GreenMONNCS

Top left: Vintage tortoise shell jewellry. Top right: Tortoise shell telephone. Bottom right: Modern-day plastic. The plastics of ancient times were in natural forms of amber, rubber, horns of animals and tortoise shells but, in the last century thereabouts plastics have gathered a bad reputation. Our current reality features plastics made from synthetic materials designed to be cheap and disposable which has boomeranged into a new type of environmental pollution – Plastic waste. Animals and organisms in the environment are yet to evolve in breaking down these plastics to manage the impact. Therefore, the one constant in this fight for environmental sustainability is public awareness and advocacy on recycling – awareness through compelling public education. In this article, the focus is to paint a simplified picture of plastics – what they are, their structure, arrangement and uses. A brief history and introduction… World War I ushered in grave hardships that made previously comm

     Poetry - Literature that evokes a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience or a specific emotional response through language chosen and arranged for its meaning, sound and rhythm. (Britannica) The International Day for Education 2021 was celebrated on January 24 with the theme “Recover and Revitalize Education for the COVID-19 Generation”. In her message to mark the occasion, the Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay pointed out that the pandemic proved that “...education was a global public good and school was more than just a place of learning: it was also a place that provided protection, well-being, food and freedom.” She went on to emphasize the immense power of quality education as a tool for achieving global peace and development by reducing hunger and gender inequality. What better way to promote education and the right to a sustainable future than through written word, skillfully coined to create an awareness of our collective environmental experience? Th

The first proper legislation concerning the cultivation, trafficking and abuse of Cannabis in Nigeria is the 1935 Dangerous Drugs Act. Also known as ‘the DDA’, the Act defines Indian hemp as i.                      ANY PLANT OR PART OF A PLANT OF THE GENUS CANNABIS; or ii.                    the separate resin, whether crude or purified, obtained from any part of the genus cannabis; or iii.                   any preparation containing any such resin, by whatever name that plant, part, resin, the preparation may be called; It makes provision for licensed importers of cannabis from other countries to be issued a Nigerian export license. According to the DDA, the President has the sole authority to make further directives and injunctions concerning the control, possession, production, transit, importation, exportation, sale and distribution of cannabis. Fast forward 31years, in comes the 1966 Indian Hemp Decree or Indian Hemp Act (IHA). This Federal legislation also allows for t

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Is it too late for me to be saying that? Naaah! I firmly believe that as long as we are still in January and interacting for the first time, we should start with that. So again, I wish you a Happy New Year people! It is a new year! Like most people, I have spent part of this first month reflecting on the last year. The main feature being the progression of the pandemic caused by the Corona Virus and I remembered how hard I laughed every single time, I listened to international news updates and there was always talk about the shortage of toilet paper in Europe and the Americas. I can understand if food items and soap are classified as “in shortage” but, toilet paper?! Huh? Why? Anyway, with the impending lockdown due to a second wave, the COVID-infused shortage piqued my curiosity. I started looking up articles, videos and anything really about toilet paper as we know it and its alternatives. These delivered me to the doorstep of hemp toilet paper and shared enthusiasm f

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas” – Calvin Coolidge The year 2020 has been very trying to say the least. And for a lot of people, there is really nothing to celebrate or be merry for this Christmas. While I agree that the year has been challenging on various levels, these challenges can be said to be a good thing, in a way. “How can the pandemic and its consequences possibly be a good thing?” One might ask. I will tell you why. For one, it has tested and proven the overwhelming will of humankind to survive. Also, it proved that when the chips are down, we will be willing to sacrifice partially or even completely our most treasured possessions and privileges. In essence, we all want to live, and we will do anything and everything to stay alive and healthy. Well then, if you are reading this… CONGRATULATIONS! You are alive! Count yourself lucky and get in

Deck the halls with boughs of holly fa-la-la-la-la la-la-la-la...! It's the most wonderful time of the year! Decorations are hung; Carols are sung. Trips booked; Lots of food cooked. Gifts are exchanged; clothes are changed… It is Christmas time!!! The air is filled with the anticipated excitement of the season and if you are like me, you already have an idea of (or already purchased) the gifts to be given to avoid the last-minute rush. These festivities and holidays tend to have a considerable amount of impact on the planet; from the shiny wrapping paper discarded to the unwanted gifts abandoned to collect dust till they are dumped in the trash and most especially, with the environmentally challenging choices in decorative items. Well, if you are here, then this year will be different. It doesn’t matter whether you are new to sustainable living, or just curious, or if you are on a tight budget, there are many eco-friendly decor options to beautify your home while sparing your wall