While governments, international organisations and enterprises have instituted numerous laws and policies on environmental protection, it is up to each and every one of us at the grassroots level to change our own attitudes and behaviour towards the environment.

Changing behaviour, at any level, is an incredibly difficult thing to do, but the first step is raising awareness, which includes education and communication about the issue and finding good models to follow. Many projects and organisations in Vietnam are now addressing this issue and, from my observations, some progress has been made, but there is still a long way to go. Behaviour change is a long and arduous task so some setbacks are to be expected however, with encouragement and good examples, real and lasting change is possible.

Environmental protection does not have to be complicated or expensive. In fact, there are many simple things ordinary people can do that don't cost anything, but have significant long-term impacts. Take, for example, the overuse of plastic shopping bags, something I find very disturbing here in Vietnam. Every time you buy something, from a single pencil to a week's worth of groceries, it automatically goes into a plastic bag. Of course, sometimes you need a bag to hold all your purchases, but there are many times it is unnecessary and you only end up with mountains of plastic bags accumulating in your house.

Most people just throw plastic bags away and think no more about it, which leads to overfilled rubbish dumps, one of the worst possible environmental disasters anywhere in the world. A journey through the beautiful countryside in Vietnam is often ruined by open dumps filled with predominantly plastic rubbish and plastic bags clogging the canals. This is not only unsightly, it is dangerous to the health.

I have also seen, much to my horror, people in the countryside burning piles of plastic bags. This is an incredibly toxic practice that really must be stopped; smoking cigarettes is probably better for your health. However, people cannot be blamed for their careless attitudes if they are unaware of the situation. They must be properly informed and presented with viable solutions to help them change their ways.

In many countries such as the US and UK, plastic shopping bags have become taboo; in fact, the city of San Francisco in the USA has actually outlawed them. Most supermarkets in the US offer a choice of paper (more environmentally friendly) or plastic bags and where my parents live, people bring their own cloth bags or baskets to the supermarket and get a discount on their final bill for each one they use. Many companies are also making and selling their own reusable shopping bags with their logos printed on them, which promotes their image in a very positive way. Such small measures are simple and inexpensive yet, over time, have resulted in a significant reduction of trash in landfills, therefore improving the environment for everyone. These could be good models to consider for Vietnam.

Vietnam could make great strides in environmental protection if everyone simply used fewer plastic bags. I believe public awareness of the issue has been raised and some encouraging steps have been taken in some places, particularly in some of the larger supermarkets, but there is still more that can be done.

My favourite local shop (a small Hapromart) actually gave me a reusable bag with Hapro advertising on it because I was always refusing plastic bags for my purchases. I now carry that bag with me all the time and use it constantly, and they get free advertising.

However, another supermarket where I frequently shop requires customers to put their handbags and other items in a locker before they are allowed to enter the store, which prevents me from using my own bag. I assume this practise has been implemented to deter shoplifters, but it also means the store uses too many plastic bags, which is not environmentally friendly and costs the store extra money.

In my experience, Vietnamese people are very enterprising and always looking for new ways to gain a bit of extra income. This is admirable and could also have a positive impact on the environment. I'm surprised there are not more businesses making reusable shopping bags or craftsmen weaving traditional shopping baskets. I think some of the NGOs and projects working on poverty reduction could create a cottage industry by training people to make and sell reusable shopping bags and baskets. It seems there would be a market for such things, especially in the bigger cities and towns.

I've also read numerous articles about the Ho Chi Minh Youth Union's environmental activities, including clean up days, tree planting campaigns, and promoting start-up businesses run by young people. I think they could also come up with creative ways to recycle used plastic bags. For example, cutting used bags into thin strips like yarn and crocheting or knitting a new bag that is much stronger than the originals and could be reused for years. They could also be sold as a fundraiser.

Of course, we cannot completely get rid of all plastic bags, but we can reduce the number we use. Next time you go shopping, remember to bring your own bag. Think twice before accepting a plastic bag when you buy something from a store or market; if you don't really need one, don't take one. The fight against environmental pollution is everyone's battle and, if all of us at the grassroots level take simple steps like using fewer plastic bags, it will go a long way towards making Vietnam a cleaner, greener and healthier place. 

                                                                                                                                                      Perri Black