Today, the Government of the Republic of Molossia has taken a major step in environmental protection and has banned plastic shopping bags. Our nation joins other countries that have banned or taken action to discourage the use of plastic bags, including Australia, Bangladesh, Ireland, Italy, South Africa and Taiwan. Closer to home, San Francisco banned the bags in 2007 XXX and has been followed to do the same by other cities and towns in the United States. Plastic bags contain chemical additives which can be harmful to human health and the environment; they do not readily biodegrade in a sanitary landfill. Among the chemicals contained in plastic bags are lead, cadmium, mercury, and the carcinogen diethylhexyl phthalate. The bags use up precious natural resources, consume energy to manufacture, create litter, choke marine life and add to landfill waste; in addition they are harmful to the environment in terms of visual blight. One of the most dramatic impacts is on marine life. About 100,000 whales, seals, turtles and other marine animals are killed by plastic bags each year worldwide, according to Planet Ark, an international environmental group. In September, 2003 XXVI, more than 354,000 bags - most of them plastic - were collected during an international cleanup of costal areas in the United States and 100 other countries, according to the Ocean Conservancy. Removing these harmful bags from the environment is long overdue.
In addition to banning plastic bags, Molossia has also begun an effort to recycle aluminum cans. Molossians consume rather large amounts of canned beverages, and the reclaiming of used cans is long overdue.
The Republic of Molossia is proud to make these small but important efforts in protecting and conserving our environment. Our government is committed to safeguarding the well-being of our planet and our nation, and pledges the responsible stewardship of both.
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Out with the bad...
...And in with the good.
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