There are lessons we must learn from
every cataclysmic event. Our priority MUST be to lessen, minimize or eliminate
such tragedies in future. We have also had to contend with Global Warming, El
Nino and La Nina effects, and they also add to unusual weather patterns that
result in human devastation and suffering. Through it all we have all been
shown time and time again, that the respect for our Environment is paramount,
if we are to plan for a sustainable future effectively.
So with all of the above, why have we
NOT changed our behavior patterns? There have been distribution of hundreds and
thousands of water bottles (non-biodegradable plastic) to people as an act of
Charity by individuals and organizations. We know drinking contaminated water
is a sure start to a waterborne disease spread, and as the shelf life is long,
drinking water is a human essential, gifting this and thinking nothing of it is
the best urgent flood aid.
Let me leave aside the measures to be
taken to reduce the likelihood of floods in future by removing illegal
structures, removing people from flood prone areas, and providing them with
alternative housing, and such like, and concentrate here merely on changing
householder behavior to improve their own individual contribution to reducing
flood damage. This needs the support of course of the local authorities, like
the local Pradeshiya Sabha in the removal of waste in an ecologically friendly
manner.
I shall call it behavior modification,
and awareness of our own culpability in aiding and abetting floods.
The TIME IS NOW FOR A NATIONWIDE
CAMPAIGN OF RECYCLING AND AWARENESS OF WASTE DISPOSAL AS A MAJOR FACTOR OF THE
ESCALATION OF FLOODS
As I mentioned earlier let us begin with
knowing how best to dispose of the empty water bottles. Improper disposal of
these by just throwing them in heaps will ADD TO A FLOOD SITUATION, and is
ironic if that happens due to the relief given in a flood, being the reason for
an even greater disaster in future.
The City of San Francisco has BANNED the
use of disposable water bottles due to the environmental impact it causes. So
let us begin by asking our local council (Pradeshiya Sabha) of implementing a
return system of this plastic to a central location with a payment of say
25cents per empty bottle, returned!
They will have a system of immediately
crushing it within their premises, prior to disposal to an accredited
purchaser, who would use it for some other purpose that is carbon neutral and a
profitable business venture.
Let us then do the same for plastic
bags, another huge menace being distributed with flood relief, also about to
fill up drains and clogg up waterflow adding to future flood situations.
We talk about generosity of our people
when tragedy occurs to help out those us in need, as was shown recently. Can we
not use this same theme to appeal to the recipients of that generosity to
dispose of non- biodegradable waste in a manner that is prescribed? Local
councils MUST be complicit in this contract, by supplying receptacles,
arranging for pick-ups, preventing fly-tipping which is another consequence of
flood damaged goods being disposed of.
You can see from the above, that NOT
ONLY FLOOD RELIEF but also, disposal of waste from the flood are matters of
equal importance both to build awareness of why floods are caused, and how we
can alleviate man’s contribution to worsening of the floods.
There is STILL a distance from who or
what causes the flood to who or what is damaged as a result of the floods.
Somehow it is NOT the same people they believe. No one at this stage who is
suffering the effects of flood damage, would accept they had any hand in it AT
ALL.
It then all boils down to AWARENESS,
EDUCATION, BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION TO INCLUDE LESS USE OF NON BIODEGRADABLE
PRODUCTS, PROVISION OF RECEPTICLES FOR DISPOSAL OF NON RECYCLABLE WASTE, and a
community spirit to help each other out on these matters, as benefitting the
whole community.(eg. no one will fly tip at their neighbor’s empty property,
creating a health and other hazard later)
In my case, if I know where I can safely
dispose of within 5 km of my home, used
LED bulbs, broken glass, empty plastic containers, used tins, used batteries,
electronic and computer parts, plastic wrappers, unwearable used clothes, I
will save them up and go at least once a month to dispose of them cleanly
there. I will NOT expect a pick up. However for those without the transport
capability, the local council MUST arrange a once a month pick up of such
separately sorted, to make recycling and disposal more convenient for all
parties.
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