Practise proper waste disposal for our own good

THERE is a new singsing in PNG called the “pink plastic bag fire dance”.
People make “offerings” all day, disposing rubbish such as cans, wrappers, bottles, betelnut shells and, of course, the most important item – the pink plastic bags.
The “custodians”, or cleaners, gather these offerings using rakes or brooms and a “witchdoctor” steps forward with a lighter and burns them.The smoke permeates the clean coastal breeze and high mountain air, rendering toxic and poisonous smoke to the lungs and the sky, forcing people to “dance away”.
The ceremony is now complete.Some people, in their desperation to assimilate in towns, even perform such ceremonies in their backyards.Once the fire has died, the smouldering remains are left on roadsides for all to see and be proud of the new ritual in PNG. In coastal towns, the same ri­tual is performed with the offerings dumped into the sea.I call on Papua New Guineans to take heed of this story.
Think of what is happening to our land, air and water and why we are destroying them.
While the government has failed us by not providing and maintaining infrastructures such as roads, sewerage and waste management system, it is our fault if we discard rubbish all over the place.
I liken this to people who do not love their own country.
Say no to plastic bags if you do not need them.
Use a bilum whenever possible.
Demand local governments to provide bins.
Demand the government to invite waste management specialists from abroad to fix our problem.
In fact, there are ways to convert energy from waste and make money.
Demand for rubbish management to be taught in schools as we need to change this negative culture.
Do all that, instead of joining in the “pink plastic bag fire dance”.

Geoff Filshie
Via email