Latest news with #PlasticPollution
Rakyat Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Rakyat Post
June Weekend Sorted: Fun Plans & Cool New Hobbies To Try
Subscribe to our FREE This weekend's the perfect excuse to carve out some me-time or catch up with your favourite people. Round up the gang for a stroll through bustling markets, a chill day with nature, or maybe even a dance session to shake off the week — whatever feels good. Here are some exciting things over the weekend to check out: Weekend at Central Market | 20-22 June | Central Market | 10am-10pm | Free public event There'll be over 80 vendors at the market this weekend. As always, the day is kept lively with public performances, DJ sessions, and even open mic sessions. Celebrate World Environment Day @ Taman Tugu | 21 June | Taman Tugu | 8am-2pm | Free public event This Saturday, Taman Tugu and Yayasan Hasanah are co-organising ''Celebrate World Environment Day @ Taman Tugu'' following the theme of ''Beat Plastic Pollution.' The special event aims to inspire everyone to take simple, actionable steps to reduce their plastic usage in their daily lives. As a start, the event encourages the Bring Your Own Container (BYOC) initiative to reduce single-use plastics. There'll be engaging family-friendly activities such as interactive booths, eco-workshops, sharing sessions, live performances, kids activities, and much more. Visitors who bring their own containers on that day can get a free gift too! For more information and updates, do follow their Instagram and Facebook: Brunch Meets Beats | 21 June | The Lemon Tree Tropicana, PJ | 3pm onwards | Free public event Want to join a coffee rave? This Saturday, there's a party starting at 3pm. Guests get to let loose while enjoying tasty pastries and drinks (yes, coffee is available!). DJs Julian, Sean, Dirty Bit, Ric, Aaron.V, and Winson will keep the cool beats going while you mingle, dance, and sing to your hearts' content. Colours of Passion | 21 June | Auditorium Bandaraya KL | 8pm onwards | Ticketed event Colours of Passion features the Siam Sinfonietta, conducted by Thai National Artist Maestro Somtow Sucharitkul. It''s a night where music meets power and energy. Malaysia's own talent, Sha Kah Yan, winner of the 2024 Euroasia Competition and Siam Sinfonietta Concerto Prize, will be taking center stage. The general admission by donation is RM180*. To get your tickets, head over to Euro Asia Festival's official website Copy & Paste | 21 June | Runcit TTDI | 9pm onwards | Free public event Grab your twin and stand a chance to win at the doppelganger competition at Runcit TTDI. Participants get to disguise and dress up in wigs, shades, and more to complete the twin transformation. Those who match each other get free shots while the best dressed pair gets a bottle of Chivas. To RSVP, contact 016-2241828. Hello Sunday Market | 22 June | REXKL | 12pm-8pm | Free public event Embark on another round of retail therapy at the Hello Sunday Market this Sunday. While browsing and looking at pretty items, don't forget to enjoy a delicious sip of coffee or two as well. Argo Naga Dragon Boat Basic 14 Training | 28 June | Marina Putrajaya | 8am-11am | RM250 for 8-week programme Argo Naga Dragon Boat is holding its Basic 14: 8 weeks programme for beginners who wish to learn and venture into a new sport. No experience is required because you'll learn everything you need to know in seven training sessions. Upon completing the training, everyone gets to celebrate their achievement on graduation day. A minimum attendance of four training sessions are required to graduate. If you're interested to pick up a new exhilarating hobby and forge new bonds, remember to register by filling the Form For more info, send an email to argonagadragonboat@ Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
Zawya
09-06-2025
- General
- Zawya
To truly end plastic pollution in Global South, we must look beyond recycling
If one looks around anywhere in the Global South, plastic trash is seen in abundance in public places. 'Ending Plastic Pollution' is the theme for this year's World Environment Day, which falls on June 5, 2025, to address an increasing problem. India, like many nations, has responded to the plastic crisis with bans, recycling targets, and awareness drives. Yet the problem still persists and grows even more complex. Human beings are not concerned with throwing plastic trash in public places. Every week, we at Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS) search for plastic trash in the beautiful Central Park in Jaipur city. We are not the only ones, and many other voluntary groups also do the same. Yet the rule breakers continue to dump plastic trash all over. This includes useable PET bottles (Polyethylene terephthalate bottles) along with single-use wrappers. Sometimes, the municipal government does enforce laws and fine violators, but yet the impact is not effective. Why? Because bans and recycling alone are not enough. To truly beat plastic pollution, we need to make a bold shift - from managing waste to eliminating it at the source, from linear use-and-dispose models to circular systems, and from token measures to behavioural change. Recent studies show that India generates nearly 10 million tonnes of plastic waste every year. This isn't just about how much we consume, but how much we mismanage. The volume of mismanaged plastic waste and environmental leakage from India now exceeds that of China and the United States. Barely half of our plastic waste is recycled. The rest clogs landfills, chokes rivers and oceans, and seeps into our food chain as microplastics. Even when recycled, plastic is often downcycled into lower quality materials that quickly becomes waste again. In the end, recycling is just damage control, not a solution. Reduce dependence and encourage reuse: The real remedy lies not in managing plastic better, but in using less of it. India's partial ban on single-use plastics since 2022 was a good step forward, but the enforcement remains uneven, with plastic bags and disposable cutlery still common. What is needed now is a push for product redesign focusing on packaging that is minimal, reusable, or made from alternatives. While recycling recovers value from waste, reuse avoids waste altogether. India has immense untapped potential here. Imagine shampoo in returnable glass bottles or groceries from refill stations. These models have been piloted in some metro cities and some FMCG giants have tested refill packs or deposit-return systems. But for reuse models to work at scale, we need infrastructure, incentives, and standardisation. Reusable systems can also create new green jobs in logistics, cleaning, and maintenance, supporting both environmental and employment goals. Are Alternatives Viable? Bioplastics and compostables attract attention, but not all 'eco' plastics are effective. Many biodegradable plastics degrade only under industrial composting, which India lacks at scale. Worse, they may even contaminate recycling streams. The answer isn't blind replacements, but investing in truly circular, safe materials suited to local needs. Materials from banana fibre, seaweed or the fibrous sugarcane waste are promising innovations. However, their economic viability and accessibility beyond premium markets remain a challenge. From bans to systemic change in policy: India's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Policy 2025 requires producers, importers, and brand owners to collect and process their plastic waste and to include a minimum percentage of recycled content in products and packaging. Yet, implementation remains uncertain as many companies outsource obligations or show low transparency in compliance. We need more than bans. Financial incentives like lower good and services tax (GST) on sustainable products are essential to encourage better choices. Urban and rural bodies must be empowered to build decentralised waste management systems, ensure source segregation, and engage communities in co-creating solutions. A mindset shift is essential: Plastic pollution is not just a material problem but a deeply cultural one. The throwaway culture, normalised by modern consumerism, stands in stark contrast to India's longstanding traditions of frugality and reuse. To end plastic pollution, we must revive these values. Behavioural change campaigns need to be widespread and nuanced, reaching from religious gatherings to school curriculums, from influencers to street theatre. For example, in Ladakh, monks lead awareness drives against plastic waste at pilgrimage sites. In Kerala, fisherfolk are trained to collect plastic waste from the sea. A global problem with local solutions: India plays a key role in global efforts to tackle plastic need to respect each country's unique circumstances and avoid overlaps with existing agreements. Moving forward, India must continue pushing for binding commitments that address the unique challenges and solutions of the Global South. At the local level, our lived experiences, from village sabhas organising plastic-free weeks to urban apartment complexes adopting composting and waste segregation, offer valuable lessons to inform global frameworks. Likewise, international examples such as Rwanda's bans, Chile's reuse laws, and the EU's circular design initiatives provide useful guidance. To truly end plastic pollution, India must go beyond recycling. It must redesign systems, rebuild habits, and reimagine growth not as material abundance, but as ecological harmony. This is not merely an environmental imperative, but a chance to lead the world by showing how ancient wisdom, modern innovation, and collective will can unite to achieve this goal. The writer is the secretary-general of CUTS International, a 40-year-old leading global public policy research and advocacy group. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
India Gazette
05-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
DPA Kandla marks World Environment Day with strong commitment to sustainability
Kandla (Gujarat) [India], June 5 (ANI): On the occasion of World Environment Day, the Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) Kandla reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to sustainability and joined the global movement to 'Beat Plastic Pollution.' DPA highlighted its ongoing efforts toward building a cleaner, greener maritime ecosystem. These include conserving green cover, embracing renewable energy, and implementing comprehensive green port initiatives--all aligning with the port's long-term vision of environmental stewardship. To mark the day, a tree plantation drive was organised, witnessing enthusiastic participation from DPA Chairman Sushil Kumar Singh, IRSME, senior officials, and key stakeholders. The initiative symbolised the authority's proactive role in shaping an eco-conscious maritime future. Meanwhile, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel commenced the construction of the 'Matruvan Vanvach' at the Secretariat premises in Gandhinagar under the 'Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam 2.0' initiative on World Environment Day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, an unique initiative combining environmental responsibility with a heartfelt tribute to mothers. This campaign was inaugurated on June 5, 2024. He urged citizens across the country to participate in the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign by planting at least one tree in their mother's name. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat ranked second nationwide, with the successful plantation of 17.48 crore saplings as part of this initiative. Inspired by the vision of the Prime Minister, the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0' campaign was launched this year on World Environment Day. While inaugurating the campaign in Gandhinagar, the Chief Minister emphasised that the Prime Minister has provided a far-sighted vision to address future environmental challenges by seamlessly integrating environmental protection with sustainable development. He added that by accelerating campaigns like 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam', the country's citizens have been engaged in environmental conservation, and this year's World Environment Day also inspires the vision of a 'Plastic Pollution Free India-Gujarat'. CM said that under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0' campaign, tree plantation began with 200 sindoor saplings, initiating the Matruvan Van Kavach, consisting of 4,000 saplings within the Secretariat Complex. With the support of the Forest Department, a Matruvan Van Kavach with around 16,000 trees will be developed across the entire Secretariat Complex. (ANI)
India Gazette
05-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Gujarat CM calls for collective action to transform PM Modi's vision of 'ending plastic pollution' into mass movement
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], June 6 (ANI): During the World Environment Day 2025 event held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel called for collective efforts to transform the Prime Minister's vision of 'Ending Plastic Pollution' into a mass movement. The program, jointly organised by the Forest and Environment Department and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board, was graced by Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Mulubhai Bera and Minister of State Shri Mukesh Patel. CM Patel emphasised that World Environment Day is more than just an event; it is a day for everyone to pledge to end plastic pollution. He highlighted the ongoing nationwide campaign, 'One Nation, One Mission - End Plastic Pollution,' which has been active for the past 15 days under the leadership of the Prime Minister. The CM stated that development cannot come at the cost of the environment. The Prime Minister has envisioned sustainable development through environmental conservation. The CM stated that the spirit of environmental preservation has been deeply embedded in our culture since ancient times, reflected in the belief in seeing divinity in plants. He also shared details about the launch of the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0 campaign, which includes the development of 'Sindoor Van' in Ahmedabad and the creation of 'Matru Van' through the plantation of 4,000 saplings at the Secretariat premises in Gandhinagar. The CM expressed concern over the increasing environmental risks due to the easy and widespread use of plastic. He stated that plastic is one of humanity's significant inventions and has become an integral part of our lifestyle. However, single-use plastic poses a serious threat to the environment and future generations. The time has come to decide whether we want to leave the next generation a world filled with plastic or one that is free from plastic. As responsible citizens and civilised people, we must acknowledge the damage and serious risks posed by unnecessary plastic use, CM stated. The Chief Minister said that as part of the Aravalli Green Wall Project launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on World Environment Day, the state government aims to plant tree saplings over 19,225 hectares across seven districts of Gujarat, namely, Aravalli, Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Mehsana, Panchmahal, Mahisagar, and Dahod. He highlighted that starting from this year's World Environment Day, the Prime Minister has introduced the four 'R's -- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Recover -- as a mantra for environmental protection. Shri Narendra Modi is a visionary leader who has consistently pioneered innovative approaches to environmental conservation and sustainable resource management both nationally and globally. Initiatives like 'One Sun, One Earth,' promoting renewable energy, the 'Net Zero' carbon emissions goal, 'Green Growth' for sustainable development, and 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' to preserve Earth's greenery are landmark programs that guide the nation towards a sustainable future. The Chief Minister added that the Prime Minister has emphasised environmental and nature conservation in our daily lives through initiatives like 'Catch the Rain' for groundwater recharge and 'Mission LiFE' for water sustainability. The Chief Minister mentioned the installation of cloth bag vending machines and plastic bottle crusher machines at various locations across the state and appealed to the public to use cloth bags. He said that by adopting small habits and efforts, like using cloth bags and carrying steel bottles for water, we should initiate the change ourselves. On behalf of Gujarat, the Chief Minister congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian Armed Forces for the remarkable success of Operation Sindoor. He said that this operation firmly established the Prime Minister's 'Zero Tolerance Against Terrorism' policy globally. Additionally, on this year's World Environment Day, the Prime Minister has initiated a mission to make India free from plastic pollution with a strong commitment to 'End Plastic Pollution,' the Chief Minister added. On the occasion of World Environment Day, Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Minister Mulubhai Bera extended greetings and said that the day represents a collective resolve, a commitment to conservation, and a reflection of sensitivity towards nature. He noted that the theme for World Environment Day 2025 is 'End Plastic Pollution.'Mulubhai Bera observed that the reverence for nature has been deeply ingrained in Indian tradition since ancient times. Our Vedas contain verses advocating water conservation, and we follow the philosophy of seeing divinity in nature. As cited in the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says, 'Among trees, I am the Peepal tree; among animals, I am the lion.' Even today, women observe Vat Savitri Vrat and worship the banyan tree, reflecting the unbreakable bond between nature and Indian culture. He said this nature-centric culture is India's unique strength. He stated that the observance of World Environment Day is a timely opportunity to introspect, renew our thinking, and adopt environment-friendly practices. Guided by the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Gujarat continues to take proactive steps for environmental protection and conservation. Initiatives such as Mission LiFE, MISHTI Yojana, and Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam have helped increase public awareness and instilled a collective sense of environmental responsibility. The minister cautioned that the same modern conveniences that have simplified life have also led to grave environmental challenges, most notably, the menace of single-use plastic. He explained that such plastic renders soil infertile, pollutes rivers and oceans, and ultimately returns to our food chain in the form of microplastics. In response, the Forest and Environment Department has undertaken several focused initiatives to curb plastic pollution. As part of the plastic-free campaign, awareness drives are being conducted across forest areas, religious places, tourist destinations, and schools to educate people about eco-friendly alternatives. Under the leadership of the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB), 646 plastic processing units, 7 waste-to-energy plants, and 5 co-processing cement plants are operational across the state. Innovative solutions like reverse vending machines, cloth bag vending ATMs, and eco-friendly Prasad boxes are further reinforcing the state's commitment to environmental conservation. Minister of State for Forest and Environment Mukesh Patel also extended greetings to the citizens and mentioned that Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel had formally launched the state-wide Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign and tree plantation drive under the Matruvan initiative. Referring to last year's efforts under the same campaign, he highlighted that 17.50 crore trees were planted in Gujarat, making it the second-highest contributor in the country in terms of total plantations. He further raised concerns about the growing health implications of plastic pollution, pointing out that traces of microplastics are now increasingly being found in food. As part of the ongoing state-wide environmental campaign that began on May 22, more than 1.5 lakh citizens have actively participated in over 2,500 events, including beach and garden clean-up drives. These efforts have led to the collection and proper disposal of more than 6 lakh kilograms of plastic waste. Shri Mukesh Patel added that Gujarat has remained a pioneer in encouraging alternatives to single-use plastic. GPCB has approved over 225 units manufacturing compostable plastic alternatives and around 40 units producing cloth and paper bags. He urged all citizens to commit themselves and their families to eliminating plastic from daily use, adding that only such a collective pledge can lead to a truly plastic-free planet. As part of the World Environment Day celebrations, CM Bhupendra Patel visited an exhibition featuring innovative projects and startups working in the areas of plastic recycling and reuse. He interacted with the participants and encouraged them for their contributions towards sustainability. A documentary was also screened covering key topics such as Best Practices in Plastic Waste Management in Gujarat, the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign, and other awareness activities conducted in the lead-up to World Environment Day. In Surat, strategic MoUs were signed between the Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) and its member units for effluent trading, in the presence of the Chief Minister. Additionally, Shri Bhupendra Patel virtually inaugurated, laid foundation stones, and launched a total of 11 diverse development and environment-related projects. The programme was attended by Gandhinagar North MLA Ritaben Patel, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister MK Das, GPCB Chairman RB Barad, Principal Secretary of the Forest and Environment Department Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary RC Meena, Municipal Administrative Commissioner Sushri Remya Mohan, Head of Forest Force AP Singh, and PCCF Wildlife Jaypal Singh. Senior officials and staff from the Forest Department and GPCB, along with representatives of environmental NGOs, also took part in the event.(ANI)
Zawya
05-06-2025
- General
- Zawya
Eritrea: World Environment Day Observed at National Level
World Environment Day, 5 June, was observed at the national level at the Central Region Administration Hall under the theme 'Ending Plastic Pollution.' The occasion was attended by senior Government and PFDJ officials, as well as representatives of UN offices in Eritrea and other invited guests. Speaking at the event, Mr. Tesfay Gebreselasie, Minister of Land, Water and Environment, stated that plastic pollution has reached uncontrollable levels globally, and emphasized that addressing the issue requires collective action. Minister Tesfay noted that unattended waste—especially plastic—has severe health consequences. He called for proper waste management, support for enterprises engaged in waste processing, and the implementation of long-term practical measures to improve waste management. Mr. Fesehaye Haile, Governor of the Central Region, stated that raising public awareness alone is not sufficient and emphasized the need for an integrated effort to ensure a safe environment. Mr. Mulubrhan Gebreyohannes, Head of Environment at the Ministry of Land, Water and Environment, presented a research paper on 'Management and Consequences of Plastic Waste.' The event also featured a general knowledge competition among secondary school students, and awards were presented to the winners. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.
