I heard people discussing a documentary a while ago - it was about where our plastic recycling ends up. A large portion of the plastic recycling we do, ends up in China, and in the factories that purchase the waste - the only way to truly separate the plastic into its correct chemical group - is to heat it and…. SMELL it. So while we recycle, (please read that as passing off our waste to another country), we are also poisoning someone. Many people. This article inspired my post: Grey whale dies bringing us a message This is from the NZ Herald - Sea Turtle harmed This is from the Daily Mail in the UK - Banish the bags How does plastic end up in our ocean? - Project Green Bag tells you here I juggle this. We should recycle? What does recycle mean? Are we poisoning people as well as animals? Yes we are. Do I still buy plastic? Yes I do. Why? Because I have not started putting pressure on suppliers to change their packaging. When should I do this? Now. That whale is on the beach because of me and you and the people like us who think lovely fluffy thoughts about recycling - a practice which is partly recycling and partly bullshit. The thing is - people who deliver that to China - they know this. And yet they do it. We are creating a demand. Let us create anew. Bring back paper grocery bags and glass bottles. Recycle paper in our own country and let children and people who need spare change recycle the glass bottles. Tidy country, tidy sea, good economics…?
I once stopped my car when a passenger in it threw his empty can out the window and I told him to pick it up. He said "no" and everyone cringed as I got out of the car, got the can and threw back in the window at him. He still didn't get it, but Iwent all around Europe looking at great beauty and the litter that was in it, and was proud of the green country I had back home. This is 'my country' for sure, just my home really, but we are not 'unjoined' to other countries by the sea, any more than we are 'unjoined' to other people by the air. (Have you taken a look at the energy that flies around in the air?) If you have an interest in doing something that may make a difference, but you are not sure what - perhaps it could be this: Perhaps we could all pledge together to inspect the food cupboard or pantry (or the recycling bin) tonight or tomorrow and send the article below via email, or print it (and post) to the companies we are supporting. Could they consider changing their packaging for the good of us all? It's our children who need this the most. And if you are my age, I'm sure you remember glass bottles, and glass factories here that recycled for those few cents. What better way for kids to address their own needs, than to collect a few bottles and save the country, save wildlife, create jobs, be entrepreneurs … what else would it do? It is our country, our planet. We are joined and we are on this ride together. I'm a little bit keen to make it happen. How about it? Deb X 021 726 276 Initiatives: Waiheke Island Bring Your Own Bags initiative is on Facebook Plastic Free July Initiative in Australia Website and Facebook prev post - Elsies New Love - Gorgeous Show feedback - 50 reasons why energy healing is great - Are you a healer? 15 Tell Tale Signs
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