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Dear Stan, I read with interest the news item that there is a lot of opposition to one of the big supermarkets in Bahrain trying to do away with plastic bags. This is absurd.

Though I am a resident of Bahrain, I am now in India, holidaying in my home town, Chandigarh, and would like to tell you that the news appeared on the same day as local newspapers in Chandigarh front-paged reports that plastic bags had been 'outlawed' in the town.

The ban proposal had been debated for several months and there had been a lot of opposition - not from the people or the retailers - but from the manufacturers of plastic bags - who claimed they would lose out big time on their income! They were, however, assured by the local administration they would be given 'alternative' sources of livelihood.

A week before this announcement, I was in the mountainous Himachal Pradesh state in Northern India when I was told that plastic bags had been outlawed for the last two years. Sure enough, no one - not even the street hawker who makes only a few rupees a day selling trinkets -_gave anything away in a plastic bag.

Old newspapers are the order of the day and anything that is bought is neatly wrapped in a bag made out of newsprint.

It was a very encouraging sign because I was told that the local state government had woken up to the tonnes of plastic ruining the pristine mountainside and destroying the fragile ecology!

I read earlier that in several parts of Europe, plastic bags are 'sold' for anyone who wishes to buy them so a majority of the people instead do away with them. They either take the paper bags or bring their own reusable bags (mostly paper or jute) with them.

But here in Chandigarh and in Himachal Pradesh plastic bags are just not available.

I am appalled that people in Bahrain could be so uncaring. I am not a regular at the supermarket in question but at the same time, I am not in favour of plastic bags being used with so much impunity.

I suggest the only way to stop them being used is to ban them outright. They should just not be available. People should bring their own bags or purchase jute bags which many stores have for sale at cost price.

Also, though I am sure Bahrain will never get to using newspaper to wrap things in, the alternative is to churn out 'designer' paper bags with the store name and the logo on the bag. True, stores might complain these would cost more but gradually, everyone would realise it is a better option to get one's own bags.

We have to make a beginning now - or else it will be too late.

As for the 'alternative' sources of income for the plastic bag manufacturers in Chandigarh, I last heard many of them had turned to making bags out of old newspapers and had installed machines to do it.

That's innovation and typical Indian ingenuity!

For the record, let me also point out that Chandigarh had last year become the first city in India to have completely banned smoking in public. And, during my present visit, I have seen that the ban is being enforced strictly. I have been here for more than a month and have never seen anyone smoking.

Asveen Kaur,

Chandigarh, India.

See Pgs: 24-25

Dear Stan,

I have seen articles about Tricia Powell, whose family need help to get her home, and I have checked out Tricia's website too. Now not everybody can donate approximately BD40 per day.

I think there are a lot of people who could help with a smaller amount. I suggest it's easier for associations and public places to gather an amount rather than individuals.

I suggest places like schools, churches, banks, post offices, private companies, super markets etc ... any public places could display collection boxes with a picture of Tricia so it's eye-catching.

Now I would suggest these public places should try to do this on a regular basis, not only for Tricia but we see such articles appearing all the time - and this is a very good way to collect money instead of the church only collecting during every mass and schools only collecting money for certain projects. The schools do not need to send a circular to parents but we very well know that most kids have enough pocket money to buy stuff from the canteen and we see many photographs of young children who need to have an operation or something. Imagine if a couple of boxes were placed in every school with a photo of the child, wouldn't the students want to put some money into that box, let alone ask their parents (who shouldn't object anyway).

Now during the summer months I know of volunteers going out distributing water bottles and soft drinks to the labourers who are working under the scorching sun. Even they need to collect money for the same... I think the soft drink companies are making a great profit during the hot months and they definitely can afford to give a quota of their supply to these humble workers who need it more than all of us.

It is easier to collect a dinar from everyone than to collect a BD10 for each donation... so my advice to all you public places out there, please do something as simple as placing a couple of boxes in your vicinity so as to encourage people to drop in their donation without feeling the pinch.

Sofia Carneiro.

Editor's note: The Tricia appeal is not seeking donations of BD40, that is the amount needed per day to accommodate her at a rehab facility. Tricia's family are grateful for all donations which can be made to:

Tricia Powell Trust Fund,

Nel and Stevens Trust

Account,

First National Bank,

Greytown, South Africa,

Acc: 2 343 144 243,

BC: 220 131,

Ref: PO 85001.

Dear Stan,

After reading of the plight of Tricia Powell, who needs help to be taken home to South Africa, the Ecumenical Conference of Charity (ECC) in Bahrain has decided to donate cash to cover the cost of a plane seat. ECC's donation will be only a drop in the funds that they require and I will be contacting other South African churches in our organisation.

Mariam, ECC.

Dear Stan,

The current situation in East Africa caused by high food prices, poor rains, conflict and chronic poverty has left millions of people in need of emergency assistance.

Oxfam has an Appeal for East Africa and we are asking your readers to give their support. At a time when food prices are making news headlines almost daily, what we are seeing in East Africa is a part of the world that could be on the brink of the first global food price famine.

Oxfam representatives are working throughout East Africa but they need the support of the public to maximise the emergency assistance that is so desperately needed.

Hannah Durrant and Roger James

Oxfam

Dear Stan,

I would really like if you would bring back the Jokes section, which was removed some time ago. Only yesterday I again realised how much I used to enjoy them.

Many thanks

Hans Radek.

OK here's one for you:

Q:_What do you call a sheep with no legs?

A: A cloud.

It's lame I know, if you can do better email your favourite joke to editor@gulfweekly.com and we'll print the best ones.