[Sdpg] Use your old canvas tote bags to change the world!

[Wesley Roe and Marjorie Lakin Erickson]

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 at robinsonvaluegroup.com
Thank you for helping.




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