When you are trying to create societal change, it can be a pretty hard slog. Activism requires risk-taking, mental stamina and a good dose of bloody-mindedness. Frustration and exhaustion are commonplace. For many activists, it's not unusual to feel like you are hitting your head against a brick wall as you seek to shift people's behaviour. Because, no matter how logical your arguments might be, how much science backs your perspective and how stunning the future scene you paint, the status quo can be a rigid beast. Change is hard.
But yesterday, we had a win. Only a day after Mother's Day, mother nature had a win.
This decision comes after much lobbying from many different people and organisations. Special shout-out to Hannah & Liam from The Rubbish Trip, Rachel Benefield from Plastic Free Kāpiti, Wellington-based waste advocacy group Waste-ed, Tania from The Zero Waste Way and facebook group, Zero Waste in NZ! who, along with EarthSavvy (and many others) have campaigned specifically on this issue.
So, I'd just like to take this opportunity to remind everyone. Your voice is important. Your opinion holds power. And, in the exceptionally wise words of one Margaret Mead...
Resources for getting involved:
'Be a Tirading Kiwi' - put together by the Rubbish Trip
Zero Waste in NZ! - join us and the 23,000+ other NZers working to build a zero waste Aotearoa
Short on zero waste reusables? We're here to help 😊.