I never thought that I’d be saying this, I never thought that I’d be the one writing this and that’s the same thing that many a young people said when they heard about the plastic bag ban, when they heard about the new age that Seychelles was heading towards. Seychelles; this is our island paradise, this is our home, there are no other place that can compare in our hearts. So why do we deny it justice? Why do we resent its cry for a change and a healthy life? Earlier last year in the year 2016 the motion for the banning of plastic bags were announced, we all heard it, we were all aware of this because not only was the talk in rooms, however also on the streets, I know this because from the elderly to the school children everyone was talking about it. Not everything being said was positive however everything being said was going to happen.
The motion was like a virus released into the air and the only thing that we were to do now was to find ways in which we can either protect ourselves from it or once death time has been reached die with it. Some of us headed the warning, ways and alternatives discovered, antidotes created, however a few of us called it bluff. Organisations such as the SIDS Youth AIMS hub had been doing everything in their power to educate about the ban of the plastic bag ban. It varied from online engagement on their social media Facebook page, to education in the local newspapers and in schools with young people. Plastics; the weeds in our garden; the sweet surrender of a drug within our system- we may try to deny its addiction by making excuses but it’s there. We depend on it. We salvage in its sweet toxic of bliss and destruction, the smoke and seduction of pollution in our lungs. Take away our dose and we want to bask in its ugly beautiful. We live in Seychelles and the first thing that we say when someone asks “Seychelles? What about it?” our immediate response is. “The most beautiful islands in the middle of the Indian ocean” and I’m not going to contradict that, it is one of the most beautiful islands in the world, and its beauty doesn’t come from its development, its beauty doesn’t come from its toxic being released in the air. It comes from the beauty of the white sandy beaches married to the undeniable blue sea and the cleanliness of such features lorded by the granite rocks that tower above all creatures big and small. The key component of what makes Seychelles, and what will drive it to a brighter future is the sustainable development, the guarantee of a brighter future for all the generations to come. So, should we run and get to the finish line first with a few broken bones and bloodied hamstrings or should we take our time and bask in the oxygenated gale of the islands and reach the finish line with healthy lungs and intact muscles? In other words, should we take a step back and revoke the plastic ban or should we finally live up to being smart nation and start caring about what matters most. It’s up to you! Crush the addiction or just another shot of the good stuff! By Joshua Sofola
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November 2017
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