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Plastic or paper? Say 'neither'!
What if, for a moment, I'd tell you to close your eyes and imagine
nothing except for one thing- Mother Earth now. What flashed through your mind?
It's not the same good 'ol Blue Planet that has thick, dense forests; blue, alive
bodies of water; singing birds; busy crickets; and clean, you-can-feel-it-to-the-bones-cool,
refreshing air. Instead, it is a gray, almost-dead planet in the solar system with
Her little voice, sobbing and asking for help. Ironic isn't it?
Due to Her call for help- that is the symptoms of climate
change and global warming that's haunting us, humanity responded. He responded
by having eco-friendly activities, awareness campaigns and promoting the "green
trend". Another response made was the substitution of non-biodegradable plastic
bags to biodegradable plastic bags and paper bags lead by big malls in the country
(although not all).
But last Wednesday, while I was on my way home from a mall, with
the headband I purchased inside the paper bag in my right hand, I realized that
either way- biodegradable or paper bags- they still contribute to earth's worsening
conditions. Like, the fuel burned to make them and the cutting of trees to make
paper bags still make Her sick.
Although, one of the most important pros of having the biodegradable
and paper bags is easier decomposition compared to non-biodegradable, the cons are
still creeping in. As I said earlier, the biodegradable plastic bags are still plastic
bags. That means to say, energy are consumed in making them that causes to burn
fuel and releases carbon dioxide. And the production of paper bags strongly requires
the cutting of a number of trees that should have been a great help in lessening
the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. And they still end up in the dump sites though
if not recycled.
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But we shouldn't be worried- that much- because the green trend
is here. And green trend, that refers to fashion pieces that are super earth-friendly
slash earth-saver. Such example is the reusable bags (or totes that have earth-related
prints).
Unlike the biodegradable and paper bags, these totes got heavier
pros than its cons. The cons: fuel is still burned to make them and okay, you
have to purchase them first before you got one. The pros: you don't have to buy
them the next time you shop because they are reusable. You don't have to use any
kind of bag for the items you purchase every time you shop as long as the tote's
in condition. Thus, lessening then not recycled garbage ending in dump sites (or worst,
in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch!!!).
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Personally, whenever I buy something, I don't use plastic bags
but instead, I directly put it inside my backpack after paying. Well, my other family
members uses totes. But I've noticed only very few uses totes whenever they shop.
And it saddens me. A lot.
Ending this blog entry for today, I hope we implant the idea
in our brains that the things we choose to use now will mark an impact to us someday
and that Mother Earth will forever be grateful for our little actions to help Her.
And the next time you are being asked whether plastic bags or paper bags, I believe
you know the answer. And do something- even little actions- that earth will thank
you for. Then after, take a moment to close your eyes and imagine Earth, healing-
thanks to you!
