Category: General

31 Mar 2024 11:16

Joined:	20/04/2018
Level:	Gold
Points:	55771

Points:	5

What am I supposed to do?

There are at least ten shops in Sholinghur, a small town in which I live, selling a variety of ground nuts and some variety of dal, that goes into making of what we call as "chutney" the key side dish in most South Indian homes.

This is a recent incident that happened. I asked the vendor to pack up one kg of roasted ground nut in a traditional newspaper. He would call it a "cone", similar to the ice cream cone. I refused to accept the plastic bag that he would otherwise give me. Other three customers in the shop stared at me, as if I was a strange creature!!

I did tell the owner of the shop that he should always pack up the groundnuts only in this fashion. Some 40 years ago, this was so regular a feature. The reaction was typical: one customer virtually admonished me, saying that I should not interfere in his preference for the plastic bag!!

The plastic bag spoils the environment. It is a big hazard. As a responsible citizen, I should only minimize the use of plastic bags. I also need to pay all my taxes and be truthful to whatever I do.

Let us all do some serious soul searching but stick to some good values. Possibly the world will be a better place to live in, even if many of us change to some desired extent.

#777867

31 Mar 2024 11:47

Joined:	10/12/2016
Level:	Diamond
Points:	109190

Points:	4

A very good thought by the author. We have to contribute our bit for the environment and society and when everyone does so then world would definitely be a good place to live.
The example of plastic bag is known to all of us. Inspite of government ban on it, people are using it. Shopkeepers feel convenient it for packing and customers take it happily. The mindset of shopkeepers as well as customers has to be changed in this regard.
We cannot force others to do so but we can start practicing the good habits which are useful for our habitat and sustain the environment. When more people join the combined effect will be phenomenal.

Knowledge is power.

#777869

31 Mar 2024 11:53

Joined:	01/08/2010
Level:	Silver
Points:	736

Points:	5

You're doing something really good by not using plastic bags and going for the newspaper instead, just like people used to do a long time ago. Plastic bags are bad for the earth because they take a very long time to break down and can harm animals and nature. It's weird but true that when you do something different, even if it's a good thing, people might look at you funny or not understand why you're doing it.

But don't let that stop you. Every small step to use less plastic helps the planet. Maybe you can gently talk to the shop owner and other people about why it's better to use less plastic. Sometimes, when people understand why something is important, they start to change their habits.

Keep doing what you're doing and maybe more people in your town will start to think about how they can use less plastic too. Every little bit helps, and maybe your town can be an example for others.

Regards,

Sunil

#777888

31 Mar 2024 14:41

Joined:	02/06/2009
Level:	Diamond
Points:	145553

Points:	5

I remember that during my childhood days, the snack shop person used to pack them in paper by making them into a cone shape and filling the material in that. When I was in my PG in Vizag, we used to eat a mixture made with rice flakes, onion pieces, lemon juice and chilli powder. The vendor used to make a paper cone fill the stuff in that cone and give a small piece of dry thick tadi leave that can be used as a spoon. The author made me recollect those memories with this nice thread.
It is deplorable that many educated also never understand the importance of avoiding the use of plastic which is not biodegradable. These plastic bags cause havoc. In Hyderabad, we see many wastewater overflows on the roads. This is mainly due to the overflow of side canals. This overflow is mainly due to plastic covers lacking the passage routes of water.

drrao
always confident

#777940

01 Apr 2024 19:00

Joined:	19/06/2011
Level:	Gold
Points:	87960

Points:	2

I suggest the author to give the vendor old newspapers, so that he will not need to hunt for needed paper. Or else repack the item right in front of the shopkeeper and others in the self-made paper cone and dispose the plastic properly ,thus making others also aware of the importance of that.
Otherwise you can take paper bags and paper packets and ask shopkeeper to pack items only in them. He cannot refuse for any logical reason then. This seems to be more practical. You also can spend your time recycle waste paper by making paper bags of needed size and thickness .

What am I supposed to do?

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