You are in:
- Archives » 2008 » February 2008
Bagism
In 2002 the Republic of Ireland inaugurated a 15-cent tax on plastic bags to end what was termed a "litter menace".
A bit later, Bangladesh banned the use of plastic bags "forever". This year both the governments of China and Australia (an unusual combination of allies) say that a person known or seen to have a plastic bag will be considered an "outlaw".
The city of San Francisco now requires, by legal enforcement, small shops and big stores to use bags made of a minimum of 40 per cent of recycled paper. (Forget about plastic rubbish bags in San Fran or you will end up in Alcatraz).
Today, bottled water is considered, in rich countries, a better choice than tap water. However, as a new breed of environmentalists indicate, you are an environmental cretin if you drink the stuff. They say you are personally responsible for some of the nearly 1.5 million barrels of oil used each year to make plastic containers for the water.
Let us say that these various municipal authorities have a good heart.
But, in the end, it's all rubbish.
