Over the summer we have researched the idea of banning single use plastic bags. It seems to be a good idea because of litter problems and the effects of plastic collecting in oceans.
A friend sent an article comparing the effect on the environment of using a plastic bag and a reusable cotton bag. The cotton bag needed to be used 393 times to equal the effect on the environment of using one plastic bag three times. It counted the environmental impact of making each bag including the carbon emissions and fertilizer from growing the cotton.
If the reusable bag isn’t cotton, the big picture is much better.
It seems so complicated!
Scientists continue to discover how complicated and interactive the Earth’s systems are. Much of the mess we have is because we don’t understand this and/or we don’t care. Most people are focused on convenience and making money.
Our economic system is also very complicated. I read of a power company canceling its solar power program for households because with so many people producing their own power the company wasn’t making as much money.
It may feel like ‘Why should I change anything? It won’t make a difference anyway.’
Consider this. I purchased 6 reusable shopping bags in 1989. As a result I have used at least 5,000 fewer plastic bags.
The effects of your efforts do add up.
Some changes seem too tough, but without change the consequences will be even tougher.
So do something. Be informed. Continue to make changes.
Reduce how much of everything you use. Reuse and recycle what you can.
Think globally about how things affect the earth. Act locally in your home and community.
Katika majira ya joto tumekuwa tukichunguza wazo la kupiga marufuku mifuko ya plastiki ya matumizi moja. Hii ni kwa sababu ya matatizo ya uchafu na athari za plastiki katika bahari. Rafiki mmoja alinitumia makala iliyofananisha athari za mazingira za kutumia mfuko wa plastiki na mfuko wa pamba unaotumiwa tena. Mfuko wa pamba ulihitaji kutumiwa mara 393 ili kulinganisha athari kwa mazingira ya kutumia mfuko mmoja wa plastiki mara tatu. Ilikadiria athari za mazingira za kutengeneza kila mfuko ikiwa ni pamoja na uzalishaji wa kaboni na mbolea kutoka kwa kukuza pamba. Kama mfuko reusable si pamba, picha kubwa ni bora zaidi. Inaonekana kuwa ngumu sana! Wanasayansi wanaendelea kugundua jinsi mifumo ya Dunia ilivyo tata na yenye kuingiliana. Mengi ya fujo tuna ni kwa sababu hatuelewi hii na / au sisi si huduma. Watu wengi hukazia fikira starehe na kupata pesa. Mfumo wetu wa kiuchumi pia ni tata sana. Nilisoma juu ya kampuni ya umeme ikiondoa programu yake ya nishati ya jua kwa nyumba kwa sababu na watu wengi sana kuzalisha nguvu zao wenyewe kampuni haikuwa ikifanya pesa nyingi. Huenda ukahisi hivi: 'Kwa nini nibadili jambo lolote? Itakuwa si kufanya tofauti anyway. <unk> Fikiria hii. Mwaka 1989 nilinunua mifuko sita ya kununua vitu. Kwa sababu hiyo, nimepunguza matumizi ya mifuko ya plastiki kwa angalau elfu tano. Matokeo ya jitihada zako yanaongezeka. Mabadiliko fulani yaonekana kuwa magumu sana, lakini bila mabadiliko matokeo yatakuwa magumu hata zaidi. Kwa hiyo fanya jambo fulani. Jifunze mengi. Endelea kufanya mabadiliko. Punguza kiasi cha kila kitu unachotumia. Tumia tena na kuchakata kile unachoweza. Fikiria kwa ujumla jinsi mambo yanavyoathiri dunia. Fanya kazi nyumbani na katika jamii yako.