No more plastic lanterns
On Sunday mornings, I often take a walk on the beach in the countryside. The air is always fresh. As I walk, I often pick up garbage that drifts ashore. Today, I found an unusual piece of garbage: an extensive piece of nylon with a long string. It was a sky lantern.
In northern Taiwan, Pingsi (平溪) in New Taipei City is where sky lanterns are released. The town is close to Taiwan proper’s northeast coast. It might be unlikely for fallen sky lanterns to drift to the north coast, but due to the tides and waves, it was not entirely impossible. Judging from the remaining parts, it did not look like an ordinary sky lantern from Pingsi. Perhaps it was from Shihmen (石門) or Jinshan (金山). It should be emphasized that if this piece of garbage had not been made of plastic, it could have decomposed naturally, rather than drifting into the ocean and becoming an environmental problem.
Therefore, it is strongly advised that all sky lanterns be made of wax paper. No plastic materials should be used in the process. What is best for the environment should be considered first. Even if the cost were to drastically increase, we should use bamboo sticks as the lantern frame. Releasing sky lanterns is an act of praying for good luck and safety. If people could spend a little more money for the sake of the environment, they would certainly be blessed more. Besides, it might create more problems if people only think about saving some money and their convenience. If a plastic sky lantern falls on the ground, it might cause a fire, and if it falls into the ocean, it might cost the life of a fish. Such deeds are against reason and nature. If people do that, the wishes they make while releasing a sky lantern would never come true. The Ministry of Environment should ban the use of plastic materials in making sky lanterns. A small regulation would lead to immediate results and immense benefits.
Chen Yen-ling
Taipei
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