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Dear Editor,

The Brunei Times has done an excellent job of promoting reusable bags through the series of giveaways and articles in the paper, however, the real gauge of success is when people actually start using these bags instead of the plastic bags the supermarkets provide.

However, we cannot just rely on the media to promote this, public awareness should not just stem from the government and caring individuals. It takes a multi-pronged effort from multiple sides to make such a campaign a success. One day was not enough to promote the reusable bags. Earth day is everyday, every waking hour, we should be concerned about the damage that we do to our planet and the limited resources that we have and how to preserve it.

Also, the elimination of plastic bags is just the tip of the iceberg. There are also many other issues with plastic that we should be paying attention to, such as plastic bottles. Plastic bottles themselves are also an environmental blight, especially in Brunei, as they are not recycled. And while we are addressing the issue of plastic bags, perhaps we should also look into biodegradable plastic bags as an option. Manufacturers in China are already selling plant-based biodegradable plastic bags, and if we insist on using plastic bags, the least we could to is make it healthier for our environment.

Brunei is a country that is enviable in the sense that it has ample, green cover and should be a leader in green issues, such as recycling, carbon offset and preservation of resources. As the headline said in Monday's paper, "Brunei should lead, not follow".

Green Queen,

Bandar Seri Begawan