“Take your own bags, avoid plastic bags.” “Follow the old style. Carry your own bags to shop” “Marakkandru naduvom.” (Let's plant saplings) More than 300 messages graced a 30 m banner put up by the Environment Conservation Group (ECG) at Race Course on World Environment Day on June 5. ECG (an NGO) in association with Savithri Photo House had organised a the ‘Say No to Plastics' Signature Campaign to educate Coimbatoreans about the ill effects of plastic bags.
The day-long event was inaugurated by Govindarajan, DIG of Prisons. “Mr. Govindarajan called on the walkers to join him in taking an oath -“Pasumpulari Uruthimozhi'.
They also promised to plant saplings for a better tomorrow,” said Mansur Ahamed of ECG. The event also saw Jose.T.Mathew, Principal, Central Academy for State Forest Service express his support for this cause.
Morning walkers enthusiastically scribbled on the board, and later, children of ECG members invited people on the roads to sign up for the cause. “A person walked in asking us how many of the supporters actually practised what they wrote on the banner,” said Gaythri Devi, Secretary, ECG. “We asked him to be the first person to initiate the process of ‘practising what you write'. He immediately signed up and confirmed to support the cause.” She also added that a few people walked in looking embarrassed as they were with plastic bags. “We explained the ill effects of plastics and they promised not to accept plastic bags even if shopkeepers gave it to them.”
Apart from the anti-plastic campaign, members of ECG also spoke about the dwindling sparrow population in the city. “This is the second year of ECG's signature campaign. Even though the focus is on plastic ban, like last year, we also inform them about the importance of having bird feeders at home and educate them about deforestation as well. We encourage them to plant saplings,” said Mansur. “People have it in them to save the environment. They need a push, that's all. We are doing just that.” In the course of the event participants were amused to see a squirrel and a mynah fiddling with plastic bags and cups. “We immediately took pictures of them, because we wanted to point out that they are the ones that ultimately get affected by consuming plastic,” said Gayithri Devi.
The Environment Conservation Group continues its World Environment Day celebrations, by organizing a Facebook-based photography competition. Those interested can post images revolving around the following themes - Environment and plastics, and Wildlife in India. For details, visit >www.ecgindia.org .
