*Bag of Tricks*

Answer the following questions:
1. Why are plastic bags so common?
- Because they are easily produced and very cheap. They are resistant to carry heavy stuff, and it can be found in any supermarket, store, garbage bin, etc.

2. In what other ways is plastic used?

- For plastic containers, topperwares, toys, pens, candy wrappers, chewing gum, cigarrette butts, soccer balls, etc.

3. What are the benefits of plastic bags?

- Compared to paper grocery bags, they consume 40% less energy, generate 80% less solid waste, produce 70% fewer atmospheric emisions, and release up to 94%fewer waterbone wastes.

- It's production is cheap, it's a very resistant material, it can be tailored for specific needs, it has long durability, and it has great thermal and electric insulation properties.

4. What are the dangers of plastic bags?

- That many of them end waterlogged and sink to the bottom, affecting seriously all of the ecosistems, due to all of the animals that live in the bottom, because they can asphyxiate by confusing them with food or entangled in them. Also because plastic bags are made from petroleum or natural gas, and they contain lead, a toxin, in the colored ink, which it's equivalent to dumping oil in the natural resources, causing environmental impacts. Plastic bags cartwheel down the city streets, alight in trees, billow from fences like flags, clog storm drains, wash into rivers and bays, ending up in the ocean and into the sea. More than a million birds and 100, 000 marine mammals and sea turtles die every year because of this.

5. What has been done so far?

- Only 1% of plastic bags are being recycled worldwide. Even if they are properly disposed away, due to their light weight, they are blown away. This year, San Francisco and Oakland outlawed the use of plastic bags in in large grocery stores and pharmacies, permitting only paper bags. Other communities across teh country are considering taking drastic legislative actions against plastic bags. In Bangladesh, the plastic bags have been banned since 2002, because they choked drainage systems. In Ireland the use of bags has diminished a 90%, since they established a 22 cent tax.

6. Has it been successful? Why or why not?

- It hasn't been successful, because even though some recycling is made and many organizations are fighting to reduce the dangers that plastic bags cause in ecosystems and natural resources, it's minimum; Compared to all of the damage that's already caused and that still continues, it's nothing. Because even though we did eliminate all of the plastic bags, there will still be remainings of plastic in the air and all over the world. So unless they are all incinerated, they will always remain as small particles or fragmented bits.

Answer the following questions:

1. What are some of the potential benefits of charging fees for and/or banning plastic bags?

- It can reduce pollution by inspiring people not to waste, because besides the danger that plastic bags imply, they would be also throwing away their money, so it makes them more careful and conscious about this situation. Also that the government would receive a reasonable amount of money due to the fees, and that money could be used to help the organizations against plastic bags, and to help clean the pollution. And, if the banning happened, it would help enormously to improve the world's conscoiusness and the pollution would diminish in a considerable amount.

2. What are some of the potential drawbacks of such programs?

- That sometimes, the government uses the money for their own benefit and not for the countries' benefit. Also that it would affect economicly, since there are people that can't afford wasting cents just to carry their stuff, especially in this time we are facing. It could also cause a contraproducing environmental damage, by increasing the use of paper bags.

3. Which benefits and drawbacks seem the most compelling? Why?

- I believe that the most important benefit would the money obtained from fees, since it could be used to help clean up bays, oceans, streets, etc, and it would be of great help to the ecosystems, this way many people would feel encouraged and would like to make a difference.

- In the other hand I also consider that the worst drawback could be that plastic bags were completely banned, and instead of using this to make a good use out of paper bags with good recycling systems, they abused and created a major problem, generating more pollution, and increasing the loss of natural resources and ecosystems.

4. Would you support a local law charging fees for (or banning) plastic bags? Why or why not?
- Yes, I would. It would be a good start for my community, so we could all learn to carry our stuff in one of the bags that are used in the markets, because they can be used over and over again. They don't pollute, they're also made of plastic, but more resistant, and it's a perfect example of recycling, by using it more tahn once. Also because it would help me personally be more aware of the urgent situation we are facing, in which we have to act and do something for our world, or we will suffer the consequences.

Answer:
1. Do you agree with this new law? Why or why not?

- Yes, I agree, because it's an excellent way to make all bag makers and stores care for their planet. It's a plan in which they have enough time to develop a new process of degradable plastic and materials, without losing all of their profit. It will be difficult, since many of the income is due to plastic production, like PEMEX that supplies petroleum used to make plastic bags and will loose business, but I think is worth the sacrifice. It will benefit all natural resources and ecosystems, reducing pollution.

2. What has been done so far?

- Bimbo company already started a project in which all of it's new plastic packaging is oxo-biodegradable and contains an additive made by the British Company Symphony Technologies. Eventually all the firm's products sold in Mexico and the rest of America Latina, will be in biodegradable packages. Brazil, Argentina, and the city of Delhi, India, are developing legislation requiring shopping bags to be degradable. The banning of plastic bags will soon become law.

3. What needs to be done to enforce such a law?

- There will be consecuences for those who don't follow it: they will face up to 36 hours in jail, or a maximum fine of 20,000 times the minimum daily wage. People have to start supporting the law so everyone will work together to make a better world. And all of the bag makers have to accept it and cooperate without complaints.

4. What campaigns would you suggest?

- I would improve publicity in a way everyone would be fully aware of what's going on and why this is all happening, putting documental (but not boring) videos on TV, especially on news and commercials, organizing a conference for schools, because I believe that kids are our best shot in trying to change perspective and making life better. But, the law would also be applied in schools, so the children would start learning. I would organize marchs with many people and many posters to call people's attention.