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Environmental Degradation: Plastic V/s. Paper

Ms. Asema Siddiqui, Mahararshtra College, Mumbai.

In our current understanding, we tend to fall into 'lesser of two evils' kind of choices. Plastic bags
or paper bags for shopping? Coal or palm oil for energy generation? Clearly both options in
either of these two sets have negative impacts on the environment, the difference being just a
matter of degrees of severity. For the longest time, we've boxed ourselves into this environment
of limited options.

Cradle-to-cradle recycling challenges this very notion of limited choices. When sustainability is
introduced and incorporated in the very design of the product, the options become unlimited
for us. The authors call cradle-to-cradle recycling as the 'next industrial revolution' and this
'thinking outside of the box' may just be the solution we all need to work towards. (Source:
www.pacebutler.com). Paper bag or plastic bag? Why not an 'edible bag'?

“The earth, the air, the land and the water are not an inheritance from our forefathers but on
loan from our children. So, we have to handover to them at least as it was handed over to us.”
(Mahatma Gandhi)

Lucky Are Those Whose Parents Are Yet Alive
Ms. Afreen Mazgaonkar (Alumna)

To quote Henry Ward Beecher, “We never know the love of a parent till we become parents
ourselves.” Parents play a very important role in their children's lives right from the day they are
conceived. They are born with their parents' genes and blood; imbibe their qualities and
character; are fed, clothed, sheltered and educated by their parents. Parents often bend
backwards to fulll the needs of their children, often at the cost of their own well-being; they are

generous to the faults of their children; they support their children in their downs in life and all
in all offer them unconditional and undiluted love. Their attempts to discipline their child are a
'cruel kindness' which must never be misunderstood. Even when their children themselves
become parents they remain children to their parents.

In the common law of Nature children outlive their parents so let's

cherish our parents when they are living; they're so kind and
forgiving; no other than them can be a mother or a father to a child.

Consider yourself lucky if your parents are living

“The only impossible journey is the journey
you never begin.” (Tony Robbins) 101
2019-20