Good News!

by Polly Mann, WAMM

Bangladesh Bans the Bag

The people of Bangladesh have forced their government to ban plastic bags! Plastic bags are a fairly new phenomenon in Bangladesh, appearing early in the l980s. The low cost of investment and high profits (almost six times the production cost) resulted in a huge growth in the plastic bag industry. Later, the nondegradable bags proved to be the main source of waterlogging during the l988 and l998 floods that submerged nearly two-thirds of the country.

Researchers have since found that bags stuck in farmlands have reduced soil fertility, raising concerns about agricultural production. The bags also pose a serious threat to human health--especially to people involved in the production and recycling of polyethylene.

Industry claims that banning the bags will mean the collapse of a $55 million per year industry that employs 7,000 people. However, the ban seems to be taking hold. People are getting used to jute and paper bags, and plastic bags are no longer seen in the markets. In March the government introduced a bill in parliament imposing a 10-year prison sentence and a $17,000 fine on people making bags, as well as a mandatory $9 fine for anyone found using one (The Guardian Weekly, May 12, 2002).

British Churches Organize Against Global Poverty

A new British coalition, named JustShare, is pulling together diverse Christian groups around the issues of international debt, aid, and trade, and wants to partner with the Catholic organization, Call to Renewal. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, and several members of Parliament are supporting the effort, convinced that churches and faith-based organizations could help convince the people of the West that global poverty must be eradicated. Foundations are being laid for a U.S./U.K. faith-based alliance aimed at seriously reducing global poverty.

Carter Meets Castro

Former President Jimmy Carter and Cuban President Fidel Castro seem to have hit it off during Carter's recent visit to Cuba. How this will translate when it comes to U.S. policy toward Cuba is debatable. Carter was given free range in the country, including access to Cuban political dissidents. It will be a great day for democracy when visiting foreign heads of state are exposed to U.S. groups that have serious differences with our foreign policy! Perhaps WAMM should consider working on this possibility.