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I write to endorse the thoughts and conviction in the article published recently (‘Single-use plastic ban a step worth applauding’, GDN, July 1).
For sure the most beautiful sights of any island are its shores, the beaches, the sands, frolicking children and relaxing adults after a hard day or week. Bahrain can do it. We have almost met the target of tree plantation ahead of the 2030 schedule. In doing so, we have proudly restored the island’s ancient status of being the land of a million palm trees.
It is time now to take more decisive and concrete steps towards restoring the sanctity of the sea that cradles Bahrain. The sea has been the key source of livelihood for the island for centuries since 3000 BC. It brought international recognition for the island through its enthralling pearls.
It has provided a quantum of seafood that is distinct and unique to the island’s cuisine. Above all it is the same waters that spotlighted the island for the ancient mariners and ever since made it possible for the island to be the strategic crossroad of trade most commonly known as the silk route.
After not having opened a single-use plastic water bottle for more than two years, I can confirm that it is not a challenge but a change or rather a restoring of good old habit of our ancestors. I have lost count of the bottles I may have saved from ending up as waste with this change of habit. As a lead on sustainability at college, I am striving to bring this change to my students too at the Mohammed Jaber Al Ansari College for Teachers since we know teachers shape lives and nations. It is my vision to make the college free of single-use plastic water bottles!
To let go of something becomes easy provided we have an equally good alternative in place which people do not find difficult to switch to. Hence, I propose a one-time investment in installing Reverse Osmosis (RO) water systems in schools, colleges, hospitals, hotels, banks, malls and even walkways! We have imported bulk solar panels, solar lights, construction materials, and even labour. Let’s do it this time with the bulk import of RO units.
This will significantly reduce one major contributor to the waste bulk which is single-use plastic water bottles. Glass bottles can be used to fill and refill and be placed in meeting rooms, offices, lobbies, reception, etc. For access to refill personal water bottles, the RO stations can be set up with notifications, such as ‘Only for Drinking’, ‘Every Drop Counts’, ‘Save water Save Life’, and other ways to motivate smaller children.
Until we get started with this, most immediately we must instal single-use plastic bottle collection boxes in each workplace and institution with designated days and a company for pick up. Vending machines can also be placed in market or housing areas that can be fed with the empty water bottles and offer a candy or karak in return!
It is time to tweak our habits of being hospitable. Every time we offer a single-use plastic bottle of water, we are adding load on the island, the climate, and the earth. Let us call on all creative minds to launch this campaign – graffiti artists, photographers, poets, writers, singers – to use their art in spreading this message! Let us work together, this time more seriously and much harder, to restore our shoreline with nothing but the treasure trails of seashells in all their glorious shapes, sizes and colours!
Neesha Khan Malik
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