Use your old canvas tote bags to change the world!

Last February one of  my bi-annual trips to Africa I had the privilege of visiting many families living in remote villages in Tanzania.  I drove for days on dirt-covered roads in an area outside of the city of Arusha. which is tucked under a beautiful mountain range and is surrounded by wildlife reserves. As we drove, I was mesmerized by the beauty of the surrounding mountains, the lush vegetation, and the vast blue sky.  But at the same time I was disturbed because everywhere I looked was littered with plastic bags. The kind we use in America for groceries. These bags are lining the roadside, stuck randomly on bushes and trees, and blowing in the wind  EVERYWHERE.

And the bags that end up on the land are not only a sore sight in this otherwise beautiful countryside, but they cause many problems.  They are ingested by livestock (goats and cows are a precious source of milk for nutrition and income) and wild animals alike, which then die from having the bags in their intestines. The bags also are a health hazard. In a recent Kenyan government study it was found that the bags collect stagnant water, which in turn provides a breeding ground for malarial mosquitoes. Some of the used bags are burned in each family’s garbage fire releasing harmful toxins to the environment.

As we drove, I noticed almost every single woman I saw walking was carrying a plastic bag full of food items. I learned that the bags have replaced the traditional way of carrying goods in sturdy woven baskets on the top of their head.  But the plastic bags are not a practical replacement. They are small, flimsy, and thin, and thus rarely last past one shopping trip.  The bags cost money too. Albeit cheaper than a more traditional option, any money spent just adds to an already desperate economic situation.

Mostly because they end up as litter, the ever popular plastic bag is a serious cause of health, aesthetic, and economic problems.

I have a simple solution that won't cost you a penny. All I need is your old canvas tote bags that all of us collect from events, conferences, etc. Those bags that are sitting in the back of your closet here will be treasured items for these women in Tanzania, Africa.  
Here is the plan.

On my bi-annual trips to Africa I will take with me all the canvas totes I can gather here. I have set up a distribution network of women in Tanzania who will advertise by word of mouth that they can get one of these canvas bags in exchange for bringing in 20 bags from the roadside. Slowly but surely this will make an impact.  Assuming I take 200 bags each trip, the first year we can save 128,000 bags from floating around in the environment. And that is a conservative estimate.  Here is the math.  The canvas bags can be used for years, eliminating on average 300 bags from being purchased for shopping each year per woman.  I bring 200 canvas bags two times per year (400) and they are each used to save a minimum of 300 bags. That is 120,000 less bags purchased. Now add the 20 bags cleaned from the environment by each of the 400 recipients. That is another 8,000. So, with this little act WE can stop 128,000 bags in one year from causing economic, health and aesthetic problems. Not bad. Won’t you join me in ridding your closet of unwanted totes so they can be used for change in Africa. This project is sustainable. Nothing is being made to solve this problem. This only works by donating totes you already own. DO NOT BUY ANYTHING NEW TO MAKE THIS CONTRIBUTION.  The totes can be any color, shape or have any logo or words on it.  It does not matter. For this trip I need them before Aug 1, 2005. If you don’t have any totes and wish to support the project I am looking for someone to pay the Tanzanian woman who has graciously put in a lot of effort and time on this project.  She should be paid $100. 

For further questions about this project please call Lori Robinson at (805)898-4436 or email me at lori@robinsonvaluegroup.com
Thank you for helping.