Environment issues in Sri Lanka
View(s):Issues pertaining to the management of the environment can cause immediate social and health issues and long-term environment issues. This week, and in the weeks to come, save green will take a look at the environment issues within Sri Lanka. Please note, however, that these are not the only environment issues we face today and they are not found in Sri Lanka alone but as responsible citizens of our mother land it is our duty to be aware and care for the environment.
Garbage – we buy and buy and then buy a little bit more; and we bring it all home in very colourful little siri siri bags. They are quite pretty really, but not so when they end up on the streets bearing rotting food and garbage. How many of us are aware of what happens to our garbage? We are responsible for the large landfills located in and around Colombo. Yet we are quite happy with how neat and
clean our immediate surroundings are. What can you do? Try minimising what you throw away. Compost the bio-degradable portion of your garbage, and reuse things like plastic bags. Try taking a reusable cloth bag for your shopping and minimise the plastic you bring home. Implementing these little steps will help you see a noticeable reduction in your garbage, and a reduction in the land fill sites.
Over the past couple of months a great initiative has resulted in the separation of garbage in to bio-degradable and non-biodegradable components. This is a positive move that will ensure the biodegradable waste is used for a good purpose. Show your support and help your local garbage disposal system by sorting out the garbage before you leave it at the collection point.
Over the holidays during the past week, I am sure that many individuals took long trips out of Colombo to enjoy the cool weather and take in the serene sceneries of Sri Lanka, whilst munching on little snacks. Much of these little snack bags are tossed out of the window and in to the streets without so much as a second thought. Well, for starters it may be a safety hazard for vehicles behind you – and second, the currently serene and beautiful locations have become a garbage dump. What can you do instead? Use a garbage bin, if there is one close by. Or collect your garbage in a little bag and dispose it when you find a proper garbage bin. If there are large numbers of stray dogs or monkeys in the area do not throw the garbage there but take it with you and dispose in a proper manner. Animals may dig up garbage bins in attempts to search for food and this can leave garbage strewn all around the area, in addition, some animals can eat the plastic and get seriously ill.
The next time you travel, whether it is in your own vehicle or in public transport think “leave nothing but foot prints and take nothing but photographs”, and surely the person who visits the place after you will be able to witness the same natural beauty that you saw.
Look forward to another edition of Save Green next week.
Joanne Kotelawala, (British Council International Climate Champion, British Council Active Citizens Facilitator, Commonwealth Change-makers facilitator and Past President of Green Army of Spectrum Institute of Science and Technology)
| Would you like to share the initiatives you take to protect the environment? Send in your comments/views to savegreenwithet@gmail.com |
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