India is playing host today – to the UN celebrations of the World Environment Day. It is one of the most important days observed by the UN worldwide. On this day, the UN reminds us of our duty to preserve the planet we live on. But, the question is if we did, then would we see cities develop the way they have or enjoy the comforts that we do today?
The World Environment Day was conceived in 1972 – when some in the world realised that we were walking down a slippery road to nowhere with what we are doing and how we are doing it. They decided that they can’t do much about it severally but, if they bring about awareness about the harm that we are doing to our surroundings, then maybe we will give up on our comforts in the interest of the greater good. Hence, the politically correct celebrations. The celebrations are a way to bring awareness to the pressing environmental concerns of the time. This year the concern is the insatiable use of plastic. Therefore, the theme for this year is “Beat Plastic Pollution”.
We have become plastic addicts – we can’t do without plastic in our hands – be it a straw, a mug, a cup, a plate, a spoon, a tetrapack, a Pepsi bottle or a bag, much like we can’t do without a mobile phone in our hands. Some of it is single use and some of it multiple-use plastic. We’ve forgotten about paper, jute and other reusable environmentally friendly (read biodegradable) materials that we used to use before plastic (do you remember when? I can’t)
I’ve seen people drinking tender coconut water from a tender coconut with a single-use plastic straw. And, that straw goes into a drain and there it either clogs it up or it goes into the sea and ends up in the belly of a fish even before the fish lands in your belly via a plastic bag that you take to the market to buy it, and then dump in the landfill or any garbage point on the roadside in which dogs skirmish with the birds for the remnants of your food.
The problem with plastic is that, once formed from petroleum by-products, it is indestructible. It is neither compatible with the earth – its surface or beneath it- nor with water which covers 3/4ths of the earth’s surface.
Imagine you choking on a ball of plastic shoved down your throat – not a nice feeling, is it? – Why then don’t we imagine what the fish go through, what the beach feels or what the birds of the air feel about it? Who cares, so long as my burden is light, and my stomach is full?
Plastic can persist in the environment for nearly a thousand years before it fully disintegrates. But, some somewhere sipping coffee or a Pepsi from a plastic cup with a plastic straw in an airconditioned room is considering alternatives and that’s a beginning.
One of the options they have come up with is the making of roads. Roads can consume a great amount of single-use plastics either in combination with bitumen or the latest concept being tested – prefab plastic roads (Hyper link – https://www.plasticroad.eu/en/). However, these thoughts and processes are still in infancy and may remain there like electric vehicles for reasons of both technology and economics. But, nations and the people who run them must compromise, innovate and spend if they are serious about planet earth after their lifetime.
The UN through its celebrations today is making an effort to educate and promote this thought process. But, it’s not easy – People are addicted to its convenience – it’s light, durable, disposable – and really no one cares if it is not destroyable – there are so many other conveniences too that are not – Moblies, laptops, desktops, batteries etc.
Plastic is 10% of the waste generated and half of that 10% is single use. Its manufacture and destruction expose individuals and the environment to many toxins, including carcinogens. Still, the convenience outweighs the implications, while our plastic smile stays in place as we make excuses of convenience and economics.
Today, there have been many pledges, action plans and actions announced to celebrate the day – It demonstrates our awareness and our sincerity to combat the plastic menace.
1. @BCCI On #WorldEnvironmentDay the BCCI reinforces its commitment to phase out single-use plastic across stadiums in the country and will continue engaging cricketers and fans in green initiatives. http://www.bcci.tv/news/2018/press-releases/17330/bcci-signs-letter-of-intent-with-un-environment
2. @Central_Railway: Central railway attaches environment-friendly 3AC coach in Punjab Mail with upgraded toilet wall & floor lined with crib sheets made by recycled, food grade packaging containers like waste tetrapacks, empty tubes of toothpaste/face creams, etc. #WorldEnvironmentDay
3. #WorldEnvironmentDay #WorldEnvironmentDay2018 STEM (Save The Earth Movement)we are promoting the use of cloth bags over plasting – selling them to the vendors and customersIf we don’t change, nothing will change.Help and Support us by retweeting this tweet to spread awarness. pic.twitter.com/nk86yHygvw — Dirgh Shah (@DirghShah) May 29, 2018. (sic) https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
4. @UNESCO: 1 million plastic bottles are purchased every minute. It won’t be easy, but together we can #BeatPlasticPolution by refusing single-use plastics – like plastic bottles.
5. @ANI: Madhya Pradesh: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched an e-car on the occasion of #WorldEnvironmentDay
6. @rickykej: I have decided to stop using plastic straws completely & #BeatPlasticPollution . Plastics are choking our planet, and we need to lead by example. I challenge my fellow musicians @arrahman @Shankar_Live @wouterkellerman to do the same! Your it!! @UNEnvironment #worldenvironmentDay
7. @aliaa08: #BeatPlasticPollution by switching to steel or glass bottles today! Plastic bottles take 450 years or more to decompose, harming us and our environment. I’m now one step closer towards purging plastic from my life. Hope you guys will make the switch too!#LetsCoexist @deespeak
You too have to do your bit so, let not the last question I ask wipe the plastic smile off your face (it’s biodegradable!) – But, do answer it please in the interest of Planet Earth, sorry Mother Earth – if you love her.
What’s your pledge to beat Plastic Pollution?
