Khanh Hoa Women's Union at all levels is organizing several activities in response to the campaign against plastic waste, contributing to environmental protection...
Khanh Hoa Women’s Union at all levels is organizing several activities in response to the campaign against plastic waste, contributing to environmental protection.
Using reusable shopping bags
In 2018, Cam Binh Commune Women’s Association founded a group of “women saying no to plastic bag use” with 15 members. The group organizes meetings 3 times a week to raise public awareness of plastic bag use reduction. Besides, the association has also mobilized benefactors to offer 50 reusable shopping bags.
Binh An Women’s Association has stood out in the campaign with 37 out of 46 members using their own reusable baskets when going shopping. The association regularly also works with Cam Ranh City Radio Station to raise public awareness of harmful effects of plastic bags on the environment; and cooperates with military units to join clean-up effort in coastal areas twice a year. In 2019, the association has directed its branches to integrate the propaganda into main contents of meetings, according to Vo Ngoc Thi My Hien, Chairman of Cam Binh Commune Women’s Association, Cam Ranh City.
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Moreover, the association has cooperated with the commune Farmers’ Association to mobilize aquaculturists to use net bags instead of plastic bags for feeding shrimps and lobsters. As a result, more and more local residents have used net bags. Especially, Binh Hung Women’s Association has responded to the environmental call with 80% of households using resuable net bags for shrimp and lobster feeding.
In order to increase the effectiveness of the campaign against plastic waste, in 2019, Vinh Nguyen Ward Women’s Association has instructed its branches to focus propaganda on bad impacts of plastic bags use among communities and at home. Especially, 3 women’s association branches on Tri Nguyen Island have been selected to develop the model “say no to plastic waste”. Besides, 10 shopping bags were granted to members of each branch. Besides, the association has also directed 3 branches to cooperate with border guards and the Marine Protected Area (MPA) of Nha Trang Bay to hold environmental clean-up at local ports in residential areas and in water periodically on the 3rd and 20th day of each month, reports Mai Do Thi Phuoc Chau, Chairperson of Vinh Nguyen Ward Women’s Association, Nha Trang City.
Calling for community’s joint effort
According to the leader of Khanh Hoa Women’s Union, in 2019, Khanh Hoa Party Committee and Khanh Hoa People’s Committee have directed and assigned Khanh Hoa Women’s Union to cooperate with local authorities and agencies to launch the campaign against plastic waste among cadres, members and women; and build an implementation plan against plastic bag use in Khanh Hoa.
Over the past years, the union has boosted the environmental campaign with several practical activities organized. Some women have changed their habit of using plastics for the better. Some businesses and women have reduced the use of disposable plastic products which are replaced with eco-friendly materials such as banana leaves in food packaging in a bid to curb plastic waste. In June, the union launched the campaign against plastic waste among its cadres, members and women as well as called for the community’s joint effort to respond to the event.
It takes time and effort to change the plastic use habit. The union has called businesses’ support for putting up dust bins on Binh Ba, Tri Nguyen and Diep Son, etc to help local residents with waste disposal and treatment; and build safe and clean business and production models. Particularly, the union will cooperate with Nha Trang City People’s Committee to open shops selling environmentally-friendly materials and recycled products to tourists along Tran Phu Street, according to Nguyen Quynh Nga, Chairperson of Khanh Hoa Women’s Union.
Luu Khanh
Translated by N.T
