Hey Virat, do your bit to eliminate single-use plastic… maybe carry your own bottle to the dressing room
Wednesday, June 20, 2018 IST
The Swachh Bharat campaign, admirable though it is, imagines that it can sweep the plastic away from public places. But where to? The city dump yards have been full for many years now, our villages are the new dump yards.
Hey Virat (and Anushka),
You are a cool guy. I admire you for not endorsing Pepsi – that lethal mix of sugar in a little bit of water – for just the greenbacks. My 11-year-old cricket crazy son worships you. I think you are spunky to have marked the prime minister in your fitness video and if our country gets a little fitter then I have no issues.
But your taking that video of the man throwing plastic and posting it is simply not that smart. You have just taken too much trouble for very little. Come on, you can leverage much more. Where do you think that plastic will go if he chucks it in a less tony neighbourhood where you don’t frequent or even in his dustbin. Another part of your city, the landfills. India produces 5.6 million tonnes of plastic waste every year. Our cows eat them and fall sick.
So what can you do? Hey, millions follow you. How about if you started a campaign this world cup that you and your team carry your own water bottle to your dressing rooms and get all your fans/followers/viewers to do the same? Or that it is not cool to use a plastic straw, plastic bags, plastic cutleries: start a campaign where you have eliminated at least three single-use plastics from your life and challenging a few other stars. You won’t even have to sponsor the campaign. You can use the Net. Use your fans to eliminate plastic waste man. Challenge the Environment Minister to make a law to ban single-use plastic from the country. European Union is planning the same- heck even Rwanda has banned plastic.
The Swachh Bharat campaign, admirable though it is, imagines that it can sweep the plastic away from public places. But where to? The city dump yards have been full for many years now, our villages are the new dump yards. There is no place even in the high seas. I read somewhere that by 2020 there would be more plastic than fish in the oceans. And this plastic will just stay there forever! It breaks my heart! Imagine Nemo getting lost in that. He will never find his way out. That is what your children will see if Nemo gets made now. Is that what you want?
My son bets on you. I too have high hopes for you. Come on man!
Reena Gupta is an environment specialist who has worked with several government and non government organisations including the World Bank. Plastic, pesticides and pollution worry her.
Related Topics
Related News & Articles
Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who won gold medals in the Commonwealth and Asian Games this year, and junior world champion sprinter Hima Das were among the 20...
Recently posted . 591 views . 2 min read
An influential demographic or psychographic is emerging in India – and it is affluent, urban and highly educated.
Recently posted . 615 views . 1 min read
Among the numerous things Prime Minister Narendra Modi is probably going to discuss in his fourth Independence Day discourse this month is a proposition to change a...
Recently posted . 628 views . 33 min read
Nidhi Yadav started women’s ethnic clothing brand AKS when she was just 25 and mother to a seven-month-old baby.
Recently posted . 569 views . 1 min read
This is the deadliest deluge in Kerala in close to a century, which has claimed 194 lives since August 8. Over 3.14 lakh people have been moved to relief camps....
Recently posted . 620 views . 1 min read
Trending News & Articles
While the Uttarakhand High Court has asked to block 857 websites, the Ministry of Electronics and IT (Meity) found 30 portals without any pornographic content.
...
Recently posted . 62K views . 1 min read
The four boys as well as five school officials, including the director and principal, were arrested after the incident. The minors were presented before the Juvenil...
Recently posted . 8K views . 1 min read
Rahul was having an Italian passport and was carrying suitcase full of dollars. Some say it was about was it $2 million.
Rahul and his girl friend was th...
Recently posted . 8K views . 7 min read
True – Tr...
Recently posted . 7K views . 83 min read
More in National
Prayagraj Kumbh Mela 2019, which began on January 14, will conclude on March 4 with the sixth and final "Shahi Snan" (royal bath) on the occasion of Maha ...
Recently posted. 592 views . 1 min read
NEW DELHI: Eight months after India enforced a no-fly list (NFL) for disruptive passengers, Birju Kishore Salla - the Mumbai jeweller who created...
Recently posted. 626 views . 2 min read
New Delhi: As everyday hearing proceeds in the Supreme Court to decide if the act of triple talaq was essential to Islam, a Muslim lady hailing from Uttar Pradesh o...
Recently posted. 810 views . 13 min read
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 2K views
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 1K views . 48 min read
Recently posted . 2K views . 20 min read
Before 1964, Children's Day was celebrated on November 20 in India.
Recently posted. 738 views . 0 min read
While the Centre has called the NMC bill a game-changer set to transform medical education and services in India, many members of the medical fraternity disagree.
Recently posted. 598 views . 1 min read