Regardless of your personal levels of eco-consciousness, we can all agree that plastic bags are decidedly un-green. Banning the distribution of plastic bags in stores around the world is a growing movement , and some cities like San Francisco have passed legislation to officially ban them. In a more artistic and conceptual approach to fight the deluge of plastic bags, The London’s Photographers’ Gallery’s current exhibition, The Plastic Bag, asked for public submissions documenting plastic bags around the world. The images are both stunning and frightening in their implications, and act as a social and visual commentary on our ability to consume and dispose.
Archived submissions are available on Photonet - The Plastic Bag Gallery Exhibition is on show until the 2nd of September, 2007, at The Photographers’ Gallery, 5 Great Newport Street, London.
Excellent! I’m trying to get something like San Francisco’s law started in Orlando, Florida. I love this!
I am all for a similar law in Orlando.
Interesting. While on the subject of plastic bags, you might find this video to be relevant: http://small-scale.net/film/immortalityofman.htm
I find it interesting that most of the images are of plastic bags containing litter. If my municipality banded plastic shopping bags, then I would have to BUY more plastic bags for my trash. Why don’t we campaign to re-purpose plastic shopping bags into trash bags?
Besides, where is the art?
I’m also from Orlando, but this is ridiculous. It isn’t the plastic bags that is causing the problem. Too much of anything will do that! Who wants to live in a city that passes a billion laws and enforces less than 1%? More laws = less freedom.
The real solution here is to raise awareness of the problem, but give people the choice to use whatever they want. The two other Orlando people here can choose not to use plastic bags, and then the problem will begin to go away.
I agree. Plastic bags from a store can be reused for garbage bags. Paper bags can accomplish this too, but usually they won’t hold up to natural elements and can leave quite a mess on your curb / street for garbage pickup. I want to start a campaign at stores that asks the question: “Do you really need a bag?” This raises awareness of the situation, and also can create a physical change.