I'm not a plastic bag

I was reading with keen interest yesterday the trends monitoring ezine I receive weekly. On March 27th, San Francisco banned plastic shopping bags. The ezine pointed out that the Board of Supervisors voted 10 to 1 to ban petroleum-based plastic shopping bags in the city's supermarkets and drugstore chains. Supermarkets have six months to switch to biodegradable plastic or recycled paper bags before they're cited for violations. Pharmacies get a year to catch up.

On the other side of the Atlantic, London, the designer Anya Hindmarch has launched the “I am not a plastic bag” bag for a major supermarket chain. The bag was a sold-out within hours of hitting the shop floor. Although the city of London hasn’t ruled in favor of a plastic bag ban (at least not yet), I see more of the “I’m not a plastic bag” successful initiatives in the near future. But I wonder: Is this a London trend (another designer’s bag in the closet) or just environmental sensitivity?

New York, once again, is behind. I would even dare to day that New York is the capital of plastic bags. Where else in the (Western) world check-out staff offers you two plastic bags instead of one when you shop? To my knowledge, NO-WHERE. But New Yorkers do not complain. They argue that in a city that people do not drive, having your shopping in a double-plastic bag is actually a good idea. Plus, they say, you recycle. I don’t know exactly how you recycle plastic. The only thing I know is that I accumulated so much plastic in the last six months that I could build a plastic house and piss off Al Gore all at once. But I decided it. And I made my decision practice. I now ask for ONE plastic bag. One small action might help this dirty and polluted city.

Just remind me, where does Al Gore live?

EVENTS

NEW YORK
The designers of the SEED collective invite you to come shopping! Thursday, April 12th, 5-9 pm, @ Retreat Lounge, 147 Front Street (btwn Jay & Pearl), Dumbo, Brooklyn

LONDON
Four Corners’ Filmforum. As part of the East End Film Festival, we will be showcasing work submitted by filmmakers and artists who have been supported by Four Corners recent training and professional development programmes. Filmmakers will include: Sarah Warman, Esther Johnson and Dez Gray plus others from the STEP UP scheme. BFM will also be speaking about the launch of the new BFM Movie Channel.
When: Monday, 23rd April. Time: 7.30 drinks and 8.30pm screening RSVP: Please book in advance by emailing: info@fourcornersfilm.co.uk Venue: Richmix, 35 – 47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA

Glasshouse
Second Chance Tuesday 17th April 2007. "Tales from the inside" what every entrepreneur needs to know about Venture Capital.

The event starts at 6.30pm at Savoy Place, 2 Savoy Place, London, WC2R OBL. Entry is by guest list only and costs £20 which is payable in advance. A welcome drink will be served.