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<BR><B>Bag It! Campaign Comes to Moscow</B> <BR> <BR>Bag It!, the
international effort to lessen the use of single-use plastic bags by consumers,
arrives in Moscow with the screening of “Bag It!” the movie, at 7 p.m. on
Wednesday, March 23 at the Kenworthy Theatre sponsored by the Moscow Food
Co-op. The documentary is free for students and Co-op members, $3 for
general public. <BR> <BR>The film launches a campaign across Moscow to
increase incentives to reduce and eliminate plastic bag usage and motivate
people to use permanent, reusable shopping bags. To reach that goal, the
Co-op is partnering with University of Idaho Sustainability Center, the UI
Vandal Store, the UI Graduate and Professional Students Association, Buy Local
Moscow, and stores like the Storm Cellar and the Yarn Underground for activities
and special events during the months of March and April. <BR> <BR>Carol
Price Spurling, Co-op Outreach and Ownership Coordinator who is coordinating the
campaign, said “Plastic is a near-miraculous substance that has many practical
uses. But it really shouldn't be used for anything ‘disposable’ because plastic
isn't disposable at all. It is difficult if not impossible to recycle
efficiently or safely. It is toxic to wildlife and humans, especially children.
It persists for centuries, bioaccumulates into the food chain, and uses up
precious non-renewable petroleum resources. Single-use plastic bags are really
an unnecessary waste of plastic so we're anxious to show people how easy it is
to get along without them.” <BR> <BR>In Ireland, single-use plastic bags
cost 20 cents each. In China, they are banned. Here in Moscow,
Spurling said, we hope to convince everyone that when it comes to plastic bags,
we should just bag ‘em. <BR> <BR>In addition to the film, other special
events planned for the Co-op include: <BR><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: wingdings">§</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt">
</SPAN>Special in-store demos of products designed to provide an alternative to
toxic plastics. <BR><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: wingdings">§</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt"> </SPAN>Eliminating polyethylene grocery bags from
our checkout stands in April. <BR><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: wingdings">§</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt">
</SPAN>Making inexpensive polypropylene reusable bags available. <BR><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: wingdings">§</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt">
</SPAN>Turn old t-shirts into cool reusable bags demonstrations. <BR>
<BR>For more information, please e-mail <A class=moz-txt-link-abbreviated
href="mailto:bagit@moscowfood.coop">bagit@moscowfood.coop</A>. <BR><B> </B>
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