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WATCH THIS VIDEO FOR A SIMPLE SOLUTION TO PLASTIC BAG POLLUTION 

 Plastic Bag Pollution in Africa:

–are eaten by elephants, warthogs, cows and goats who then die from having ingested the bags

– clog rivers, and streams, and get caught in bushes, grasses and trees

– release harmful toxins into the environment when they are burned ( a typical way to get rid of garbage)

–all litter is potentially dangerous to curious wildlife

Litter and Wildlife

 

Africa Inside came up with a simple solution to engage rural communities to clean up the plastic bag litter.

Africa Inside images

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We organize exchanges – one canvas shopping tote from America is exchanged to anyone who has cleaned up 25 plastic bags from the countryside. The totes are a gift and offer an alternative to future plastic bag use.

IN ONE HOUR AN EXCHANGE REMOVES 320,000 BAGS FROM THE PLASTIC POLLUTION CYCLE !

 

The Bag Ladies 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dedicated ‘Bag Ladies’ all over the United States collect totes from friends and family to send to Africa for the exchange.

Read “One Word: Plastics” -the story about this program.

OUR NEXT PLASTIC LITTER CLEAN UP: Samburu, Kenya in August 2013.

To help, send a buck and a bag, or simply make a financial contribution. Any amount helps.

All donations are tax deductible.

Africa Inside  is sponsored by Creative Visions Foundation, a publicly supported 501 (c)(3), which supports Creative Activists who use the power of media and the arts to affect positive change in the world.

You can also donate by check with a memo for Africa Inside, sent to:

Creative Visions Foundation
c/o HBA Design (attn: Grace Breuer)
3216 Nebraska Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90404

 

EASY STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO REDUCE PLASTIC POLLUTION: 

a 'toy' for this baby cheetah in the Masai Mara

1. CARRY REUSABLE SHOPPING BAGS  Keep them in the front of your car so you don’t forget to use them.

2.  RECYCLE THE PLASTIC BAGS YOU ALREADY HAVE  Most grocery stores take back plastic bags and now some cities allow plastic bags to be recycled in your curbside recycling container.

3. USE BIOBAGS (found at Whole Foods), or Plastic with high recycled content (found under green labels in grocery stores) in your garbage cans. For more on Plastic Pollution from Bags find out where the movie BAGIT is playing near you.

4. DON’T DRINK PLASTIC BOTTLED WATER! Why? Because once your are done with the water, you have to dispose of the bottle. The bottles leach carcinogenic toxins when reused.

5. USE LESS PLASTIC PRODUCE BAGS: WASH, DRY and REUSE THE ONES YOU HAVE. USE COTTON MESH BAGS OR NOTHING. Put more than one vegetable in each bag.

6. BUY FROM BULK BINS, FARMERS MARKETS AND AVOID PRE-PACKAGED PRODUCE (sorry Trader Joe’s). Keep and reuse bags to carry your bulk items home.

7. CARRY A REUSABLE CONTAINER or a piece of tin foil FOR RESTAURANT LEFTOVERS

8. CHOOSE MILK IN RETURNABLE GLASS BOTTLES

9. USE BAR SOAP, NOT LIQUID (IT COMES IN A PLASTIC CONTAINER).

10. MAKE SURE YOUR PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS ARE PHTHALATE-FREE. Phthalates are plasticizers that help fragrances last longer.

11. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL OFFICIALS TO START A BAN ON SINGLE USE PLASTIC IN YOUR AREA. Many areas have already banned their use, but if your city hasn’t, take action.

12. PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW.

FOR MORE ON PLASTIC POLLUTION I recommend the blog ‘my plastic-free life’.