To go to bed feeling completely satisfied with one’s day is very rare… I experienced that rare feeling last night. The reason: I had spent the previous morning participating in a plastic awareness campaign conducted by a non-governmental organization called “Save the Globe” organized by a group of youngsters. I have always been very passionate about avoiding, or at least reducing the amount of plastic covers used by people. But all I had been doing about it was shouting myself hoarse to the people who disagreed with me. And boy, they were many! But yesterday morning I actually got the chance to participate in a campaign that involved some action!
We split ourselves into teams and explained to the general public, the harmfulness of using plastic covers (especially the dyed ones, whose thickness is below 20 microns). We told them it would take around 1000 years or more for it to decay, by which time it would have hindered the growth of many trees by getting tangled in the roots. We also asked them to sign a declaration form which said that they would avoid or at least reduce the amount of covers used by them every day. True, some of them were skeptic; they said that we have reached a point where it was impossible to live without plastic covers. Maybe it is true, but we can at least RE-USE, if not reduce. Use the same covers again and again; don’t bring new covers into use! Always carry a cloth bag with you in your handbag or vehicle whenever you go out so that you need not ask for a carry bag.
Some people signed the forms with enthusiasm while others seemed reluctant. Whether they felt either, we could at least show them that we youngsters were ready to DO SOMETHING instead of just talking about it. We were serious enough to give the people cloth bags and saplings for free. I just hope that some of our seriousness had rubbed off on them!!!
A note to the people reading this: Let’s not hinder, if not help make the Earth a better place to live in! In other words, “Udhavi pannalenaalum, ubadhruvam pannama irupom!” Please take into account the alternate methods given above. Our ancestors gave us a nice, pure environment. Is it not our responsibility to give to our grandchildren, at least half of what we are enjoying today?
Take a resolution right now… Promise yourself that you will at least reduce the amount of plastic covers used every day. Go immediately and keep a cloth bag in your vehicle or hand bag this instant. Use that whenever you go out. Don’t think of it as an obligation. Just as we try to keep our homes clean always, we should try to keep our Earth clean too. After all, that is our real home, don’t you think?
