Solving the problem of plastic bags contamination in Himalayas, India.
http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/content/articles/322/1/Solving-the-problem-of-plastic-bags-contamination-in-Himalayas-India/Page1.html
By ECI Sec 3
Published on 08/11/2009
The pilgrimage to the High Himalaya’s shrines (Gangotri,
Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath), in Uttarakhand region, attracts millions
of people every year during summer time, mainly because the access to these
sites has improved in recent years. The
downside of this is the strong environmental impact of this huge influx of
people on the delicate mountain ecosystem of the Himalayas.
Environmental organizations worry about
the pollution caused by plastic bags that pilgrims used to carry their prasadam.
AAGAAS Federation, an environmental organization and Earth Charter Affiliate from Uttarakhand, came up with an interesting program to deal with this problem. They are promoting the use of bamboo baskets made by local artisans, with locally grown bamboo. In this sense, they are not only reducing the plastic bags threat to the environment, but are also offering alternative employment to local people, who have long tradition of weaving bamboo. J.P. Maithani, Chairperson of AAGAAS Federation, affirms that this program is a practical way for them to put the Earth Charter principles into action.
For more information, visit AAGAAS website: www.aagaas.org
A sustainable program to deal with plastic bags
contamination during pilgrimage to the Himalayas
is been implemented by ECI Affiliate.
The pilgrimage to the High Himalaya’s shrines (Gangotri,
Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath), in Uttarakhand region, attracts millions
of people every year during summer time, mainly because the access to these
sites has improved in recent years. The
downside of this is the strong environmental impact of this huge influx of
people on the delicate mountain ecosystem of the Himalayas.
Environmental organizations worry about
the pollution caused by plastic bags that pilgrims used to carry their prasadam.
AAGAAS Federation, an environmental organization and Earth Charter Affiliate from Uttarakhand, came up with an interesting program to deal with this problem. They are promoting the use of bamboo baskets made by local artisans, with locally grown bamboo. In this sense, they are not only reducing the plastic bags threat to the environment, but are also offering alternative employment to local people, who have long tradition of weaving bamboo. J.P. Maithani, Chairperson of AAGAAS Federation, affirms that this program is a practical way for them to put the Earth Charter principles into action.
For more information, visit AAGAAS website: www.aagaas.org