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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Onus on parents to raise environment awareness

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By Lakshmi Kothaneth — MUSCAT: May 15 - Environmental awareness is an emerging and changing context. The reality imposes new challenges and one of them is plastic bags. The second day of Oman’s First Environmental Forum, which focused on environmental awareness, concluded it is the duty of the parents to lay the foundation for building empathy for environment.


The problem of plastic has been affecting many countries. The degradation of plastic bags will take hundreds of years, say environmentalists. But much damage is done in its normal form as a plastic bag, said experts at the forum.


Most animals ranging from cows, goats and camels graze on it. It has been a major concern for farmers. Turtles choke as they mistake the plastic bags for jelly fish.


State Council member Hatim al Taie, one of the panelists, said, “As citizens, we need awareness.”


“If the public is aware of the impact of plastic bags, they would refuse to accept it. There are alternatives such as textiles or recycled paper,” he said.


Yusuf al Hooti, prominent television broadcaster and journalist on Sultanate of Oman Television, citing the example of Jabal Akhdar, said it was so well preserved in the past, but is now littered with plastic bags.


“This is the educated generation,” said Al Hooti, a moderator of a session. “About 80 per cent of our population is educated, so what is the problem?”


One panelist said changing habits takes time. Another panelist said: “Our mothers used to clean our environment before they cleaned the interiors of our houses. Today a youth feels it is all right to throw litter out of his car onto the street. This is the result of the culture of consumption.”


State Council member Ahmed al Mushaiq said, “Valleys of Dhofar become valleys of plastic during the tourist season. We need proper upbringing at homes and awareness through the media.”


But from the audience came a question from Sheikh Isaac al Siyabi, “How can we blame the citizens for continuing to use plastic bags when there are no inexpensive alternatives?”


Questions continued, “Are our beaches and streets clean because we are keeping it that way or is it because the municipality workers are keeping it so? Why can’t picnickers pick their own trash as they leave?”


As panelists and attendees continued debating on what is the best way to spread awareness on protecting environment, it was more or less agreed that while schools have a duty to educate the children, the media has a moral duty to spread awareness on environment and corporates have a social responsibility. It was almost concluded that the initial education on protecting the environment must come from parents.


Interestingly, mothers in the audience pointed out that in the past children were taught to preserve so others can benefit from it. Another mother added, “Awareness starts from childhood. You can convey your message to anyone whether he/she is a child or adult but the message will not be effective if it does not have the culture to protect the environment, which comes from the family.” The forum was organised by the Office of Conservation of Environment, Royal Diwan of Court and Al Roya newspaper.


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