Know the cliche, down, but not out? That's a great way to sum up the war on throw-away plastic bags! The American Chemistry Council, the ACC, defeated California's state-wide plastic bag ban by throwing lots a money into a advertising campaign--a campaign that many environmentalists called misleading. While this was disappointing, I was thrilled to read in the Huffington Post that Brownville, Texas will start charging $1--that's right a whole dollar--for each plastic bag a customer needs when they forget! Yikes! The policy will go into affect January 5th with all the proceeds going to city-wide environmental clean-up projects. Isn't that great? And last week, American Samoa, a U.S. territory, passed a law to ban plastic bags starting in February, 2011. Washington D.C. already has a 5 cents tax on bags. Look out ACC, the public has spoken and most support a ban on single use recyclable bags. We'll get there even if it's one city and town at a time. Check out this oldie but goodie video on the life of a plastic bag!
While the defeat of the plastic bag ban in California was disappointing, there is a great movement underway. Local governments in the United States as well as other countries around the world like China, India and Ireland, are establishing their own anti-plastic bag policies. And everyday kids like you and me (and our families) are making huge efforts to remember their reusable bags when they go to shop. But there are others who still need reminding. Most of these people think th... Continue reading...
I have some bummer news for you if you didn't already read about it. The Plastic Bag Ban failed to pass in the California legislature. Unfortunately, the American Chemistry Council decided to run a pretty aggressive television campaign against passing the ban. The commercial talks about a huge loss of jobs and costs to the consumers. The commercial is ridiculous. What about the environmental costs to our earth and oceans. Remember that plastic bags take 500-1000 years to decompo... Continue reading...
Hope everyone is back in the swing of things at school and likes their new teachers! I was really excited to get back to learning new things, swimming and making new friends. The start of a new school year is kind of like a New Year's Resolution. You make new goals and commit to doing things better, right? Personally, I'm thinking about ramping up my own commitment to sustainability. I think I do a pretty good job at the 3R's (reduce, reuse, recycle), and a pretty good job tal... Continue reading...
Hope you enjoyed yesterday's our coverage of the Catalog Canceling Challenge. Please email us with your inspirational eco-action stories. We want to hear all about it! Speaking of inspirational stories, did you know that it has been five years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Region and New Orleans? If you have time, check out our sister site, "The Guardians of Neerg Hall" and read our first E-Chapter. You'll notice that the kids live in New Orleans! My family lived the... Continue reading...
Hi, I'm Ethan. I like learning about the environment, science, reading and competitive swimming. I love being with my friends and working on ways to save our planet.
Green Kids Rock is the place to come to learn, play and make change happen. I want to hear all your great ideas, so please share here! We are building a movement, and we will be heard. Green Kids Rock!
