’t have a patience. I just go out and say “Pick it out”.

- Would you relate the cleanness of the street with your health?

Does the cleanness of the street influence on you?

I can’t clearly say yes or no, as some things that can influence you health are not very obvious,

then the answer was ‘NO. It’s extremely dangerous’. So can you imagine, if I would just throw it away in a trash bin on the street, that can stay for a couple of days without cleaning. How dangerous it is for people and in particular for homeless people and workers.

So, the best advice I got was ‘since you care so much’ (and there are a lot of people who have to take that kind of pill as it very common, what means that actually none of them did not think or care about the consequences) ’check the time and throw this medical waste directly to the garbage car, so there is a lower change that it will heart the somebody.

And in general, there is no good infrastructure to collect the trash in the city and again, there is no infrastructure to collect hazardous materials from people.

- Do you know something about the recycling program here or may be in Athens in general?

We have here recycle bins for plastic or glass, but it doesn’t work. Some of my friends do separate the trash, but I see no sense in that as those bins are cleaned by the same car which collect the normal trash. All goes in one tank and after everything is thrown in area.

Nobody cares.

The funny things is everything is working before elections. Before elections the streets are cleaned and everything is nice. But after…

- Does the trash on the street influence you mentally? What do you think?

Of course. Of course. Also noise

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pollution. It the last years the noise pollution increased. It’s very annoying.

- Would you join the cleaning movement if somebody would initiate that?

Is is a big question. Would you or not make your life better.

There are group of people Athenista it’s called and they do things like that in this area and I do appreciate it a lot.

This park nearby was cleaned by the activist. They also built there a small shed. They gather in Saturday-Sunday morning and to staff. Some people are critical, some very thankful and other don’t care at all.

During the time when they were cleaning the area for park I couldn’t help them as I was out of Athens this moment, but I would help as much as I could. It was extremely dirty. I was very grateful when they did it.

- Interesting. We spoke we the woman from municipality who helped to clean this area?

I think I know who is she. I met her accidentally when I was doing a communication project for my work and she was very helpful, enthusiastic and nice, but this is just an exception of the rule.

- But I do believe that all big things start from small action?

That’s true. This park would not exist if this small group of people would not initiate the movement.

Returning to your question… I am not sure would I join physically, but I would definitely help as much as I can.

- What do you think. Is it in the greek culture do not behave respectfully to a public spaces? One person told me one interesting thing, that as Athens were growing rapidly in last hundred/hundreds years mainly because people from

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moving here as well as the city itself during the expansion of its boarders captured suburb small town and villages.

NO. Of course no. A hundred years ago Athens did not look as they look today.

It is an education issue. At school and at home people should be thought to behave responsibly to the street.

I can say more,I think that actually people from villages would behave very respectful to the public space and keep it clean as it is normal for them.

Again in my opinion it is a lack of education. As I know they do started teach children in school about recycling and trash, but it will take some time before people will be thought or/and understand how to behave responsibly on the street. May be after a couple of generations the situation will change.

- How long does the problem exist with the refugees?

Somewhen in 90s there was a wave of immigrants coming from balcans, but it was different.

The refugees problem as we see it now started about 3 years ago and of course, it is influence on the city and its residents a lot as the cultures are very different and we are learning how to live together. It will take a lot of time…

Albanian people that came in 90s are more or less integrated in greek culture, but when they came they were complete strangers and greeks were strangers for them as well, but albanian are more close to greeks then sirians..

- Do you personally recognise your street as part of your home?

NO. Now no. Because of noise, because of dirtiness of the street… But the reason why I bought this house was the tree, which is not my home, so in this case I could say that I recognise the street as part of my home. And in general it is difficult in Athens to find a house surrounded by trees.

Summarising, I would say that street is part of my everyday life but not the part of my home.

- Do you like this area in terms how it looks like? Do you like its architecture?

Yes, it’s nice. I like it. Especially comparing this area with places full block of buildings. This area is better.

- Do people here spent a lot of time on the street?

No, it’s not a common thing. In villages and on the islands, of course, you can see it, but not in Athens. On the islands, countrysides, in mountains the situation in general is better because of small communities that take care also in a lot of cases about public space.

- If your street was clean and calm would you for example place a chair and/or table on it to spent your time outside?

No, it’s me. It doesn’t matter how clean the street, I would not do it.

- What do you think, would be the area more clean and safe if there would open more bars/cafes…?

No, of course no. It is the main argument of the owners and municipality that developing more bars and restaurants can help to make the street more friendly and clean, but in reality it is not true and ridiculous. Especially bars.

You know this bar on the corner?

There is cocaine. The owner of this bar is cocaine distributer.

Moreover I had to call to the police several time because of the noise to I heard a fight on the street. So, come on, how bars can help to make the area friendly.

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And also people from bars and restaurant are going to our street to pee. It’s terrible! it is happening every night.

And again this is a lack of education and unrespectful behaviour to other people.

cycling in Athens is not safe and I don’t think it’s healthy because of the air pollution.

But I can’t say it for sure as I not very sportive person so may be I don’t know something.

- And as I know, there are opening more and more bars in this area and a lot of people on the street who I interviewed were not the residents of this area, but were just guests of the bars/cafes and more and more people are coming to the Metaxourgeio as they like the night life here. Is it true what I am saying?

- Do you have any pets?

Yes, you are completely right. Low prices attract people in this area. And it is a trend now to be here.

- Ok, clear. I have the feeling that there is a lack of public space in Athens. I mean well-thought spaces and/or gardens and parks.

I think it’s true and the reason is what you mentioned before about rapid grow of the city. It’s full of concrete and there are not so much green areas and green in general.

- If there were more parks and green areas would you spent more time outside? I heard the opinion and it’s also my feeling that greek people prefer spent their time on cafes/bars/restaurants..

I don’t think it is completely true. If you go to Gazi area you can find a big park where I see a lot of people just walking or laying on the grass having picnic.

- Do people do any sport activities outside? Like jogging or yoga.

I see a lot of people cycling in the city and they do sports, but it is not so common, but they do. I think if there would be more parks and green areas more people would use them and it also can trigger people to start doing any sport activities, as for example

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No, I don’t. I would like to have, but my way of living doesn’t allow me to have ones.

- I see a lot people walking with their dogs? Do greek people like having pets at home?

Yeaa. I think greek people like digs, cats. You actually can see a lot cats in this area and some people take care of them, feed them.

- Yes, that true. While I was investigating this area I noticed a lot of places where people put food and water for cats. On the east part there is even an cat’s aviary.

THANK YOU A LOT! IT WAS VERY HELPFUL!

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INTERVIEWEE 3

- As I remember you moved to Athens a couples of years ago.

How do you feel here?

Fine. I am from Italy.

I think there is not such a big difference between Greece and Italy in terms for instance of economical situation (we both have crisis) or people’s behaviour and relations...

- How do you find this area?

My street and the area close to it is fine, but the area to the right os horrible... I avoid to walk there.

Our house is provided by the ambassy where my husband is working. We knew nothing about this area. Uf knew, may be chose something different.

- Do you find this area clean?

No. But it depends. As you see our street is very nice and clean, but this is more exception then a rule. There are may be 5-6 streets as our.

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- How long do you live here?

We moved just two weeks weeks ago, so may be I can not really help you in terms of the information about this area.

- What do you think about the trash on the street? Can you compare your experence as a foreigner?

Hmmm....

I think the government does not provide a good cleaning sevice.

It also shouldbe responsible for people aducation in this field.

You know, I also don’t see recycling systems in work.

- What do you think does the trash on the street influence your health (physical/mental) in any way?

Of course. Definitely! You walk and breath all this dust and bacterias contained it and os course I am not happy seeing dirty streets.

- Doing my research I noticed a lot of pets excrement on the

st reet ? What do you t h i n k a b ou t it?

- Have you ever clean the area aound your house?

I rem e mbe r you asked me s omet h i n g l i ke t hat wh e n w e me t a t t h e fi r st t i me. Be fi re y ou s a i d t h i s t o me I h ave n e ve r s e e n pees or shi t on t he st re e t . N ow I se e i t e ve r ywhere . Aw f u l l !

No, but I have a cleaning lady who cleans the area around our house approximately once a week.

- W ha t do y ou t hi nk why?

I don’t kn ow... But I t h i n k p e opl e don’t h ave a h abb i t t o cl e a n t h e st re e t asft e r t hei r p e t s . . .

May be t h e l aw sh ou l d b e ch ange d for i nst an ce h i g h e r fe e s for t h i s.

But you know, I al so d i d n ot s e e spaci al avai r i e s for pet s . Ma y b e t h at woul d i m prove t he s i t u at i on .

- If people on this street would start a cleaning movement (like cleaning the street by themselves once a week), would you join?

I don’t know. May be.

But I have do go. Good luck with your project!

- THANK YOU A LOT FOR YOUR TIME! IT WAS VERY HELPFUL!

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CONCLUSIONS

After my 5 days cleaning experiment I made following conclusions:

WAS IT SUCCESSFUL? ItThe experiment was successful. I was able to get the information I needed. This concerns both goals set by me in the beginnig: the research of the cleaning process and social aspect of my research.

WOULD I CHANGE SOMETHING? The biggest problem I faced was my apperance. I was wearing my everyday clothes what did not allow me to grab people’s attention. Only the fact that I was a young girls caused questions.

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USED TOOLS :

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PHASE 2

Encourached by the success of my cleaning experience I designed a cleaning suit for next step of my research. My first idea was ‘cleaning bar‘, but due to lack of time and sources the concept was simplified to the’cleaning suit’.

My cleaning suite supposed to highlite me on the street and make clear for the passersby that I am not just a ‘cleaning lady’.

My suit contained: - spare broom (for my interviewees) - scoop (shared with by me and interviewees) - tea and plastic cups (for my interviewees) - notebooke and pen - voice recorder.

CLEANING SUIT front

back

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Before going on the street was prepared 3 simple questions:

1. Have you ever tried to clean the street by yourself?

2. If somebody would initiate ‘cleaning movement’ on your street, would you join?

3. What do you think if people would try to clean the street at least once would it help to keep the streets clean?

Further you can read some dialoges I’ve recorded.

Metaxourgio. Athens .

1 3

2

5 8

6

7

9 10

11

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1 2

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1

interviewee number.

2

people rejected to speak or did not spoke english

INTERVIEWS

INTERVIEWER 1

(1) I really like your dress.

(2) It looks funny! (me) Haha! Thank you! I am happy as hear that as I am from Design Academy and making a project about cleaning in this area. Can I ask you some questions?

Yes (2) Yes, if it won’t take a lot of time. (me) It will take a couple of minutes. Have you ever tried to clean the street by yourself?

No. (me) If somebody would initiate ‘cleaning movement’ on your street, would you join?

Yeah, why not. This would be awesome. I think it would be very helpful.

I have a funny story related to cleaning. Outside of our house there is a tank were we planted some flowers, but people took out plants and start throwing garbage in it as they thought that it is the tank for garbage. (me) What do you think if people would try to clean the street at least once would it help to keep the streets clean?

Will they learn something?

(2) People that don’t care will not join and once that care about the street will not learn something as they are already care.

(1) It would be cool. Local people that even will not join they will understand that the street looks better. It would be cool.

But I have a question for you! Who do you think make the street dirty? Locals or passers-by? (me) Interesting question. Of course you have problem with homeless and drag addicted people that make the street dirty, but I would put them aside from locals and passers-by as I see it as different type of question.

Speaking about the locals and passers-by I would say both (50/50). While making my research I could see locals and passers-by behaving irresponsibly to the street. I saw people from bars walking out to pee on the streets and supermarket visitors throwing plastic bags or paper on the street as well as ,for example, locals who were walking their dogs and let its excements lay on the street etc. It is a complex question and what I want to do is to grab people’s attention to the problem in general and find the way how to do it.

(What words/actions can touch people and make them think.)

I could add that there is also no infrastructure to keep on the street to keep them clean, but you are right that before, let’s say, physical infrastructure there is a mental one.

(2) We should go.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!

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INTERVIEWER

- Hi! Can I steal a little bit of your time?

- Yes - Have you ever tried to clean the street by yourself?

- I clean the area around my house.

- How often do you clean?

- Almost every morning. It depends on the wind.

What do you think if people would try to clean the street at least once would it help to keep the streets clean?

Of course. I think people should take care of the area around their house and keep it clean.

- Ok. This is it! Thank you!

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3

INTERVIEWER

5

- Hi! Can I ask you some questions?

(1) Ok… Very quick.

- Have you ever tried to clean the street by yourself?

(1) Yes. Several times…

(2) Not like you, of course, but pick up some garbage etc.

- If somebody from your neighbourhood would initiate ‘cleaning movement’ on your street, would you join?

Yeeaahh (2) Yes. Why not?

- What do you think if people would try to clean the street at least once would it help to keep the streets clean?

Yes. I think this will help.

(2) Definitely.

Ok. This is it! Thank you for your time!

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INTERVIEWER

- Hi! Can I ask you some questions?

(Cafe worker is sweeping the street) Yes. - If somebody from your neighbourhood would initiate ‘cleaning movement’ on your street, would you join?

- Yes. Of course. And I would join. People who live on the ground floor clean the street, BUT only when they can and they feel to.

I think I would join if something like that started in my neighbourhood.

- What do you think if people would try to clean the street at least once would it help to keep the streets clean?

Yes, definitely. I feel people would change.

- I see you are sweeping the street. Do you broom every day?

Yes, of course. It is our place and we have to keep the area around clean. But… I should be honest, I am sweeping as I get paid for that. I don’t know would I do it just by myself, but I hope i will.

- What do you think, are the streets clean in this area?

No, not at all.

- What do you think, why are they not clean?

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8

No, not at all.

- What do you think, why are they not clean?

You know, I was in England. Municipal services clean the streets and people see it and try to keep them clean as well. They don’t throw out garbage.

Here the situation is different. Streets are dirty and people don’t care so much about them.

People see the road clean so they don’t throw the garbage on it, if they see it’s dirty they do.

But I think things have changed. I don’t see so much people eating something and throwing paper on the street. So something has changed.

Let’s hope for better!

- OK! You know, of course the streets in Athens are not so clean as in England or Paris, but they are ok. What I want to pay attention on is recycling. We don’t recycle the garbage here! It is a major problem.

- But what do you mean by recycling?

The whole system or that people are not separate trash?

No! No! The whole system. You may be saw recycling bins around but it is a complete fake as the track that are collecting the trash is one. So they collect all trash in one track. There is no sense you know to separate your trash at home as everything will be put in one tank.

I started recycling and I saw three time as the garbage track collecting all the trash in one tank. I ask the driver and he said that the system doesn’t work.

He has to clean them all (trash bins).

- But how about other cities? Do they also have this problem?

I don’t know about whole Greece, but I am originally from a small town. It is an hour from here. There they have recycling bins which are cleaned by separate garbage tracks. So the system works there. And here is nothing!

But believe things will change!

- Thank you for your time! It was very informative!

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CONCLUSIONS

I was able to go on the street only once, but even this experience gave me a lot of information to think about: WAS IT SUCCESSFUL? The experiment was partially successful.

What went well?

- I was definitely visible on the street. People were smiling seeing me and were curious about what I am doing and why. There were more open answering my questions and more people were ready to stop and speak with me.

What went wrong?

- The idea of drinking tea while discussing cleaning issues did not work out well as this part of the concept was not presented well in my design.

WOULD I CHANGE SOMETHING? Testing my cleaning suit on the street showed some aspects which should be changed: - As was mentioned before, the drinking part should be better presented in design. It should be clear that interviewee can drink some tea/coffee with me.

- The shape and material does not suit for cleaning. The material was to hard and not flexible limiting my movements.

- Despite the fact that I was more visible on the street in my suit, I still see some space for improving design in this direction.

- To make people stop for a longer time my interviewing ‘spot’ should also seems fixed on the street.

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Ξε´ρεις τι κaνω;

USED TOOLS :

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PHASE 3

While designing my final cleaning tool, I took into account all the advantages of my previous experiments and designs: - It is mobile.

- It is compact.

- It is visible.

- It can be fixed on the road.

Final design is a combitation of two previous ideas (‘cleaning bar‘ and ‘cleaning suit‘), but simplified version of them.

Ξε´ρεις τι κaνω;

CLEANING TROLLEY

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