Reflective journal 1

Assalamualaikum and hi everyone! How are you guys doing?? Hope you guys are in the good of health. Actually, this is my first post for this blog and I hope everyone will enjoy my first post. InsyaAllah, for this first reflective journal, the topic that I will share is relating about SDG 12 which is responsible consumption and production.

Responsible consumption and production are very important to protect the world from climate change and sustain nature in the future because a lot of disasters happen currently in this world caused by man. For instance, flash floods currently happen in Malaysia’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur, and other states like Selangor, Terengganu, and Kelantan. This is happening due to heavy rain and has other causes that have interconnection with other causes like deforestation and blockages in the drainage system. Blockages in the drainage system happen cause of a lot of plastic bags single-use. This was proven when explained that 20 years ago flash flood happened in Bangladesh due to blockages in the drainage system from plastic shopping bags. It gives a side effect on human health because the toxins leach into soil and water supplies.

In my past experience when I was at first semester in IIUM to avoid this problem become more worse the ‘Reduce plastic waste’ project is the alternative that conducted and tries by several students to implement in order to solve the problem of plastic waste on the IIUM campus and among students. Since most students use plastic single-use during buying grocery things in the convenience store and shops and every Mahallah cafe provided food containers made from plastic single-use. It is because a lot of plastic in our environment will lead to pollution and affect human health. It is because plastic food containers cause stagnant water and breeding of Aedes mosquitoes. Students easy to get plastic single-use at IIUM campuses such as at convenience stores and cafes and even though convenience stores charges for every single piece of plastic but students still affordable to buy it because they charge a very lower price which RM0.10 to RM0.20. Besides, we also can see even though the government already banned and charged plastic bags, the campaign zero plastic is also held by the university but still, the number of students who buy plastic bags single-use was high. It also proves that the students are still not sensitive to global issues. For example, the plan that charges every plastic bag 20 cents and banned the usage of plastic bags. Therefore, a careless attitude and not being responsible is the biggest challenges to encourage people aware of global issues. Underestimating the small act like changing attitudes from using plastic single-use to reusable grocery bags and bring own Tupperware will lead to the biggest problem. In the ‘Reduce plastic waste’ project need all IIUM students to contribute by encouraging one another to reduce their consumption of plastic single-use in our daily life. Students should increase their awareness to save the earth, care about society and animals, and care about the environment. Students should always be aware of bringing their bags during shopping, food containers when buying in cafes, and bottles. Everyone should recycle and reuse all possible things like plastic bottles to make vases or plastic bags as dustbins. Moreover, the ‘Reduce plastic waste’ project also required students can share the fact about the advantages of reducing plastic use and keep encouraging one another to bring their stuff when going to cafes or convenience stores. So from that, the students and staff should bring their reusable bags, food Tupperware, and bottles because it is not hard. Once students practice that kind of attitude it will follow by other students. Therefore, it will be a sustainable practice for all students.

 

 In order to control environmental pollution, plastic waste management must be implemented for the whole IIUM Gombak to decrease the issues of plastic waste. But in this case, the inconsistency of waste management became one of the major issues that happened until now even though education or awareness campaigns have been done for years. I believe that all we need is common sense, they said. Little did they know, uncontrolled waste and pollution started to happen because of this group of people who don’t care about environmental awareness, some of them don’t practice it in daily life. Actions must be taken to control and ensure waste management can be consistent through the collaboration between all students and staff are required as the waste management majority started from the individuals themself. In conclusion, the ‘Reduce plastic waste’ programme does not only give benefits to us but also enables reduce the amounts of not managed plastic trash, protect the environment, and plastic pollution, reduce consumption of non-renewable energy, and worst disease such as coronary disease because plastic contains toxic chemicals. It is because in order to achieve all objectives and goals effectively and efficiently we cannot just give the responsibility to the authorized party, everyone should also do some initiative for that plan. Therefore, the ‘Reduce plastic waste’ programme is one greatest strategy that everyone can implement and practice to achieve the real meaning of SEJAHTERA in IIUM.