I didn’t turn my lights off during Earth Hour
& about plastic bags at Klang Valley bakeries

I didn’t take part in Earth Hour. That’s not really a cool thing to say, is it? Especially since I hang out with some greenies (aka those environmentally conscious people). Well, the thing is
this ….

I live alone. So when Earth Hour was first announced this year, it was like, yeah, right! No way am I going to do that. Whgo is this mad person who thinks I’m going to sit in the dark in a city where desperados think nothing of chopping off your fingers to steal your RM250 ring?

Then came the explanation that we should just turn off the non-essentials. Hellooo …. I already do that! I have also switched to using energy saving bulbs.

One e-mail had suggested that we get together with young relatives, proving to them how it is possible to have a good time without consuming electricity. In retrospect that was a good idea. Admittedly, I should have done something along those lines for my friends who don’t seem to give two hoots about the environment. Undeniably, Earth Hour is a good start for those who don’t bother or know the consequences of our bad habits.

But I digress. What had triggered off this piece was my trip to the bakery last night. I bought four buns. Of the same type. The cashier started to put them into four clear individual plastic bags, after which she would put the whole lot into a bigger bag. Is that really necessary?

All the Klang Valley bakeries do it now. You buy ten items, the young helpers put them into ten different clear plastic bags. I wish I knew which idiot started this trend.

If people can sit in the dark for an hour, can’t they just open their mouths to say, “No, I don’t need so many bags.”

Mind you, at this point, I’m not even asking anyone to take their own plastic bags to the bakery. Just explain that you don’t need so many bags.

Alternatively, bakery owners could train their staff to ask customers if they want their stuff packed individually or not. I bet that most customers have no problem with putting together, for instance all the buns into one, those yellow egg tarts into another, etc. It’s such a small step but it would ultimately mean a lot.

That’s not too much to ask of customers or bakery owners, is it?