Diary 121: Ban on the use of polystyrene

To change our lives effectively, there are at least two ways.

First, the government requires us to change. This is the case on the use of polystyrene containers as led by the Penang government (The Sun, 25 June 2010).

In Penang, all hawkers in food courts under the Penang Island and Seberang Perai municipal councils have to stop using polystyrene containers from 1 July 2010.

In the same state, government hospitals were given until August 2010 to ban the use of polystyrene containers on their premises.

They have to use environmentally-friendly containers instead.

Second, the consumers change their lifestyle. They can choose not to buy from hawkers or food stalls that still use polystyrene containers. In this way, the hawkers have to change.

Rather than waiting for a ruling from the government, it is better for us to change ourselves.