I AM currently working at a learning centre for children. Here, we teach the kids values through our lessons, among other things.

My employer always stresses on leading by example.

Before teaching about recycling, caring for the environment and such, we the educationists are the ones who need to be pro-active.

One of the things we did was to use normal plastic containers whenever we packed food, be it at the next-door Chinese restaurant, the mamak restaurant opposite our office, or at the Malay restaurant along the same row.

All of the teaching staff here practise this so much that whenever we go to these restaurants, the workers would just extend their hand to us, expecting an empty container. They would question us when we forget to bring one! We have been doing this since the beginning of last year.

I applaud Universiti Sains Malaysia’s (USM) move to ban the use of polystyrene for packing food. When large institutions or organisations such as USM position themselves to set an example, others are likely to take notice. Soon, hopefully more and more people will start bringing their own containers when they tapau food.

I remember a feature during the Ramadhan month last year when a woman brought containers to a bazaar and it made the news!

It is not difficult to do at all. Make it a point to bring along a container when you’re out to buy food for lunch at the office. Trust me, when you see less and less of the “white coffin” piling up in your garbage bin day after day, you will feel a sense of satisfaction, even a sense of pride.

In a little way, you ARE doing something for the environment. Yes, you can make a difference.

SYAZARIN SYIGIM SHARIFUDDIN,

Ipoh, Perak.

Source: The Star – January 10, 2008