Awareness on Plastics

One of the most important aspects in conservation is creating awareness about the risks of environmental degradation that is caused by modern lifestyles. There is excessive consumption of goods to satisfy our desires, which in turn is leading to depletion of scarce natural resources and enormous destruction of the environment. Use of plastics is just one of the outcomes of our consumptive lifestyle. 

Last week, I had a look at my niece Sarah's project on "Awareness on Plastics" for the Homi Bhabha exams. She won a silver medal for her efforts. Part of it is reproduced below:
We are all addicted to plastic, especially plastic bags! That's because they are convenient. However, we all too conveniently ignore their polluting effects.

Consequences of convenience Almost all plastics are made from petroleum based products, a non renewable natural resource.
Manufacturing and recyling plastics releases harmful toxins into the air. These cause air pollution and lead to green house effect.
Plastics are non-biodegradable , hence they pollute the soil.
Carried by the wind, plastic bags are seen everywhere; these bags are eaten by animals and cause manifold problems even leading to death. Plastic bags in lakes, rivers and oceans disturb marine ecosystems. Loose plastic bags can cause blocking of sewage drains.
Plastics containers used for water and food packing by the hotel industry have been shown to release chemicals over a period of time.

What can be done
Say NO to plastic bags, especially the thin, flimsy bags used by small retailers and vegetable vendors; carry your own jute or cloth bags.
Although stopping use of all plastic is not possible, you can REDUCE the use of plastics in all forms.
Use stainless steel, glass or metal food containers, even though it might be slightly heavier to carry.
Wherever possible, use glass or metal water bottles.
Use pots made of earth for your terrace garden.
On picnics and parties, avoid using plastic (or thermocol) cups, glasses and plates.
Stop improper disposal of garbage. Separate dry and wet garbage; do not throw plastic bags into the water bodies
Stop "throw-away" culture. Do not throw plastic bags from cars, buses and trains. Our highways and rail routes are already huge garbage bins.

Photograph location: Bhandup creek

Pied Avocet / Spot-billed duck

Purple-rumped Sunbird (female)

Lesser and Greater Flamingos

Short-toed Eagle

 

Be the change: Save our Earth; save ourselves

Pied Avocet

India has a large variety of water birds, that is, birds which inhabit lagoons, estuaries, creeks, mudflats, river or lake shores. Of the various species of plovers, curlews, terns and gulls, the most un-mistakable is surely the Pied Avocet.

They are predominantly white birds with dashes of black in their wings and a black head band over the head. A distinct feature is the avocet's unique, upturned bill. 

Sexes are alike.
 

These are quite uncommon and and seen only in parts of the country, in the creek beds and mudflats. Their long legs and slender bill are quite suited for picking up marine creatures along shallow wetlands. Very often, they can also be observed wading through deep water, like ducks.

On our last visit to the Bhandup creek, we witnessed large flocks of avocets along with gulls, lapwings and ducks, their habitats threatened with large amounts of garbage. This is something we see all over India, lots and and lots of thrash just dumped into our water bodies.

I suppose, the only way this can be reduced is when religious leaders instruct their followers to stop the practice of throwing pooja left-overs into rivers and waterways.

Save nature; lets reduce our carbon footprint