Not so pleasant plastics

 I had a big smile of joy with the colors of Holi. But as the dusk shadowed the earth and I returned back home fantasizing about my afternoon, my smile just faded away when I saw plastic bags in every corner of the streets.

Though there have been much awareness campaigns and programs related to environment conservation, I don’t think people are really concerned; either because they don’t care or they haven’t learned about how important the topic is. The alarm of protecting the earth has already rung and it’s high time we take it more seriously.

Even if I am well educated and I learn about the impacts of pollution, carbon footprints and global warming, I haven’t been able to be an activist saving environment. Also, I don’t usually use the concept of 3Rs. I don’t separate biodegradable and non biodegradable products at home and I use plastic bags!  However I do endorse and appreciate eco friendly products. I make an effort to keep my city clean by not throwing things especially plastic bags and non-biodegradable things haphazardly. I always use dustbin. Sadly, an educated UK returned friend teased me for being oversmart. I wonder who the over smart is here. Most of us know that plastic bags stay around for at least 1,000 years and it is even more harmful for environment when burnt. But the painful part is they rule city area so much that they can be seen everywhere. If only, we avoid plastic bags from shopping stores and road side bazaars, we can make huge impact on environment.

Bhatbhateni Departmental Store has taken initiative for avoiding plastic bags by charging Rs. 1 and endorsing Hamri Bahini Campaign (use of cotton bag to plastic bag). But most of the buyers don’t know why they were charged Rs. 1 for plastic bag. They only complained that they were charged.

I was pretty much impressed with my last visit to Ilam in 2012. Ilam declared plastic free zone in 2010 and claim itself as ‘Green city’. No shops sell plastic bags. Also locals carry cotton or paper bags when they go for shopping. The city has started coloring its house in Green color as a part of awareness campaign.  Green colored dustbins can be found in every electricity pole. Each house also had it outside their shops.  I was surprised and enthralled with the unity they had for protecting their environment. They knew that they were protecting themselves and this is the only mantra that we have to create in the minds of every people in this earth. And I imagined if only the project of banning plastic bags can be implemented in the place like Kathmandu Valley, how beautiful the city would have been.

Nevertheless, there can always be if this and that but its better we realize our individual responsibility of protecting ourselves and our environment.