No. I don't think this is a work of art.

Paper cups don't grow on trees. Obviously.

I came across this disturbing scene yesterday morning while passing the parking zone next to the cemetery of Mahchangolhi ward.

Is this resulting from a lack of environmental awareness which otherwise already bombards us from every direction constantly?

This may be a small sign of a bigger problem that we seem to have.

Tiny vendors have been springing up all over the Greater Male' Area recently offering coffee in small paper cups for which there seems to be a high demand.

And the victims? The enclosures of where trees are planted have already been a favourite disposal site for used bottles, cans, etc.

During President Maumoon's time people blamed his government for not setting up enough dustbins all over the place but when he actually did, it resulted in our supposedly educated and enlightened populace vandalising such bins. It was perplexing behaviour demonstrated by a population of a low lying archipelago who should naturally be aware of our environmental vulnerability.

And how are our behaviour now?

It's gotten worse. Don't expect Maldivians or the expatriates living in the Maldives carrying their waste back to their dwellings to properly dispose of or recycle them: now that Male' City Council, instead of setting up bins, have employed sweepers to do the rounds, of not only picking up leaves fallen from trees but also other waste such as single use plastic, people have become more complacent in the knowledge that their waste will be disposed of by the government. An unavoidable tragedy perhaps?