Being a passenger of #ecotrain is not only rewarding in terms of you always have a supportive community of like-minded people, but it also makes you to go deeper exploring new ideas and triggering new processes in your life.
Sometimes a very simple question can trigger a big outcome.
I consider the #ecotrain question of the week(QOTW) as the very good example of this statement. So let's see where we will end up while answering a very simple yet very deep question:
“Name one small change you have made or could make to your life that would be of great benefit to the world if everyone did the same?”
One small change what leads to bigger changes
If you read my blog often you noticed that a theory of “small steps that can make a change” is constantly present in my articles. I think it is partly because it echoes my own story - that was serious of relatively small steps that lead me to the life I live now. If I look back I see how sometimes barely seen steps would change my life dramatically with a period of time and I guess this is the reason I do believe in that all is possible IF and ONLY you make a small step at a time.
I wouldn’t say I always lived consciously, I would rather say that most of my life I was ignorant as many as other people are. For a long time, my life was bustling around high-class events organizing and marketing activities that would waste a lot of resources with doubtful benefits to its participants.
Did I have an idea of what was going on? I think I did but I did not really think about the effect on the environment and people of any single of my actions that time. You should also get my background in the sight. I was born and lived in Russia for 25 years of my life with almost Noone thinking about environmental issues or people who suffer somewhere in Africa or other parts of the world. I know it is not an excuse but still, I believe that the background you grew up is making an input on who you are. At that time I did a lot of spiritual training and practices that slowly changed my perception of the world around but most of all they were concentrating on inner changes rather than actions that you can do in reality. I believe that was an important part of my life, but the more important one would wait for me further.
One of the most profound effects in my life was moving to Europe and meeting a guy who would later become my husband. I think ever since I met Nik my life was changed. He showed me the way how to live consciously, how to respect your own body and the world around. His world was more concentrated on actions rather on inner development and having such a great example always by my side, I slowly learned to act myself.
There were many changes I did in my own life what I can name and that definitely would be a great benefit to the world if everyone did the same.
Yet, perhaps I would choose a story of a single bag that changed my life and made me understand a lot about how a single bag can make a huge change.
This is the very same bag I have been using for shopping for 3+ years now. I bought it Berlin, Germany and it has been with me ever since. It is probably not the best bag you can get of this kind but for me, it became a symbol of my consciousness.
Berlin is one of the cities I love. First, because people who live there are extremely conscious about the environment. The second reason is that it is a paradise of organic food that is not all packaged in plastic! Rather than using plastic you always have an option to choose a container made out of recyclable material or a paper bag. That made me think a lot on my usual habits and how much plastic I have at home that let be honest I would not use again (at least the major part) and it will most probably end up in a trash bin.
So after I bought this bag I made a promise to always have it with me while I would go for my usual shopping and use it a symbol to remind me that I have a better choice and I can use as less plastic as I can in my life.
It slowly helped me to create new behavior habits.
- At first month I noticed that there were no bigger plastic bags in my place as I always had a bag with me and I could easily take it out of my lady bag and use any time I needed. When the other question arises by itself - what about smaller bags? I did not have big bags anymore but I ended up still having quite a number of a smaller and medium-sized bags that mostly came from the veggies I would buy.
- At the second month I changed the smaller plastic bags on the ones made out of paper or used recycled ones that again lowered the amount of plastic bags in my place dramatically.
- The next thing I get rid of was a plastic fill I used to cover the dished to put them in the fridge. Instead, I used glass containers that world very well for me.
- After that, I changed paper bags for smaller cotton ones to store vegs and fruits.
This story can go on as when I reduced plastic bags what were stored at my home I also thought about the plastic cups, plastic forks, plastic bottles for water (which we used to buy a lot) and so on. The bottom line - that started with a single bag had an endless continuing process of reducing my plastic impact on the planet.
I have been using my bag for 3+ years now. I do shopping app 2-3 times a week. Let's say on average I would usually use 4-5 bags during one visit. That would be 8-15 bags on a weekly basis or 32-60 bags per month!
If I use this logic that means I HAVE already SAVED app 1152-2160 plastic bags for 3+ years I have been using my cotton bag.
I know it is still just a drop in the ocean and it doesn’t eliminate all the problems we already have with the plastic pollution.
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What leads me forward?
- I believe that if I do it, I will at least not ADD more to what I think is already one of the biggest problems the society faces!
- Moreover, I have a hope that more and more people will follow the same logic I did once and will be more conscious each time their hand is about to pick up a new plastic bag.
What each of us can do to contribute to the better future with less plastic bags flowing into the ocean making harm to the environment
I know there are a lot of people who are conscious and I forever grateful to all of them for making small steps to a better future for our children. I do not expect that things can change overnight but I know (from my own personal experience) that it is important to make a very first small step forward.
So if you still did not start making your impact on reducing consumption of plastic bags, please consider the following simple steps to start.
- Consider to buy one reusable bag and have it with you all the time (esp when you go shopping)
- Consider re-using all the plastic bags you have at home rather than taking new ones. Just put some of them in your bag and use whenever you need it
- Consider to re-cycle unused plastic bags. If you do not know if there is a recycle centre around you check it with your local council.
- Consider to shop on the farmers markets or shops where products not wrapped in plastic. Additional bonus - you are contributing to the community and help your local producers.
- If you have to use a plastic bag try to minimise the amount of bags you use - you can simply weight products separately and put them in the same bag
- If you don’t have non-plastic bags at hand use empty boxes at the shops and paper mushroom bags to hold your food.
- Support businesses that support effort to reduce plastic bag consumption. It can be a donation, volunteering, etc.
- Spread awareness. It doesn’t take much efforts to speak about the effect plastic bags have on the environment. Lets people know and decide if it is something for them, do not push them.
- Try to educate children about the plastic bag problem so they can help you with your efforts.
- Consider giving reusable shopping bags or cute tote bags as a gift. You can even make it yourself.
- Celebrate International Plastic Bag Free Day on July, 3rd 2018 with making efforts to reduce plastic bag use and educate your community about problems their use create.
- Consider stop using plastic in different forms
If you like this article, consider to re-Steem it to spread the awareness.
Reducing even half of your plastic bags waste can make a HUGE difference. It might seem to be hard in the beginning but even small changes in your consumption can help with reducing plastic pollution.
This post is explosive with positive information than can ignite change. Permit me add my voice to yours when you say #small steps can that can make change " by saying " From little things, big things grow" and also confirm the fact that one bag can change the world. If you can't reuseit, refuse it: if you don't need it, don't take it. If we can practice these, then we will make the world a better place sooner than we expect and it takes just your small steps to transform this planet into paradise. Thanks for this awesome post @sashagenji
this is such an fantastic answer and a great way to be pro active in helping to have a positive impact on the world. I love my cloth bags and always have at least one on hand. Education and awareness is so important and yes when we dream together it becomes reality, love it. Thank you Sasha xxx
Oh, such a nice coming my dear @trucklife-family! I loved your answer this question too and you are absolutely right - when people dream together the dream becomes reality! And I think #ecoTrain is a good example - we have so many different people here yet we all united with one goal of making a world a better place and I already see small steps how it comes to reality. Love you and all your wonderful writings! Be blessed, my dear!
The artwork by @sashagenji. Eligible for re-use. Some parts of the artwork are from Pixabay under CCO Creative Commons
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STOPAnother great post!
I have invited you for the Minnow Booster whitelist which gives lots of benefits for quality authors, among which a higher upvote. You can read more about the MB white list on @minnowbooster or reead this post.
https://steemit.com/minnowbooster/@minnowbooster/minnowbooster-epic-update-community-whitelist-now-online
If you have any questions you can come to the white list channel in the Minnow Booster discord.
Oh, thank you so much @news-today and nice meeting you. It seems the day is full of surprises as I have not only were invited to be whitelisted for the Minnow Booster but I also found a great artist on Steemit. Really loved your The Liberation Cartoon Series esp the ones with eyes ( I saw few versions). So it is a special "thank you" from me in the art form.
The artwork by @sashagenji. Eligible for re-use. Some parts of the artwork are from Pixabay under CCO Creative Commons
ooh yeah! woww.. those numbers are CRAZY!! and with your images that really drives the point home!... Fantastic answer to the QOTW.. and so important as we get submerged in plastics and our seas and beaches are covered in them.. ugh! Ive added your post to the tie-up now
in fact, i like this So much that.......
Congratulations @sashagenji your post had been selected for an up-vote worth ~$4.00 from a donation by @thelaundrylady as part of the @ecoTrain minnow support project. Your up-vote will come soon from several people at smartsteem!
I hope this encourages you to keep writing amazing posts and making this world a better place!.
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Thank you, @eco-alex! I feel this is really important and can't stop thank you for giving us a chance to explore the very important topics while answering for #ecoTrain QOTW. It thinks this week is very special and the posts of #ecoTrain passengers answering this week QTOW are all incredible!
It was a big pleasure for me to write this post and I really hope it gets the attention of people and my example could be the one that will help others to change.
The artwork by @sashagenji. Eligible for re-use. Some parts of the artwork are from Pixabay under CCO Creative Commons
Yay! Well done! I also have a reusable bag in my purse. And I am so happy to see that the local supermarket here has 'plastic' bags for the veggies that are made out of sugarcane or something alike that can be biodegraded. Holland also has a plastic pick up service where it all gets recycled. We are moving forward!
Nice reading your comments, Clara. Yes, I think Holland is very advanced in terms of plastic reuse. I think the worst places I have been so far with almost no recycling are in Asia, sadly enough with so many plastic used there! I hope these problems will be soon considered on the governmental level and they start using the Europe experience and practices there as well! As for us we can always do small steps and have a reusable bag in a purse is something I guess we all can do! Big hugs from Prague!
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A fabulous post. A great story to go with it. I love Berlin and found it very good on recycling factor. We are big on recycled bags here in Australia. I love the way you have kept it for so long. ... well done!!!!! You must be quite attached.
And see, @nickhans ... it does make all the difference.
Thank you, @riverflows for such a nice comment%) I am happy to know that in Australia recycling bags are a big topic and I hope it will be soon everythere%) He he as for keeping it for so long I guess it just became a habit after the first month or two%)) Apart from that when you see the results it motivates you to go further! So it is actually one step leads to the other one%)
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I love penguins. 💚💚
And recycling bags 💜💜💜
And littlle steps 💛💛💛