as litter, plastic bags are especially harmful for wildlife, which may become caught and entangled in whole or torn bags … some animals may also accidentally ingest and suffocate on bags that are mistakenly taken for prey … plastic bags also choke plants, shading them from essential sunlight and sealing them off from the carbon dioxide they respire … keep in mind that plants (and the microorganisms upon which they are dependent) are the vital foundation of almost all ecosystems … more…

in keeping with the theme of plastic bags and the importance of minimizing our use of them, i’ve been thinking a lot about how interesting it is that certain trends evolve and spread like wildfire when the media, industry, politicians, and the general public finally believe in the worthiness of a cause … we should all learn from success stories and keep in mind how powerful we are and how easily effective changes can be made … more…

this news was a sad surprise:  early last week, the Environment and Plastics Industry Council (EPIC) of Canada issued the results of a study they funded, which showed that reusable cloth bags harbour a plethora of apparently hazardous microorganisms … media reports highlighted the potential danger that bacteria-, yeast-, and mould-infected cloth bags pose to people, especially persons with compromised immune systems and unhealthy digestive tracts who are more susecptible to food poisoning … more…