THE city of Makassar has many canals that could be turned into water transportation arteries and playgrounds but for the lack of public awareness on the need to keep the water free of garbage. Mountains of garbage are an ordinary sight on these canals. Of the three major canals in the South Sulawesi capital, Sinrijala, Pannampu and Banta-Bantaeng, with a total length of 14 kilometers, none is free of garbage.

Saripah, a resident who lives on th