24 SANCTUARY ASIA, 2018 MAYTakeActionTakeAction
Dear plastic, your
time is up. Over
and out! Cub Kids,
it’s time for us to
support and thank
the government for
their decision.
Maharashtra is the 18
th
Indian state toban plastic. Way to go Maharashtra!
YYou Can Help ou Can Help
Cub kids, it is time to celebrate! The
Maharashtra government has finally
banned plastic! That’s right kids, no
more suffocating plastic. Fish will have
to no longer swim alongside plastic bags,
animals will no longer be seen munching
on polythene bags, no more will our
beautiful forests be littered with non-
biodegradable wrappers and waste.
And guess who do we have to thank
for this – our government! With this
decision, our leaders have proved their
concern for the environment and for the
future generations, which is all of you,
to whom this beautiful planet
rightfully belongs.
The blanket ban on plastic in
Maharashtra covers all activities
including manufacture, usage, sale,
transport, handling and storage of
plastic and thermocol. People who
violate this ban will be fined heavily. The
government is also working on collecting
existing plastic waste in an efficient
manner, ensuring proper disposal,
through recycling and treatment.Some of the things that you might see
for the last time in Maharashtra now
are plastic straws, plastic carry bags,
and disposable cutlery. We must
support the state of Maharashtra and
other states, which have taken this
incredible step towards environmental
consciousness. As expected, this move
has made a lot of people very angry,
people who run big plastic production
companies, people who place their
greed before the environment. But
we must stand behind our leaders,
strong and fearless, in the resistance
against plastic.
Palak Gupta, a 24-year-old artist,
says, “The animals I have drawn here
(see below) are either threatened or
endangered, and the plastic bags
around their heads, are just adding
to their miseries. But we can change
this by cutting down our plastic
consumption. In fact, make your own
cloth bags. Use old scrap cloth. Not
only is it fun, you can make your bag
look the way you want it to.”For one, start a birthday party
revolution. Make sure your birthday
parties are free of ALL single-use
plastic and thermocol, which are
commonly used for everything from
glasses, cutlery, plates and straws to
decor, balloons and giveaways. But
apart from making changes in our
daily habits (see ‘Earth Manners’ on
page 25), we must also openly voice
our appreciation of the plastic-ban.
Let us all write encouraging letters
of appreciation to the Maharashtra
state government, thanking them
for banning plastic completely and
placing the health of their children,
and the environment before the
greed of corporates. Let them know,
that they have your support.
Send your letters to:
Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Honourable
Chief Minister of Maharashtra,
Maharashtra CM Office, 6th floor,
Main Building, Mantralaya,
Mumbai – 400032 or send an email to
[email protected] with a copy
to [email protected]PALAK GUPTA
Most of the plastic that humans use ends up in the ocean killing marine life.
Commit to stop using plastic – especially the ‘single use’ kind. Protect your planet!