Let's all look after the environment, says Hazel

10.21.54am GMT Mon 15th Aug 2005

In an Argus Letters to the Editor, Hazel Thorpe says 'let's all look after the environment':

When will we learn to listen? When nine-year-old Carys Attwell (July 2005) can understand the problem about our environment why can't we adults?

We all have the responsibility of looking after our world, whether it be in Brighton , Worthing, or Portslade. Carys got it right by exercising her rare right of freedom of speech and saying it as it is - and it is not Nimbyism!

If we all cooperated with the large corporate companies we might make some improvement. It is pleasing to note that Onyx has supported the young people in Lewes (Aug 9), perhaps those same young people could get themselves involved with a positive environmental project, putting something back as it were.

Radical thinking and action is needed. A group doing just that, are Dump the Dump campaigners in the Hollingdean area. They have researched the field of unwanted packaging and are working alongside ASDA, who have acknowledged that shops have the legal responsibility to get rid of our excess packaging.

The group leave their excess packaging for the company to recycle, a scheme which if enough of us participated in would quickly stir the conglomerate into preventative action, to give us less packaging in the first place and therefore less to dispose of economically.

Another store to start the fight against excess packaging is Tesco who locally recycle those plastic bags! Why not try biodegradable brown paper bags as Worthing Council does for green recycling?

If you would like to know more or be involved with the larger picture try finding the greenest shop or supermarket and email shopping@dumpthe dump.org.uk.

-Hazel Thorpe, Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson, Brighton Pavilion