pelf-ism is contagious

China recently launched a surprise crackdown on plastic bags on Tuesday, banning the manufacture, sale, and use of plastic bags under 0.025 mm thick and prohibits supermarkets and shops nationwide from handing out the sacks for free from June 1st.

“Our country consumes huge amounts of plastic bags every year. While providing convenience to consumers, they have also caused serious pollution, and waste of energy and resources, because of excessive use and inadequate recycling… We should encourage people to return to carrying cloth bags, using baskets for their vegetables.”

- Source: Central government website

Image credit: Andrew.

But why are plastic bags being banned, you ask?

Perhaps less widely known is the destructive impact that plastic bags have on oceans and marine life. Tossed into waterways or washed down storm drains, the bags are the major source of human-related debris on the seabed, particularly near coastlines. At least 267 different species are known to have suffered from entanglement or ingestion of marine debris, and plastics and other synthetic materials cause the most problems for marine animals and birds.

Every year, tens of thousands of whales, birds, seals, and turtles die from contact with ocean-borne plastic bags. The animals may mistake the bags for food, such as jellyfish, or simply become entangled. Plastic bags can take up to 1,000 years to break down, so even when an animal dies and decays after ingesting a bag, the plastic re-enters the environment, posing a continuing threat to wildlife. While most plastic bags eventually break down into tiny particles, smaller sea creatures may still eat the sand-sized fragments and concentrate toxic chemicals in their bodies.

Seriously, we are producing and using WAYYYY too much plastic bags, and most of the time, unnecessarily too. Think about all the plastic bags that you used rather unnecessarily — those times when you bought a loaf of bread from the grocery store and those times when you bought a couple of pens from a bookstore. So, how much plastic bags do you use?

If you have a minute or two to spare, please consider signing these petitions:

• Plastic Reduction Petition
• Plastic Bag Ban

References:

• China launches surprise crackdown on plastic bags @ Reuters UK
• Banning Plastic Bags, Helping Marine Life @ WorldChanging

I read with interest, the bold move taken by the entire 30,000-strong staff and students of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) to ban the use of polystyrene food containers on campus.

PENANG: Polystyrene food containers have been banned in Universiti Sains Malaysia’s main campus here with immediate effect as part of its move to be green.

USM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dzulkifli Abdul Razak said all the 32 cafeteria operators would stop using non-biodegradable styrofoam food containers as part of the university’s green campaign.

“We have also prohibited the use of styrofoam and other form of polystyrene material,” he said after opening the Sejahtera Cafe at the campus here Monday.

“From now on, the cafeteria operators must use eco-friendly biodegradable containers made of oil palm waste instead of the harmful styrofoam,” he said.

A study carried out on Saturday showed that of the 7,000 food containers used in the campus daily, only 1,000 were biodegradable.

Prof Dzulkifli said the operators had agreed to absorb the cost, adding that the biodegradable containers cost about 20 sen each while styrofoam containers cost about three or four sen each. There would be no increase in food prices.

“We encourage students to eat in cafeteria using washable plates instead of opting for take-away,” he said.

Prof Dzulkifli said the ban on styrofoam would later be extended to the USM health campus in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, and engineering campus in Nibong Tebal, Seberang Prai Selatan.

The initiative to stop the use of styrofoam was mooted by the students to promote a better future.

“All the 30,000 USM staff and students are the catalyst for the initiative,” he said.

During the function, “The White Coffin” signature campaign was launched for USM students and staff to pledge their commitment to support sustainable initiatives to reduce adverse impact on environment.

“We are also seriously conducting research to produce biodegradable plastics. Our aim is to eliminate all types of substances that are unfriendly towards Mother Nature,” Prof Dzulkifli said.

He said 25 students from Taiwan who visited USM recently had shown that a change in attitude and mindset was possible.

“The Taiwanese students brought with them reusable chopsticks and foldable containers. The students did not even have to use the plates provided during meals.

“The students washed the containers and chopsticks for subsequent use,” he added.

Image credit: Jasmine.

It is really heartening to see, and learn that there are indeed people who care for the environment and are willing to take the necessary actions to ensure that we do not fill our landfills with non-biodegradable food containers.

Look at it this way: The cafeteria operators have agreed to absorb the cost and switch to using biodegradable food containers that cost 5 times more expensive than the polystyrene containers AND best of all, there would be no increase in the price of food! WooHoo!

Somebody ought to learn from them!

Now, here’s a poll to see what my readers think about the move to ban polystyrene food containers in cafeterias/canteens. Results of the poll will be discussed next week!

The Super-Cars Shout Out Competition is a contest that allows you to place a simple, colorful flyer on high mileage cars that you encounter, showing the vehicle owner that s/he has done something worthy by choosing a leading-edge (in terms of miles per gallon, or mpg) vehicle, while also allowing yourself to participate in this competition. Optionally, you can re-use a single copy of the flyer on multiple vehicles to avoid paper waste. Printing flyers on recycled paper is definitely recommended.

Image credit: Tommy Wong.

How do I join?

1. Download and print one or more of the official Super-Cars Shout Out Competition flyers, preferably on recycled paper, because you don’t want to create more trash, do you?
2. Find a 40+ miles per gallon (or 16.74 kilometers per liter) car from the list (e.g. Perodua Kelisa, Perodua Kenari, Kia Picanto, Hyundai Getz, etc.).
3. Place the flyer under the windshield wiper.
4. Use a digital camera or good cell phone to photograph.
5. Upload the image to the PlanetThoughts.org website.

OK, so what do I get if I win?

The prize for this competition will be at least USD 500 guaranteed, and will go to the person with the largest number of valid uploaded images. So if you are not in it for the fun and the mission, there is another reason to join in. And to make this fun for the wise car buyers, USD 50 will be given per month to one randomly selected car owner who contacts PlanetThoughts that month and who has a valid photo of their of car uploaded on our site by any other entrant.

Note: No individual or their family can win more than one secondary prize (the USD 50), but such winners are still eligible for the grand prize.

Anymore rules and regulations?

Yes, but for your benefit, I will keep them short and straight-to-the-point:

1. The competition will run from January 3rd to June 2nd, 2008.
2. You CANNOT participate if you are a vehicle dealer or manufacturer or car repair garage owner or staff.
3. Photographs of vehicles must be seen “in the wild”. For example, auto dealer parking lots and immediate surroundings are NOT valid as image sources for this competition. Mall parking lots not connected to car dealerships are valid image sources.
4. Images must include a visible copy of an official Super-Cars Shout Out Competition flyer.
5. The winner will be selected using a weighted value calculated from the number of valid uploaded car images from each participant.
6. More rules @ the official Super-Cars Shout Out Competition page.