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Published on September 15, 2007

The campaign against global warming is now a "hot" issue and a case in point. Although environmental organisations have attempted to raise awareness of climate change for decades, through many different activities, the successful "Live Earth" concerts held recently on various continentsare seen here as a role model of campaigning.

Making a statement against global warming, a British designer, Anya Hindmarch, collaborated with the organisation We Are What We Do in launching a limited-edition range of canvas tote bags featuring the slogan "I'm not a plastic bag". The idea is to encourage people to reduce their use of plastic bags. The designer tote bags are now on sale in many countries.

Back to Thailand. This type of campaign is just seen as a new trend, although Greenpeace (Thailand) has been campaigning seriously for decades. Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayothin, taking a leaf from Al Gore, has now begun his own environmental campaign around town. He has introduced "green" bus stops by decorating them with plants. He rides the sky train giving cloth bags to Bangkokians. He has joined forces with Greenpeace (Thailand) to launch the "Greenpeace Climate Change Clinic", aiming to educate people on climate change as well show them how to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions that contribute to the greenhouse effect. The "clinic" is housed in a mobile, solar-powered shipping container.

On World Car Free Day on September 22, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Bicycle for Health Society will take part in events that will be held concurrently in 14 of the world's largest cities, including New York, Berlin, Mexico City, Tokyo and Seoul. All signed an agreement at a climate summit in New York in May to set greenhouse-gas reduction targets. By 2012 Bangkok plans to reduce its greenhouse-gas emissions by 15 per cent.

Following the city administration's lead, private-sector organisations are keen to take up trendy environmentalism to market themselves. In this era of hypercapitalism, shopping malls spend millions of baht on producing cloth bags, but plastic bags are still the norm.

The Emporium shopping complex has spent over Bt10 million to convert itself into a tropical forest. During a 10-day festival entitled Flora & Fauna Exotica that will run until September 23, thousands of tropical plants are being used to "cool the mall". Environmentalists question whether it isn't a better idea to just leave the plants where they actually belong?

In fact, if all malls simply closed earlier, they would save a lot more energy. The idea of using durable cloth bags for shopping is a good one, but in the long term reducing the use of plastic bags would be a more sustainable solution. Recycling plastic bags is also another option. Indeed, the Thai-Craft Association invites you to donate plastic bags from supermarkets to a recycling operation. The association is accumulating thousands of plastic bags and will turn them into unique "knitted plastic bags".

Yet getting rid of plastic bags will take a long time. However, for a good example of a success story, one can look to Germany, where shoppers have to take their own reusable bags to stores and supermarkets, as no free plastic bags are provided. It has become a habit among Germans to carry their own bags whenever they go shopping. They do it because they are environmentally aware, not because it is a trend.

We Thais have been using handmade bags and baskets for centuries. Our grandparents carried them to markets, schools and temples. They made them themselves. Each was unique, and they were a reflection of Thai crafts.

When Thais became addicted to money and burning energy, the beautiful handmade baskets and bags gave way to plastic. Carrying a traditional bag or basket was seen as old-fashioned by most people. On the other hand, arty types and environmentalists see the beauty in it. Rare ethnic-style examples have become collectors' items. Young Thai textile-designers now create a variety of stylish fabric bags. Mae Fah Luang's combine modern design with the craftsmanship of hilltribe weavers from the North of Thailand.

Still, in Thailand, catchy terms like "global warming" or "eco-friendly" are misused. Many Thais claim to follow HM the King's "sustainable-economy" philosophy, but without really understanding it. If we really take the time to understand that "sustainable economy" refers to renewal, reuse and recycling and put those words into action we will have a chance to save our world.

Making small changes can help. We must think about our bad habits, recycle and resist the urge to spend unnecessarily. Raising awareness of environmental issues takes time, but if we don't start now, the end of the world will come sooner than we think.

Phatarawadee Phataranawik