Wish you a merry, eco-friendly Christmas!
As written by Rtr. Vihanga Jayawickrama
Christmas is all about celebrating love, sharing and caring. The tiniest of acts and the grandest of endeavors capture the spirit of the season alike, as long as they are led by a heart full of kindness. To embrace the true spirit of Christmas, Rotaract District 3220 in collaboration with Leo Club of Mahanama College have deployed yet another brilliant idea: A Christmas tree made solely of eco-bricks.
The project was conducted as part of the project ‘Ecoscape’ of Rotaract District 3220, and Rotaract Club of University of Moratuwa along with the fellow host clubs of the project “Ecoscape” and Western Province Waste Management Authority collaborated in structuring these phenomenal creations. Additional decors made of eco-bricks, including an oil lamp, were provided by the district. The assistance rendered by all contributors of ‘Ecoscape’ was of great support in turning the idea into a successful act.
While eco-bricks might not make the prettiest Christmas decors you have set your eyes upon, the message sent out to the world through this project is of immeasurable value. Among the aims of the project organizers, raising public awareness about eco-bricks takes an important place. Eco-bricks are created by tightly packing a plastic bottle with used plastic and polythene. They can also be used as an alternative for bricks in building construction.
Though many people remain ignorant of the fact, plastic waste is one of the biggest causes of environmental problems on Earth. Implementation of the concept of 3R – Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle – could serve to minimize the production of plastic waste. Eco-bricks follow the principles of reuse. Thus, the project will serve as an eye opener to get more people to contribute towards a safer, greener future for the planet by making more people realize that the polythene and plastic they throw out each day could indeed serve a greater purpose than spending hundreds of years in landfills.
If you visit the Arcade Independence Square of Colombo this festive season, take a moment to let your eyes admire the efforts of the Rotaractors and Leos. And as the celebrations rage on, remember to honor their purpose by using plastic as sparingly as possible, and by reusing or recycling your plastic waste instead of simply throwing them away.
Christmas is celebrated with great enthusiasm all around the country, with pretty lights and catchy Christmas tunes filling the cities throughout the month of December. However, the enthusiasm should not be limited to merrymaking, as Christmas is all about spreading love – to people around you as well as to nature. With this project, all the Rotaractors and Leos of Sri Lanka have done an amazing job in embracing the true meaning of Christmas, spreading their love and care for Mother Nature throughout the country.
