Residents of Canada’s Prince Edward Island rushed to stores earlier this month to buy soda and beer in aluminum cans. They were excited because a ban on the containers was lifted.
Authorities on the island banned beer in cans 35 years ago. Eleven years later they added a similar law for fizzy drinks. Plastic was also prohibited, with glass bottles the only container allowed.
The measures were introduced to help preserve jobs at a local bottling plant. They were also made to help protect the environment since glass bottles can be recycled more effectively than cans.
PHOTO: AFP
But residents have been pushing for change. The issue played a part in the election of a new government last year.
Residents of the capital Charlottetown celebrated the lifting of the ban at a street party. Environment Minister George Webster had the privilege of opening “the first” can.
Green Party leader Sharon Labchuk said the minister should “be ashamed of himself.”
Labchuk called it “a sad day.” She said that not only Prince Edward Island would be harmed but also places where aluminum is mined.
(STAFF WRITER, WITH AFP)
加拿大愛德華王子島的居民這個月初紛紛衝到商店搶購鋁罐裝汽水和啤酒;他們這麼興奮是因為鋁罐禁令解除了!
當地有關當局三十五年前下令禁止買賣罐裝啤酒,十一年後又針對蘇打汽水增訂禁令;塑膠材質也在禁止之列,該島上只能使用玻璃瓶容器。
實施這些措施是為了保障當地一家瓶裝工廠的工作;除此之外,這些措施也有助於保護環境,因為和鋁罐相比,玻璃瓶更能有效回收利用。
但是當地居民一直在推動修法;去年當地政府改選時,這個議題就扮演了重要的角色。
省府夏洛特鎮的居民在大街上開起派對,慶祝禁令解除。環境部部長喬治.韋伯斯特則享有開「第一」罐的殊榮。
加拿大綠黨黨主席雪倫.萊布察克說,韋伯斯特部長應該要「為自己的行為感到羞恥」。
萊布察克把禁令解除這天稱為「可悲日」,她說不只是愛德華王子島,還有鋁礦開採區的環境也會受到破壞。
(法新社�翻譯:袁星塵)
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