Gorge Ban the Bags!

ZMar · Since 13 May 2018 24 Posts

Unfortunately, White Salmon is a little slow following Hood River's example of banning plastic bags. These single-use bags are a big issue and some local volunteers have taken action in an awesome way! The "Ban the Bags" project is going into the White Salmon valley schools and teaching students about the environmental impacts of plastic bags. Now how does this involve the kite community? Along with teaching about the environmental impacts of plastics, the volunteers guide the students through the process of making their own reusable bags out of recycled kites, windsurf sails, tents, strapping, webbing, and any other cool materials with some life left. If you have any gear sitting around collecting dust, a kite with a leaky bladder that you can't ride anymore, or anything that may be useful in this project, please shoot me a text or give me a call! We'll also be at the Hood River SWAP meet this coming Sunday. Let's protect this beautiful world!
Zack
509-281-0588

SalmonSlayer · Since 27 Nov 2005 648 Posts Addicted **CGKA Member**

I like plastic bags. I reuse them for many different purposes. Perhaps you would like me to push rules that socially engineer your behavior.

If you are concerned about environmental damage due to human choices, I suggest you stop getting in your car or on an airplane to go kiteboarding. Kiteboarding is a completely elective activity that is only exercised by the 1% worldwide(approx $32k annual income and above puts you in the 1%). After you quit environmentally damaging kiteboarding we can take a look at all of the other unnecessary activities you engage in from your privileged life as a 1% member. I bet the list is long and it would be fun to socially engineer you into a corner and watch you pout when you have to live like the average human.

I will start worrying about the environment when people that tell me there is a crisis, act like their is a crisis.

Kiteboarders area privileged bunch with environmental impact self-awareness scores hovering around ZERO.

pdxmonkeyboy · Wed May 15, 19 3:18 pm

Dude plastic bags are bullshit. I don't know how anyone can say with a straight face that getting rid of plastic bags is a bad thing or "socially engineering" a behavior. Get out of your bubble and go travel a bit. There is plastic bag garbage everywhere!! In the streams, in the oceans, in the bushes, on fences, everywhere. Good thing plastic takes FOREVER to degrade.

You reuse plastic bags.. good on you. But there are better alternatives without the significant downsides so yeah, we can't trust people to do the right thing so it must be regulated.

Care to rail on LED lightbulbs or wind turbines while we are here?

Ryan · Since 14 Jul 2005 537 Posts Oregon Addicted

So nice to see the Monkey back on NWkite bringing reality with levity Laughing

ldhr · Since 21 Jul 2009 1487 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Hood River banned plastic bags and it's been a huge success.
I never see them as litter on the side of the road as was normal a few years ago.
And nobody seems to miss them.
And yeah - I think 40% of the population is ignorant and social engineering is required.

Salmon - you're joking right?
Carbon emissions and plastic bags are 2 different issues - plastic is a waste disposal/litter issue and driving to kite beach seems to be a carbon issue.

Banning plastic bags won't solve all the world's problems but it seems to have greatly reduced the litter in and around HR..... and oh yeah - less bags means less bags produced so maybe it's reduced the carbon footprint (assuming people use reusable bags as opposed to one-time paper).

ZMar · Since 13 May 2018 24 Posts

SalmonSlayer, you're right. We can't just stop using plastic bags and expect to fix climate change. Our goal at Ban the Bags isn't to fix climate change, it's to educate the next generation about the dangers of climate change and our impact on the environment, what can be done to help remedy these issues, and do it in a fun and interesting way because they're still kids after all. Plastic waste is a huge issue no matter how you look at it. I agree with you that carbon emissions from vehicles, power production, and manufacturing are another HUGE issue in the fight against climate change but, unfortunately, most people can't afford to stop using their car, stop using non-renewable electricity, and stop purchasing any manufactured goods. We do, however, need to take action. Reducing the amount that we drive and carpooling when possible, using lights and heat/ AC less, reducing the number of manufactured goods we consume and the waste that we create -- such as plastic bags. It's important to encourage others to take action as well as taking action ourselves. Putting others down for trying to make a difference -- no matter how small you may think it is -- is definitely not the way to combat this issue. We need to work together!

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2588 Posts The 503 METAL

Salmon, based on your handle, I'm guessing you like to fish and probably eat what you catch. Forget climate change and carbon emissions, you can't dispute that plastic, and especially single use plastic, is a scourge to our waterways.

I don't think there's anybody on this forum that can personally know for a fact that climate change is happening, and if it is, it's caused by humans. But I bet all of us have seen the evidence of plastic waste polluting our oceans and rivers.

SalmonSlayer · Since 27 Nov 2005 648 Posts Addicted **CGKA Member**

ALL of you can fight the big plastic bag fight, but you are missing the point. It is symbolism over substance. You think you are doing the right thing? In the grand scheme of things it is it is insignificant. Virtue signalling at it's best. Get back to me when you really do something significant. You won't.

I doubt one of you would be willing to live within the carbon footprint of the average human being on earth. You are 1%ers that run around doing more damage to the environment with you elective choices spending your disposable income. But that is different somehow.

As I said, self-awareness score close to ZERO. As long as you feel good about yourself, what else matters? All symbolism over substance.

SalmonSlayer · Since 27 Nov 2005 648 Posts Addicted **CGKA Member**

Ho-Toe · Thu May 16, 19 12:40 pm

Ho-Toe · Thu May 16, 19 12:57 pm

chrissmack · Since 08 Jun 2005 526 Posts portland Addicted

hurry up and get to the name calling

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2588 Posts The 503 METAL

user124 · Since 02 Aug 2012 391 Posts Portland Obsessed

Ho-Toe · Thu May 16, 19 5:16 pm **Re: Whoa, Ho!**

moondog · Fri May 17, 19 7:56 am

I have traveled all over the world and plastic bags are the scourge of the oceans and earth. We joke that the state flag of Mexico is the plastic bag because every bush you pass has one flapping in the breeze. It might be a small start banning them in WA, but it definitely making people aware that we can't keep living like this.

In La Ventana we started "No mas Basura" 3 years ago. We hired 2 Mexican ladies to take donated tired kites and turn them into shopping bags. The second most popular sport down there is drinking so we have a recycle program for the prodigious quantity of beer, tequila and wine bottles. We bought a glass crusher and now have glass chips available to mix with concrete for construction and stepping stones.

So Kudos to Zmar, it is all about educating and life style changes to clean this mess up.

wylieflyote · Fri May 17, 19 10:21 am