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- Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks
(Nov 21, 2008)
- Dangerous Adventures for Boys
(Nov 19, 2008)
- LG Snowboard FIS World Cup Big Air London
(Oct 07, 2008)
- Free Overseas Volunteering Opportunities
(Oct 01, 2008)
- Nature: the poor relation
(Oct 01, 2008)
- Commando Challenge
(Sep 29, 2008)
- Charity Sail 2009
(Sep 19, 2008)
- Council wins £2.5m bid to improve children’s play facilities
(Sep 19, 2008)
- Waterwalkerz The Human Hamster Ball on Water
(Sep 19, 2008)
- Ski and Board Show NEC Birmingham 2008
(Sep 15, 2008)
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Vast sums of money is spent annually on cleaning up graffiti, when this money could be used for the provision of leisure resources for the youth of today.
Often young people complain that there aren't enough places for them to go and have fun, but surely they are biting the hand that feeds them by the destructive nature of graffiti and vandalism. It is their parents and other taxpayers who are paying for their destructive tendencies.
If graffiti and vandalism stopped, would the money saved be used by local authorities to invest in youth facilities?
In 2002, the BBC reported that graffiti artists were costing Londoners in excess of £100m. Graffiti can be seen all over the place and even in the seemingly most inaccessible places such as on flyovers and high up on buildings. "Graffiti writers get a thrill like that in extreme sports."
The article states that a study has found that children from all social backgrounds are contributing to that bill. There is evidence that individuals from well-ordered and better-off families are turning to graffiti as a pastime.
The report said that "40% of nine-year-olds think getting rid of graffiti and litter improves town centres."
The ever increasing costs encountered by the taxpayer and the impact on London's economy means vital cash is not being used to improve public services used by youth such as buses, trains and community centres. Surely, if young people stopped destroying their environment, then the vast sums of money saved could then be fed into improving the community with a focus on providing for youth. By providing structured leisure activities for youth to participate in, this would reduce the likelihood for them to wander the streets and turn to tearing apart the place where they live. What is needed are more programmes that encourage youth to take pride in their community in a positive way, and take part in building up a wonderful environment in which to play and have fun.
Someone needs to make the first move, and whilst graffiti and vandalism continue, companies and local authorities will be reluctant to invest in communities.
In the USA, graffiti is also a growing and expensive problem for local neighborhoods. Last year, cleaning up graffiti cost taxpayers more than $1 million.
As the numbers of people grow, so do the number of walls filled with graffiti. The city of Las Vegas has three full-time employees who remove graffiti by painting over it, or blasting it off with a power sprayer. But many say as soon as the graffiti is removed, it reappears. Whitney Green lives near Bonanza and Sandhill, she watched as a city worker painted over a wall filled with graffiti. She says the graffiti in her area is so bad, she doesn't even notice it anymore.
"I give it a day or two and it will be right back up again," Green said. David Semenza works for Neighborhood Response, which is in charge of graffiti removal for the city of Las Vegas. "We keep saying we have more paint then they do, but sometimes I wonder," Semenza said.
Last year, the city of Las Vegas spent $370,000 dollars cleaning up graffiti. In North Las Vegas, the cost of graffiti removal was $210,000. Henderson taxpayers footed a $141,000 dollar bill and Clark County spent a whopping $450,000 for clean up.
So, its your move. If you want to have money come into your area, take more pride in where you live and build a community you can be proud of.
If you would like to find out more, contact your local council. There are also lots of resources available at http://www.graffitihurts.org
Note: If you have been involved in any community projects that have improved the environment where you live, submit your own article to Active Outdoors.
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