Pergerakan Global Tuntut Hapuskan Plastik Guna Buang, Guna Sekali

Gesaan Terhadap Pihak Kerajaan dan Korporat Agar Bebas Daripada Plastik

Sebagai sebahagian daripada sambutan Hari Bumi pada tahun ini, #breakfreefromplastic, pergerakan global yang disokong oleh lebih daripada 1,100 pertubuhan, termasuk Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang (CAP) dan Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), menggesa kerajaan di seluruh dunia  supaya mengehadkan atau menghapuskan penggunaan plastik guna sekali  (single-use plastics - SUPs), dengan menekankan bahawa pengeluaran dan penggunaan tanpa had plastik guna buang membawa kepada kebanjiran plastik sehingga menjadi krisis.

Memetik tindakan sejumlah 36 negara dan beratus unit kerajaan tempatan dan kota di seluruh dunia yang telah pun mengenakan larangan atau levi ke atas plastik guna sekali seperti beg plastik, straw, botol, cawan dan pisau-sudu-garpu, pemimpin pergerakan menegaskan bahawa lebih banyak negara dan institusi dijangka akan mengikuti langkah ini memandangkan perubahan sikap pengguna dan perubahan mendadak orang ramai terhadap pencemaran plastik semakin meningkat (laporan bertajuk Stemming the Plastic Flood dilampirkan).

“Berita baik ialah lebih banyak negara dan kota telah mula mengambil langkah konkrit untuk menggerakkan penduduk mereka daripada mimpi ngeri pencemaran plastik. Kami menjangkakan peningkatan kesedaran orang ramai dan kemarahan berhubung isu ini akan membantu merangsang kerajaan lain untuk melakukan perkara betul dengan mengehadkan atau melarang penggunaan dan perebakan plastik guna buang, terutama sekali apabila wujud alternatif yang mesra alam dan praktikal. Korporat yang terus mengeluarkan plastik guna sekali perlu memulakan usaha mereka-bentuk bagi menghapuskan produk mereka,” kata Von Hernandez, Koordinator Global #breakfreefromplastic.

Mengenakan cukai atau levi ke atas penggunaan SUPs seperti beg plastik atau mengharamkannya terbukti berkesan dalam menggalakkan pengguna untuk bertukar kepada alternatif. Polisi seperti itu juga mendesak korporat dan institusi untuk melakukan inovasi dan melabur lebih banyak dalam penyelidikan mengenai alternatif lestari.

Pada Hari Bumi 2018, ahli pertubuhan #breakfreefromplastic di seluruh dunia telah melakukan pelbagai aktiviti dengan menggesa korporat dan kerajaan supaya mengorak langkah ke arah bebas daripada plastik.

CAP telah mengadakan program kesedaran untuk kanak-kanak di Pusat Suya Meiyarivagam Pulau Pinang di Gelugor. Kami menjelaskan kepada kanak-kanak kenapa mereka perlu menghentikan penggunaan plastik guna sekali seperti straw, botol plastik dan beg plastik. Kanak-kanak juga diajar bagaimana untuk melakukan pengomposan sisa dapur organik dan membuat beg kain daripada baju-t lama.

CAP dan SAM menggesa kerajaan Malaysia dan pihak berkuasa tempatan supaya mengenakan pengharaman terhadap barangan guna sekali yang tidak penting, serta barangan plastik guna buang. Kita perlu mengamalkan sistem sisa sifar dan hidup dalam harmoni dengan alam semula jadi.

Kata Tidak Kepada Plastik! Hentikan Pencemaran Plastik!

Siaran Akhbar, 23 April 2018

PERSATUAN PENGGUNA PULAU PINANG

Hari Bumi 2018

Global Movement Demands Elimination of Single-use, Disposable Plastics

Calls on Corporations and Governments to Break Free from Plastic

As part of this year’s Earth Day celebrations, #breakfreefromplastic, a global movement backed up by more than 1,100 organizations, including the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), is urging  governments worldwide to restrict or eliminate the use of single-use plastics (SUPs), stressing that the unrestrained production and consumption of disposable plastics is bringing on a plastic flood of crisis proportions.

Citing the lead of 36 countries and hundreds of  cities and local government units around the world that have already imposed prohibitions or levies on the use of  single-use plastics like plastic bags, straws, bottles, cups and cutlery, movement leaders pointed out that more countries and institutions are expected to follow suit as consumer attitudes change and public revulsion over plastic pollution intensifies (report titled Stemming the Plastic Flood is attached) .

“The good news is that more and more countries and cities are starting to take concrete measures to move their constituencies  away from the nightmare of plastic pollution. We expect that increasing public awareness and anger on this issue will help galvanize  other governments to do the right thing by restricting or prohibiting the use and proliferation of disposable plastics, especially when practical and ecological alternatives exist. Corporations that continue to dispense single-use plastics should start designing  waste out of their products, ” said Von Hernandez, Global Coordinator of #breakfreefromplastic.

Taxing or putting levies on the use of SUPs like plastic bags or  banning them outright have proven  effective in encouraging  consumers to shift to alternatives. Such policies are also compelling corporations and institutions to innovate and invest more in research on sustainable alternatives.

To commemorate Earth Day, #breakfreefromplastic  member organizations  around the world have initiated various activities asking corporations and governments to break free from plastic.   For our part, CAP conducted an awareness raising  programme for children in Penang Suya Meiyarivagam centre in Gelugor.  We explained to the children why we need to stop using single-use plastics such as straws, cutlery, water bottle and plastic bags.  Children were also taught how to do composting of organic kitchen waste and making of cloth bags from discarded t-shirts.

CAP and SAM urge the Malaysian government and local authorities to impose bans on non-essential single-use, disposable plastic items.    We need to embrace zero waste systems and live in harmony with nature.

Say No To Plastic! Stop Plastic Pollution!

PRESS RELEASE, 23 April 2018
CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION OF PENANG

Natural Farming Crusader Kanniappan, Kulai, Johor

Bountiful harvest : Lime has grown double the size of the original batch 

of lime following the application of compostandnatural growth promoters

Kanniappan Thiruvankodan, of Kulai, Johor, a paid labourer in an oil palm plantation, spent 25 years of his life with a myriad of pesticides and chemical fertilizers to the extent that he knows in detail what pesticide to use for which crop and how harmful it is to one’s health.

When Kanniappan went to Tamil Nadu to learn about organic farming, arranged by the Consumers Association of Penang in 2005, he came back sceptical that such a safe alternative would work. 

But his inquisitive nature prompted him to try out each method he had learned in South India in his own farm and to his astonishment these natural methods not only worked but produced better

yield than conventional farming. His lime fruits, for instance, became double

the size and fetched a better price in the market.

His experience as a union leader in oilpalm plantations and championing workers’ right, naturally transformed him into becoming a proponent of natural farming.

Kanniappan sells natural fertilisers,growth promoters and pest repellents. That is for his income. As part of his mission to spread the goodness of chemicalfree farming, he moves around demonstrating natural farming methods – helping organizations, farmers, single mothers, agriculture department officers, indigenous communities, teachers, students and individuals to set up vermi-compost units and provide advice for novices in natural farming.

Kanniappan explaining methods of making growth promoters using

locally available fruits to enhance plant growth

His compost and composting methods have been used by research students as part of their studies. They found it interesting that he had done his own research by releasing earthworms in different compost material. Kanniappan says he found out that sugarcane husk produces good quality compost. Realizing the expertise of Kanniappan, agriculture department officials have started referring farmers who wish to switch to chemical-free farming to him.

So far, he has helped planters of jasmine, betel leaves and dragon-fruit to eliminate agro chemicals from their farms and has also played a pivotal role in CAP’s endeavors to spread the message of chemical-free farming. Kanniappan’s three acres of oil palm plantation inter cropped with mangosteen trees is something rare, and probably the first of its kind. For, cultivating oil palm without the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers is unheard of in Malaysia. 

But he has proved that it can be done. Also, the use of fish amino acid has increased the flowering in oil palm. His mangosteen trees have started bearing fruits, and the squirrels in the area are enjoying in a share of the fruits of his labour. 

Kanniappan is happy to promote chemical-free farming. It gives him a sense of fulfillment as he knows he has done his part in freeing people around him from the clutches of dangerous chemical pollutants.

About Kaniappan Thiruvankodan

CAP FACEBOOK : shorturl.at/drv13

CAP TAMIL WEBSITE: shorturl.at/cpQZ2