BEIJING,
Nov. 19 -- We find the trail of plastic "flags" lining our main railroads
embarrassing. We hate to see plastic bags flying in our face on windy days, or
those permanently stuck on tree branches.
Disposable plastic carrier bags we take home from
shopping trips are a main source of such "white pollution". An obvious solution
to it, therefore, is to reduce our use of such environmentally harmful
packaging. This is both reasonable and simple.
The ongoing debate over the Shenzhen Special Economic
Zone's draft decree to prohibit retailers from offering free disposable plastic
bags is a sad example of a prevailing ambivalence among us. We all want a clean
and tidy environment free of plastic bags, but few of us want to sacrifice the
convenience of free plastic bags.
Shenzhen is not the first in the country to
discourage disposable plastic bags. Several other places, including Lhasa,
capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region, had done a few years ago.
The Shenzhen decree encourages retailers to offer
customers more environment-friendly alternatives to disposable plastic bags to
carry their purchases, and charge for plastic bags. Those who offer free
disposable plastic bags will face a fine of between 5,000 and 50,000 yuan.
It is still too early to tell the outcome of such a
directive. The local government has just published it to solicit public opinion.
It is up to the residents to make the final decision. But we do hope the people
of Shenzhen, residents of the first SEZ that spearheaded many of the country's
first steps on the road to reform, come to a wise decision.
Many opponents feel uncomfortable with the new
policy, saying they are too accustomed to using free plastic bags and do not
wish to have that convenience taken away. This is exactly the same argument many
have made in other places against a similar ban - a disappointing reality our
environment cannot afford.
A bad habit can never be justified just because we
are too addicted to it. Is it not a shame if every one of us wants a better
environment, but few of us are willing to do our bit.
(Source: China Daily)
