No to Plastics

We are all guilty of the fact that we do not take utmost care for the environment around us. At least in most of the western countries, campaigns of the environmentalists are voiced out to the lay man. People are aware of the harm they are causing to the Environment around them. Global warming has become a dinner time conversation.

However we here in the Middle East have been quite spoilt and pampered. We care for noone or nothing other than me, myself and I. We consider ourselves to be self sufficient and have blinded ourselves to the idea that even we might just be in need for help at some point. Most would argue about the aid and donations being given by the Middle east. I am not denying that fact, but even charity seems to be to earn the tag of a “good deed karma’’ on the individuals shoulder. How many of us are genuinely concerned about the multiple causes or needs around us? Coming back to the environment, how many of us are really concerned about our surroundings? Our mundane lives just go on and we satisfy ourselves thinking, everyone else is doing the same. Why would I stop? Its too bad, but Cést la vie.

Oman time and again has beach clean-up campaigns. The litter mostly found includes a lot of cans and plastic bags.

A recent article in the Gulf news: Say no to Plastics

Oman's sea birds, marine mammals, turtles and land mammals such as goats, die due to ingesting plastic bags, according to Sayida Tania Bint Shabib Al Said, President of the Environment Society of Oman (ESO).
The ESO on Saturday inked an agreement with the Oman LNG for their support in the six-month-long campaign that looks at radically changing the way residents think about using plastic bags.
The six-month campaign, fully endorsed by the Minister of Environment and Climate Affairs and supported by Oman LNG LLC aims at educating consumers on the impact plastic bags has had on the environment. Residents of Oman will be urged to reduce and reuse plastic bags, while opting for reusable jute bags.

The change should begin within. Individually each one should be motivated enough to make a difference. Hypermarkets like Lulu and Carrefour should be promoting this campaign. They should have jute bags near their check-out counters so at least people have the option to buy them. People should at least try and reduce their usage of Plastic even if it cannot be avoided completely.

It may be small, miniscule-but each one can make a difference. So lets just try.