Dear Editor,

THIS is with reference to your report "Fridays to be no plastics day" (Jan 30, 2012). In a welcome move, the Ministry of Development has finally decided to make Fridays, too, as no plastic day as part of its campaign to go green to protect the environment.

Though belated, the move is still gladdening as it would go a long in containing ecological degradation.

For the past so many days, activists, citizens and environmental groups have been urging the administration to include Fridays in the no plastic drive. And certainly this move would give a further thrust to the anti-plastic and environmental rives.

In most of the Western and European countries there is a strict ban on plastics bags.

And big departmental stores face heavy fines if they flout the norms.

In Brunei, the people have readily accepted the no plastic norm without any hitch.

Being law-abiding and environmentally-conscious, most of the people happily lug their purchases in reusable bags on Saturdays.

And surely, they won't mind to make it a permanent habit to protect the environment.

At present, the no plastic drive covers only the big shopping departments.

It would be better if the ministry brings even the smaller shopping units under the purview of no-plastic drive.

LNC,

Bandar Seri Begawan