Local artists are working hard to spread awareness about the environmental damage caused by discarded plastic, in particular plastic bags. They hope Myanmar will follow the approach of other countries in limiting their use.

ARTISTS, businessmen and women are uniting to save Myanmar’s environment — by declaring war on plastic bags.

The evils of plastic — a by-product of its ubiquity and convenience — are well established. And governments and local authorities in many countries have taken steps to ban or restrict plastic bags, blamed by many for causing environmental damage. Now the movement has come to Myanmar.

Photographer U Moe Min said: “I do a lot of shoots out of town, and I’ve seen a lot of environmental damage in the country. We artists don’t want to see our environment destroyed. We see plastic items in rubbish landfills that won’t degrade for decades, although other kinds rubbish will turn into fertiliser. And waste plastic blocks the drains and causes flooding.

“Maybe we should do what they do in Thailand and other countries, and sort our waste into different categories – paper, plastic, glass etc.

Some people, including artists and companies, are getting involved to protect the environment. In the first week of June, City Mart donated 76 lakh to Mingalar Myanmar, a local non-governmental organisation to use for environmental activities. The money came from the sale of plastic substitute cotton bags in City Mart stores.

In some art shows, fund-raising and charity events, selling cotton bags as a substitute for plastic bags has become popular and most of the benefit goes to environmental activities.

Ko Soe Win Nyein, a graphic designer who organised a three day environmental art show earlier this month at the Myanmar Art Centre in Yangon, said “Today we can see a lot of environmental damage caused by humans. This issue is so scary. I want to warn people about such problems, which is why I organised this show. A month ago I asked some artists to produce works related to the environment that could be exhibited.

Unexpectedly, I found they had already been working on poems, photographs or graphic designs. I just had to collect them together. It shows how much artists love the environment.

It is hoped that environmental awareness created by such exhibitions can gradually change attitudes within Myanmar towards recycling and sustainability. But how successful can efforts by local artists be?

Aw Pi Kyeh, believes that as a cartoonist he can successfully target his audience and spread awareness.

“You have to decide what kind of people you want to target such as children, adults, women or men. We can give knowledge to people through cartoons, photographs, poems and articles. Such works are like illuminating candles; they can spread out one to another.”

The efforts of artists combined with potential government efforts such as banning plastic bags or charging for their use, could benefit the environment greatly.

“In some countries, the government taxes plastic bag use and some shops charge for bags. Such approaches are quite effective in reducing the use of plastic bags,” said one local environmentalist who declined to be named.

“Cooperating with plastic manufacturers and holding workshops to spread awareness of the disadvant-ages of plastic could also be effective,” he added.