'End Plastic Pollution' is the theme for this year's World Earth Day 2018. Earth Day Network- the parent organisation has set the following goals for its world wide campaign:
- Ending single-use plastics
- Promoting alternatives to fossil fuel-based materials
- Promoting 100 percent recycling of plastics
- Corporate and government accountability and changing human behavior concerning plastics.
These are lofty aims. How can individuals contribute to the above goals? In a simple way. Like what?
Ask yourself 'why do we use plastics?' Or 'how often do we use plastics and for what purpose?'
Invariably the answer would be that plastics are most often used as carry bags. And these discarded plastic bags not only litter the streets, choke the drains but are also eaten by cattle. Plastics take millions of years to degrade and are also carcinogenic meaning it causes cancer. Of course plastic water bottles also add to the pollution. Therefore, as individuals if we stop buying vegetables and fruits in plastic bags, we can reduce the pollution to a great extent. We can use cloth bags made of used clothes and discarded linen. These cloth bags are durable, washable, re-usable and pollution-free. See the pictures below.
There are many women's volunteer organisations which prepare and sell these bags as a community service. Those in twin cities of Hyderabad/Secunderabad, may reach me (hbindia@gmail.com) for details. So today onwards, carry your own cloth bag and show the way for World Earth Day.
Ghumakkad's story on Earth Day 2017 highlighted the need to involve the children to bring about a change. Efforts which I observed in my grand children's school in Chennai last year, are praiseworthy. Children can be our biggest crusaders. You may click here to know how did the school do it?
Even five years ago, Ghumakkad's message on Earth Day 2013 was aimed at all of us as individuals. Avoiding the use of plastics topped the list:
Ask yourself 'why do we use plastics?' Or 'how often do we use plastics and for what purpose?'
Invariably the answer would be that plastics are most often used as carry bags. And these discarded plastic bags not only litter the streets, choke the drains but are also eaten by cattle. Plastics take millions of years to degrade and are also carcinogenic meaning it causes cancer. Of course plastic water bottles also add to the pollution. Therefore, as individuals if we stop buying vegetables and fruits in plastic bags, we can reduce the pollution to a great extent. We can use cloth bags made of used clothes and discarded linen. These cloth bags are durable, washable, re-usable and pollution-free. See the pictures below.
There are many women's volunteer organisations which prepare and sell these bags as a community service. Those in twin cities of Hyderabad/Secunderabad, may reach me (hbindia@gmail.com) for details. So today onwards, carry your own cloth bag and show the way for World Earth Day.
Ghumakkad's story on Earth Day 2017 highlighted the need to involve the children to bring about a change. Efforts which I observed in my grand children's school in Chennai last year, are praiseworthy. Children can be our biggest crusaders. You may click here to know how did the school do it?
Even five years ago, Ghumakkad's message on Earth Day 2013 was aimed at all of us as individuals. Avoiding the use of plastics topped the list:
- Avoid use of plastics
- Recycle paper and kitchen waste (gives you vermi compost at home)
- Let rain water re-charge soil around your house/apartment.
- Use solar energy for water heating and emergency lighting
Remember, environment is an asset which we have borrowed from our children or grand children.
We have no right to deplete or degrade the borrowed asset.
Thanks for browsing.
Happy Earth Day.
- Harsh-the-Ghumakkad with Neeta Bhargava/ 22nd April 2018
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