Not sheep only

The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) declared a plan to prevent shepherds from allowing their sheep to graze in residential areas.

For those who find the scene charmingly bucolic, an old way of life fast disappearing in the cement jungle of cities, the measure may sound drastic.

For most others, the presence of sheep, or other domesticated animals, in residential areas, roaming the streets of the capital — often blocking traffic and leaving their droppings everywhere — or chomping the plants in people’s yards is not only unsightly but also unhygienic.

It is not going to be easy to wean shepherds of the habit of bringing their flocks to graze on empty plots of land; green space is rarer by the day, and even if spring, particularly, makes shrubs and grass sprout everywhere, available pastures are far and difficult to reach.

That said, the sight of sheep roaming some areas of Amman even in the summer, looking for whatever dried plants they can find, has another aspect to it: owners’ inability to feed their animals or trying to economise on the available feed for the proverbial rainy day.

Whatever the case, they have no place among high-rise buildings and in residential areas, and so the municipality initiative is good.

But there are so many other things that should be kept off the streets besides sheep.

Broken down cars, overflowing trash bins, fallen trees, construction materials, trees and other objects obstructing sidewalks, people barbecuing around circles in the middle of the city — a sore sight that the GAM and other authorities should seriously ban — should be on the long list of unsightly things that visually and otherwise pollute the capital and its environs.

Sure, the GAM can do only this much on its own to beautify Amman and keep it clean and friendly.

City residents also need to share some of the burden of keeping their city clean and nice. After all, it is the residents who have the means to make their city ugly or beautiful.

Littering the streets and leaving garbage on sidewalks is what Ammanites must learn not to do, starting with early school days.

The streets and parks of Amman should not be dumps for trash and waste.

And GAM should take more serious enforcement measures not only against shepherds but also against all citizens who treat their place of living with contempt.