Paper- How we can do without it!

This is one piece of writing that I made a few years back when there was a huge madness in me for saving paper. It is less of an article and more of a social message and hence less creative and more informative. Do have a look:

One of the primary reasons for the destruction of nature is the felling of trees. The main reason for cutting down trees is to make paper. Let us look at the paper used in our homes.

·         As soon as adults in the home wake up, they read the newspaper. Many families buy two newspapers. Into these newspapers are slipped paper advertisements, which are thrown, into the dustbin without even being read.

·         Bathroom time– new soap, new toothpaste, in fact all creams and lotions have paper covers that are thrown away. Toilet and tissue paper, now increasingly used, though washing is definitely more hygienic, account for 1% of the total paper consumption.

·         Breakfast time– bread and butter come in packets, eggs in paper cartons; oil from paranthas is soaked up in tissue paper.

·         Grocery shopping– almost every item comes in paper packets or cartons which are just torn and thrown away.

·         Paper used at home include diaries, calendars, note pads, message pads etc.

We read books and magazines, write in notebooks and registers. All this cannot be done away with but we can avoid wastage both at home and at school. Let us try the following suggestions for saving paper:

·         Use paper carefully. Write on both sides of the paper.

·         Do rough work on waste papers (Newspapers, old notebooks, envelopes, letters etc)

·         Re-use cartons, packing paper and gift-wrappings.

·         Use a cotton cloth handkerchief rather than disposable facial tissues.

·         Do not take computer printouts unless absolutely necessary and use the reverse side of wasted printout paper.

·         Minimize your photocopying needs and use both sides of the paper.

·         Do not collect leaflets, pamphlets and advertisement handouts from stalls and shops simply because they are free.

·         Do not use streamers and paper items for decoration during any events including birthday celebrations, teachers’day, children’s day, farewell parties, functions etc.

·         Utilize used paper (incl. Newspapers) for craftwork, making envelopes, packaging etc.

·         Don’t send greeting cards. What is the use? You can always talk over the phone or send ecards.

·         Give used papers, notebooks, books, old newspapers and other paper items for recycling regularly (to the raddi wala)

·         For students: Talk to your teacher and ask him/her to stop insisting on margins, mainly in your geometry copy. Margins use up one-fifth of each page. Imagine one-fifth of the total amount of paper going waste.

·         Save envelopes from consumer goods packaging and postal deliveries, for re-use.

·         Avoid using paper napkins, tissue paper etc.

·         As far as possible stop the use of any kind of paper.

·         Students use paper mostly for writing schoolwork, doctors use paper for writing prescriptions, infact people of every profession (engineering, house keeping, architecture, sea-navigating, teaching, etc) use paper mostly for writing. Improve your handwriting and make it as small and clearly readable as possible to use more paper to the least extent.

·         Spread this message to everyone you know. We want this to be read by every human on this Earth.

So what do you think? Am I justified in sending out this message? Or was it just a waste of time? Do leave your comments and let me know…