23/02/2019
I was in for 4 days, a chaotic city like many I’ve been to before in Asia. There are about 20 million people here (twice the size of Saigon) and a large amount of wealth disparity. It has one of the largest slums in Asia (Dharavi) with 1 mill people, almost as big as Da Nang. Of course there are dirty parts, gritty parts, unsightly and unhealthy looking parts. But I couldn’t help but notice a real effort by the city to make it aware the importance of things like water conservation, proper waste disposal, reduced use of plastic and even home composting. There were public messages everywhere from massive signs on busy roads to murals painted on small walls. Everywhere I looked, someone was trying to get the message out: use less, use wisely, reduce, reuse, conserve, protect. And people seemed to be listening. Later I found out The government of imposed a ban for bags, cutlery, cups, small bottles, sheets and other items. Some people I talked talked to were skeptical of its effectiveness, but coming from SE Asian countries where zero government regulation has been taken, let me tell you that it’s working. The level of creativity to avoid plastic was astounding. I saw very few plastic bags being given out, again 20 million people, seemingly all of them outside selling you everything all the time from toys to fruit to dustpans, animals, whatever. Customers were bringing their own bags, produce and things were wrapped in paper or recycled newspaper, disposable spoons were rigged from torn off bits of cardboard, fried lentils served on pages ripped out of a math book. It goes to show that government has its role to play on this, alternatives exist and we can change. If Mumbai can do it, any city can do it. @ Mumbai, Maharashtra