Reader\'s Digest Australia - 05.2019

May• 2019 | 11

Goodbye, Plastic Bag

W

hen major retail

chains in Australia

decided to ban

single-use plastic bags from

their shops in July last year, i

caused a major uproar. Some

people struggled when the

free plastic bags vanished

from stores, while others

embraced the idea and

applauded the supermarket

giants for leading the

environmental change.

Since its inception, the

country’s two largest

supermarket chains have

prevented an estimated more

than 1.5 billion bags from

entering the environment,

translating to an 80 per cent

drop in the consumption of

plastic bags. A win for the

environment and for business.

While this is only a first step,

the long journey towards

ridding our lives of plastic

bags has started.

g

framework on tobacco control.

The Deputy Health Minister, Dr Lee

Boon Chye, has banned smoking in

all eateries, including open-air

restaurants and hawker stalls.

The ban, which started on January 1,

2019, aims to encourage smokers to

quit the habit and to protect non-

smokers from second-hand smoke.

Non-smokers are at risk of developing

serious health problems as a result of

smoke inhalation. While there has been

some resistance to the ban, Dr Lee says

that most people are supportive.

E

ngineers at the University of

Washington have developed a tiny

sensor system that fits on the back

of a bumble bee. The ‘backpacks’ don’t

restrict the insect’s ability to fly and

require only a tiny battery that operates

for up to seven hours at a time,

recharging when the bee sleeps.

Compared with drones currently used

to monitor crops that fly for

around 20 minutes before

they need recharging,

the new development

promises to be

a huge boost

to farmers.

READER’S DIGEST

ss

a

t

e

Malaysia

Bans Smoking

in Eateries

alaysia is makinga positive

move and committing to the

World Health Organization’s

Bee Backpacks to Monitor Crops

BEE PIC: MARK STONE/UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON