| | China's Plastic Bag Crusade
Long long ago when I first returned to China at the end of October I mentioned something about plastic bags. Ever since then I have been reminding myself to post about it and kept forgetting. Tonight is the night I remember.
So China has this thing now where most stores are charging you for plastic bags. The supermarkets all sell light canvas ones for cheap (3.2RMB at Wumei) and charge for each plastic one you want to use if you don't have one (.5 or .3 RMB at Wumei...I can't remember which amount it is). Now that's not a lot to pay for plastic bags, but that adds up after a bit and so purchasing a few canvas bags is actually a really good investment (I have 2 lovely rainbow colored ones).
Anyway, when I came back to China and saw this was going on I was SO PROUD. GOOD FOR YOU CHINA! And SHAME ON YOU AMERICA! America should've adopted this policy LOOOOOOOONG ago. And now look--China has beat you to it and you all look like selfish uncaring environmentally careless idiots. Granted, China still has a LOOOOONG way to go to improve environmental conditions, but the fact that every major supermarket in the country is now following this policy and canvas grocery bags are available everywhere around you.....well, that's just GREAT! Every time I see someone with one of those crazy rainbow Wumei bags or other various canvas grocery bags I feel a sense of pride and satisfaction.
So this is (one of) my annual scolding blog to my family and friends.
STOP USING PLASTIC BAGS! Be cool and invest in some nice sturdy canvas bags. Most women carry large purses nowadays so don't tell me you have nowhere to put them when you go into the store.
When I was back home in the US this past year I did exactly that.....I raided my mom's store of nice heavy canvas bags from various sources (Grandpa's old hardware store made promotional bags, special promotional "Save the Earth" bags, etc.) and kept four of them in the trunk of my car at all times. Then whenever I had to go to the store it was just a quick pop of the trunk to retrieve a bag, fold it up, stuff it into my purse and then I was off to purchase things. I KNOW that many stores in America are selling canvas bags to customers as an alternative to the plastic bags, but right now it's only THAT...an ALTERNATIVE. I don't think it would be a bad idea for stores to start charging for plastic bags. Most people won't make a switch out of the goodness of their heart (sorry folks but it's true and I know a lot of you wouldn't do it even though you say you would), they need to be FORCED to make the change. Nothing puts the pressure on people to make a change like charging for something that was once free.
Come ON people! SERIOUSLY. Do this. Use canvas bags. I'm not joking. I'm dead serious. You will feel super good about yourself if you do and you might just help convince others to do it as well. Every time I exit Wumei with my rainbow Wumei bag (which is twice the size of a normal grocery bag by the way) I feel an intense wave of self satisfaction. Self satisfaction AND helping the environment?!?! It CAN be done!
Now go, my minions! Save the planet! |
| | Posted 1/13/2009 12:49 AM - 8 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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