While Aidan Flanagan was participating in the Landmark Self Expression and Leadership Program he created contest among schools in Northern Ireland called “Don’t Be a Litterbug”. The purpose of the contest was to have students and their families take on making their communities litter free. This is a story from the Mourne Observer from 8th March 2006

DOWNPATRICK MAN’S ANTI-LITTER CRUSADE

FULL marks to Downpatrick man Aidan Flanagan, who has set his sights on creating a cleaner environment throughout Northern Ireland. Mr. Flanagan, from Orchard Way, has launched a “Don’t Be A Litter Bug” initiative and he is involving schools from parts.

“I’ve always had a dream of how I could make a difference to the beauty of Northern Ireland by making it litter-free,” he told the column. “I want people to waken up to the fact that the country they live in is dirty with litter and to do something positive about it.

“Not only is it dangerous to their health, it is also an unpleasant environment to live in and we should be proud of our country. I lived in Australia for six months and I could see how the people there love their country and are so proud of it. They don’t dump litter because heavy fines are imposed on litter offenders.”

He has invited schools to take part in a clean-up in their locality and also to design a poster based on either “Northern Ireland Is Too Beautiful To Litter” or “Don’t Be A Litter Bug.” First prize is a professional, promotional DVD worth £3,000 of the winner’s school, while second prize is £500 and third is £250.

There’s a £1 charge for every entry, with all the money raised going towards the prizes and the Coronary Care Unit in Belfast City Hospital, to which Mr. Flanagan owes his life, having been a patient there at Christmas 2004 after a virus attacked his heart.

All the schools in the area have been made aware of Mr Flanagan’s initiative, which, arising from the recent postal dispute, now has a closing date of 7 April (the posters will be collected during the following week).