QIU’s students have overwhelmingly voiced their support for the elimination of plastic straws – which is one of the most significant contributors to global plastic pollution.
In a recent poll of 129 QIU students, the student-led workgroup QIU Eco-Rangers found that 92 per cent were willing to support the act of banning plastic straws in their area.
A majority of respondents were also willing to switch to more sustainable options like purchasing reusable metal straws and sipping directly from their cups or containers.
In light of the recent ‘no-plastic straws’ initiatives launched across the globe, these findings show that QIU’s students are willing to play their part in reducing plastic waste through refusing one-time plastics and seeking out sustainable alternatives.
However, there is still some work to do. The same survey found that 49 percent of participants expect to be given a plastic straw when they order a drink.
The reason? They found it easier to drink from a straw.
Plastic straws are a threat to our environment because of their size and their tendency to fall through the gaps of waste disposal machines.
When human waste is dumped into the environment and not managed properly, it threatens the ecosystem as a whole. This imbalance contributes to global warming and the extinction of many different species – all due to the careless actions of human beings.
With this in mind, QIU students are taking a stand. A research-oriented and student-led workgroup called QIU Eco-Rangers have started the ‘No Straw Wednesday’ campaign to make a difference in our campus.
The QIU Eco-Rangers are members of the Foundation for Environment Education (FEE) Eco-Campus Programme, which is operated by World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Malaysia.
This campaign aims to lead QIU towards the direction of becoming a green campus through efforts like eradicating the use of one-time plastics like straws.
Despite the worrying situation that we find ourselves in, the findings of this survey prove that a silver lining exists and we, as the beings who call this planet home, should come together and join forces to do as much as we can to slow down the advancement of this crisis.
If you want to find out more about the Eco-Rangers or learn how to do your part for the environment, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/qiuecorangers/
