The Bag Ladies of Golden Bay are pleased to see the recently released Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Report highlighting the need for immediate action to reverse our polluting habits.

"We need a new mindset" says spokesperson Nicola Basham, quoting Dr. Robert

Watson co-chair of the report, which repeated the serious dangers

we are imposing on our environment with our old ways of thinking. "Every individual needs to take responsibility for their waste; leaving the problem to someone else is not an option."

The Bag Ladies are campaigning for Golden Bay to become free of the

unnecessary plastic shopping bags which we have mistakenly believed are free

and have been unaware of their detrimental impact.

Four lucky environmentally conscious shoppers were rewarded for saying no to

plastic shopping bags in Golden Bay, as part of the encouragement

campaign. "Our four main grocery stores took part in the TDC-Bag Lady

initiative which gave shoppers who said no to plastic bags a chance to go in

the draw for $50 grocery vouchers".

The winners were: Kay Harper at the Pohara Pricecutter; Melissa Skipworth at Reynish's in Takaka; Tracey Nalder in Col and Trott's Collingwood "On the Spot" store and Claire Davis at the Pakawau Beach Camp Store.

"It's one of the easiest ways to make a difference, carrying your own shopping if you don't have far to go, or using cloth bags, baskets or a cardboard box.", said Collingwood winner Tracey Nalder. Shop assistant Chantelle Etheredge said that "since the campaign started in January there has been a significant drop in the number of plastic shopping bags given away and many more sales of the recyclable green bags."

Says Nicola Basham "We can't go on ignoring the effect our wasteful lifestyles are having on our planet. The Bag Ladies are looking forward to seeing other communities around the planet taking part in changing shopping habits and polluting ways."

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