EPA kicks off ‘Kick the Habit!’ campaign for Mother Earth

Environmental groups yesterday urged industrial conglomerates, especially petrochemical giant, the Formosa Plastics Group, to join the drive of promoting vegetarian diets as a way to help offset the carbon emissions they created.

Aside from the EPA a the central government, the environment protection bureaus at city and county governments have also organized various activities to promote environmental awareness.

"Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy" is the major theme for the 2008 World Environment Day June 5 adopted by the United Nations, according to EPA chief Shen Shih-hung.

People should take concrete actions, including striving to change their habits in everyday life that will help improve the existing environment and conserve a quality climate for the future generations, he said.

The EPA has organized a series of public activities to urge the public to adopt new consumption habits that generate the minimum carbon emissions.

Exhibitions of photos on global warming and low-carbon declaration have been held at the plazas of the Zhongshan and Eastern District underground malls since May 31.

On June 2, an exhibition was held at the National Central University as an example for to share with students and faculties the methods and experiences of low-carbon living style on the campus.

Similar exhibition will be staged at the plaza of the Zhongshan Hall in Taipei for people to sign up with a pledge to change their habits.

A film about polar bears will be shown in the evening.

Low-carbon tips

The EPA has chosen the indigenous Taiwan black bear and the white polar bear as mascots for the campaign.

The 10 new habits for individual persons being promoted by the EPA include, rethinking (thinking again if the purchases are really needed), reduce (don't bite more than a person can chew; don't buy or order more food than a person can eat so as to reduce kitchen waste), consuming locally produced food, reuse (avoid disposable utensils), shunning the buying of over packaged products, installing energy-efficiency bulbs, turning off lights and appliances when not in use, opening windows, walking more, not driving one day in a week, and recycling.

For corporations, Shen said the government will consider allowing industries to plant trees in Taiwan, mainland China and other countries to help reduce "greenhouse" gases blamed for global warming.

"Carbon dioxide emissions cause warming globally, not just confined to Taiwan," he said.

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