3. SIMILARITIES
We are very pleased to observe that in both your country and ours efforts
are on , to save paper in small and big ways. The internet and
E -correspondence has been a boon to communications as it has to a large
extent reduced the consumption of paper in our offices, schools and
shopping centres and even in our homes.
In both our regions Organizations have gone digital where possible
They are using paper sustainably ( using both sides, full sheet and
recycling.) in the same way as we do;
We do believe, that much more effort can be put in by organizations and
individuals in our respective regions, to lessen the usage of paper.
THE MESSAGE IS LOUD AND CLEAR:
TRY TO BE THRIFTY WITH PAPER ---SAVE PAPER TO SAVE OURSELVES
4. DIFFERENCES
1. BIG PAPER CONSUMERS - Our group chose organizations that use REALLY large
amounts of paper in their businesses. –namely , a bank, a Photocopy Xerox shop and
our very own school.
Our Friends in Waalwijk chose a Consultancy firm, a lampshade store and their
school.
2. FAMILY CONSUMPTION OF PAPER - We ALSO had a peek into the daily life of an
average family at home to assess the usage of paper in a family.
3 RECYCLING AGENCIES ARE EASILY ACCESSIBLE in our region… just around the
corner! So we ALSO went to the waste paper Recycling Agencies to get a view.
4.COMPENSATION and INCENTIVE- The agencies compensate us with cash money per
kilogram of newsprint/waste paper, this is an incentive for us to treat paper well
before discarding it. We made a beginning by personally handing over our waste
paper for recycling.
5.TRADITIONAL AND CONVENTIONAL METHODS OF HYGIENE - As compared to other
regions of the world, at home, we mostly use traditional methods in our kitchens,
at table meals, and in our wash rooms even though we have the option to use
paper towels, toilet rolls, and kitchen paper rolls. That’s a lot of paper Saving!!
5. DIFFERENCES
6.AWARENESS -At our school Assembly we were able to spread the word by which
not only the students but also their families got the message to save paper.
Student > Father + Mother> Siblings> friends…. This way, large groups of people
receive the message
7.POPULATION N CONSUMPTION OF PAPER- Considering ours i.e Bandra - is a
highly populated region (3,37,391 as per the last census), the quantity of paper
being used (newspapers, magazines, stationery, packaging materials, etc.) is
phenomenal, as compared to Waalwijk whose population is comparatively
smaller.
8.NON AVAILABILITY OF HOME COMPUTERS – Some homes in our region do not
have computers and hence still use conventional methods for tasks that could
be done online to save paper. (Banking, greeting cards/letters)
6. GROUP REFLECTION
The’ EUMIND’ experience has been very rewarding :
Despite the fact that we were assigned different tasks on this project, we
helped each other to collect, put together and present the findings.
Meeting and interviewing executives from the corporate world to get
information was a new experience.
Framing questionnaires was interesting as it got us thinking on a subject we
take for granted and was quite different from our regular studies.
We were rather disappointed that the video conferencing between our
St. Stanislaus High School and Willem van Oranje College could not happen
successfully because of technical difficulties.
We need to ensure better time management when doing a project of this
nature. We need to set our own individual deadlines.
7. GROUP REFLECTION
We could have had many more different activities (both awareness
and participatory), that could involve students from the whole school.
We learnt the vital connection between environment and paper -
17 trees= 1ton of paper.
This project opened our eyes to the alarming statistics of paper usage
all over the world. Hence, we will be careful while using paper at
every stage - home, school, office.
We understood that the practice of using paper prudently should
FIRST begin at a young age from the home itself.
Overall, this was a great group experience that has taught us a few
lessons on paper saving, as well as built up our self confidence and
helped us to go beyond the routine. We hope you enjoy our project and
can take something away from it.
8. Let’s save paper
Thank you
Nahum Lobo, Ronell Cabral, Alano Miranda ,
Smith Chedda and Rahul Nabar.
