#MyTrashMyResponsibility Project reminds me of a phrase, 明察功過 (kouka o akiraka ni sasshiyo). The character 察 (sa-tsu) means "investigate" as well as "guess." So, this phrase can be interpreted in two ways as below:
1. Look back on achievements and challenges and make use of them next time.
2. Anticipate achievements and challenges in advance and take measures or devise a strategy to prevent challenges.
You can tell which of ways is clear that is truly more effective. In fact, my friend said, eliminating trash bins from classrooms for a year had the effect of keeping them clean and increasing the efficiency of cleaning.
We often focus on the "obvious" or "visible" results and neglect the process, or we are too afraid to take action on something we are not sure will work, for fear of mistakes. Personally, I like the idea of the #MyTrashMyResponsibility Project because I like the idea of "you never know until you try."
Phrase:
明察功過 (kouka o akiraka ni sasshiyo)
Origin:
明察功過 罰賞必當 日者 賞不在功 罰不在罪 執事群卿 宜明賞罰 (Prince Shōtoku wrote in the 11th Constitution of the Seventeen-Article Constitution in 604)
Meaning:
明察功過 罰賞必當: The achievements and mistakes of those in government post must be clearly examined, and awards and punishments must be given.
日者 賞不在功 罰不在罪: Nowadays, awards have been not properly given based on merit and punishments have been not fairly given based on crime.
執事群卿 宜明賞罰: The government must give awards and punishments in a proper and clear method.