During my last week in Hong Kong, I've been running around the city for lunches, coffees, and the myriad of errands I need to do before leaving. After spending only 10 days in Africa in early May, one of the biggest contrasts between Hong Kong and Rwanda which I noticed was the level of waste. In Rwanda, there is so little waste. Non-biodegradable plastic bags are not even allowed in the country (they take them away from you at customs). And village women come to market or to the health center with the one bag their family possess. Its likely to be a fertilizer or seed bag and it will hold their few Rwandan Francs, whatever they might be bringing to sell, and their medical insurance card. Every possession is dear, even the recycled seed bags.
In Hong Kong, on the other hand, almost nothing seems dear! In particular one thing which drives me crazy is the lack of concern for the waste in energy. Building after building has air conditioning blasting away with doors wide open. I wish that the Environmental Agency would do a study on how much money and resource is wasted from simply leaving the doors open (or not having doors at all).
So all of my friends in Hong Kong, while I'm gone, do me a favor and if you see the door to a shop open, please close it and think of the ladies in Rwanda with their recycled seed bags.
P.S. See picture for another way Hong Kong wastes energy... but what a beautiful skyline nonetheless!
1 comment:
I'm very surprised about non biodegradable bag not being allowed in Rwanda, is that for environmental reasons? I thought the waste concern was proper to developped countries and expensive to run anywhere else.
I hate HK and the plastic bags, I want to shout NOOO everytime 7/11 and circle k want to give me one to transport a snack or a bottle of water.
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