Students called on to tackle ‘plastic pollution’
The risks it brings are not only to human health, but to our rivers and streams, to our coastal areas, to marine life, says Minister
The minimum number of plastic bags used in Fiji annually is around 50 to 60 million. This was stated by Minister for Local Government, Housing and Environment Parveen Bala during the launch of the National Environment Day Celebrations for the Central Division at Rishikul Sanatan College in Nasinu yesterday.
He said considering the significant global environment problem caused by plastics, the Government is currently inviting all Fijian Citizens to join the fight against plastic pollution.
With the theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’, he said, it was a call for all of us to come together to combat one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time and to consider how we can make changes in our everyday lives.
“It’s a timely reminder to us all on the increasing magnitude of the plastic pollution faced worldwide today,” Mr Bala said.
“The risks it brings are not only to human health, but to our rivers and streams, to our coastal areas, to marine life.
“And its effects on our unique biodiversity, some of which are threatened with extinction.”
He said Environment Day is when we are expected to actively pledge our protection of our Earth.
It is the day where the global communities take time to reflect, make plans, renew commitments, make new ones, and put into action and initiatives towards the protection of our environment, he added. Plastic bags are one of the modern conveniences that we seem to unable to live without. However, Mr Bala said that there have also been negative environmental and public health impacts associated with the disposal of plastic bags. “They are responsible for causing pollution, killing wildlife and using up the precious resources on Earth because plastic bags consume large quantities of raw materials for its production,” he said. “For this World Environment Day, our national goal is to inspire the kind of solutions that lead to sustainable behavioural change. “This will enable us to build on the national momentum to beat plastic pollution. My plea is that we use World Environment Day as a turning point to inspire innovators, activists and leaders in our country to do more than just clean up existing plastics, but also focus on our action upstream.”
He added that the Ministry of Local Government, through the Department of Environment have embarked on the development of a solid waste management programme which would help address, all improper solid waste management issues, specifically those caused by the use of “nondegradable plastics”.
Mr Bala also highlighted that our once healthy environment is in a steady state of decline because of industrialisation, deforestation, technological development, global warming, pollution, among other factors.
“Therefore we need to take collective action to take care of our environment. It can be done only when we will keep our eyes open and be active to bring some positive changes within ourselves and environment.
“To beat plastic pollution we need to entirely rethink our approach to designing, producing and using plastic products.
“Our goal is to foster the dialogue that leads to new models for plastic production and consumption. Individuals, the private sector and policymakers all have critical roles to play.”
Mr Bala also made a request that everyone pledges ‘No Straw’ campaign for this month to show our national commitment on addressing plastic bag pollution.
He said this could be done by ensuring that whenever we are ordering drinks from restaurants and retail outlets, we could politely request for a “no straw” serve. He also encouraged people to get their friends and families to take the pledge too.
Hundreds of students from central division schools attended the event.