We must take action to protect our environment and follow the ways of our ancestors
BALNIGWAR: Over time, our homes have evolved in terms of the household items we possess. Earlier, people would only use utensils made out of metal, clay or glass for cooking and consuming food.
Our elders also taught us that cooking in copper pans has health benefits, and clay pots and glasses keep the water cool and releases minerals into it. Most importantly, all these materials are environment-friendly. Once broken or used enough, the discarded material could be used as scraps.
Now, most of our households have plastic items such as plates, glasses and containers. They are popularly used because they do not break and are inexpensive. However when heated, the material releases toxins that harm our bodies and is known to cause diseases like cancer. These items cannot be recycled, nor will they decompose, leading to large landfills which release toxic over time.
Also, while we use disposable plastic bags, bottles and cutlery, which we tend to discard after a single use, as a hygienic alternative when eating out, we do not think of the long-term effect this has on our environment.
We must take action to protect our environment and follow the ways of our ancestors, who used materials that were found naturally, and benefitted from their properties too.
Zaheer Doshambay
Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2019.
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