Latest comments posted about Carried away with pride on ChinaDialogue en-gb http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/1965-Carried-away-with-pride http://staging.chinadialogue.net/images/cdlogo.gif http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/1965-Carried-away-with-pride This idea from Dongguan is a good one. Often we end up with excess plastic bags simply because we make spontaneous purchases when we don't happen to have a reusable bag with us. -- Matty Fri, 09 May 2008 07:49:13 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1965#comment-7354 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1965#comment-7354 Actually it's about loaning a cloth bag for shopping, as the bags are lent out for free. We will put this idea into practice in May 10 at Dongguan. Over 1,000 businesses have agreed to join this program. Hope it can help change things for the better. For more details please visit: www.ooe.cn Wed, 07 May 2008 08:02:20 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1965#comment-7346 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1965#comment-7346 In adjusting our thinking and behaviour in the face of climate change and environmental degradation, we could use a new perception of beauty. For example, some people think that wind-power turbines are ugly and that they scar the landscape and ruin scenic views. I don't. We need to see these turbines as the graceful green machines that they are. They are certainly more beautiful than plastic bags that are caught in the branches of trees, floating in rivers and seas, stuck around the necks or legs of innocent animals or blocking up drainage systems. At the very minimum, we all need to be attentive to how we dispose of plastic waste. There are so many different types of this (chiefly) petroleum-based environmental menace that even recycling companies don't accept all forms of it. That's one area where people in cities and towns around the world can demand action. Many local governments, keen to raise their recycling rates, would support such a campaign. -- Matthew Tue, 06 May 2008 15:26:37 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1965#comment-7342 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1965#comment-7342 Every existant thing has a cause. Plastic bags and bottles are no exceptions. I'm not opposed to controling the use of plastic bags for the sake of environmental protection, but that's far from enough. Radical measures will trigger a chain of responses, as pointed out by the author. As a potential substitute, paper products come at the expense of forest. So I think we should invest more time and efforts in fields including researching and developing plastic products that can be recycled without pollution, and how to maximise the recycle rate and efficency of plastic products. Sat, 03 May 2008 10:40:07 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1965#comment-7331 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1965#comment-7331 Up to now plastic shopping bags are the focus of attention, as they are for containing packaged goods. In some cases shoppers can do without them, while in others there are alternative options available. The most urgent aspect of the problem happens to be the easiest to resolve. We can use reusable cloth bags to replace them, or turn to degradable corn starch bag as a substitute. As for potato packages, if they are to be banned, there should be replacement available or plastic recycle system in place. Besides, administrative ban is not the only method to control the manufacture and consumption of plastic goods. For example, the Irish Plas Tax scheme that came into effect in 2002 solved the problem of plastic shopping bags through taxation. Fri, 02 May 2008 13:36:58 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1965#comment-7328 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1965#comment-7328 I wonder if the plastic bags containing potato chips should be banned though they are disposable. Loyi,Nanjing Fri, 02 May 2008 07:07:22 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1965#comment-7327 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1965#comment-7327