Koblenz, October 10 (BASUG/OurVoice): A symposium took place in Koblenz on “Jute instead of Plastic 2.0” on Saturday. The Europe-based Diaspora organization BASUG with the support of Engagement Global and financial grant from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development organized the event.
Together with various actors and partner organizations, there were technical exchanges on topics such as ‘Planet Plastic – Petroleum. Power. Garbage’, ‘Alternative to plastic and environmentally friendly packaging: comparative analysis between jute and marine algae’ and ‘Challenge and discussion of jute production and distribution’. A wide variety of people came together to look at the important topic from different perspectives, such as educationally or economically. This enables a diverse approach to the subject of “plastic fasting”. The focus was on the well-known but nevertheless promising plastic alternative jute.
BASUG Chairman Bikash Chowdhury Barua, Head of the Welcome Center at the University of Koblenz-Landau Ines Tobis and former official of the State Bank of India in Frankfurt and climate activist Rokeya Rothe addressed the opening session. In his video message the Mayor of Koblenz City David Langner warmly welcomed the participants of the symposium. Journalist and Project Director of BASUG AHM Abdul Hai moderated the symposium and BASUG Internee Kawsarul Hoq presented the research report on the main theme of the seminar.
“Using jute won’t be a magical solution, but it will be a very good approach to achieving a plastic-free morning,” said Bikash Chowdhury Barua, Chairman of BASUG Diaspora and Development. The devastating effects of plastic production and use are falling back on the future of human beings. That is why a global approach is essential for coping with this massive task.
Raising awareness and promoting awareness of the dangers posed by the use of plastic to people and the environment. The many dangers and effects that plastic pose for human health and for our planet have been known for many years. Alternative products, for example, made from jute, seaweed and biopolymers are options and approaches that already exist on the global market and are still being researched. The use of jute is also an environmentally friendly and a very good alternative to the use of plastic. Seaweed is also a new alternative to plastic that does not use fresh water for production. Seaweed is edible, 100% biodegradable and can also be used as natural fertilizer.
From entrepreneurs and managing directors to Bachelor and Master students, who deal with this very important topic in their studies or at work, met for an exchange at this symposium. In the technical discussions it was discussed how plastic can be replaced by alternatives in further steps.
Ines Tobis, the Head of the ´Welcome Center´ at the University of Koblenz-Landau underscored the on-going theses, research, projects and experiences in this field. The experiences and reports show that the people in Bangladesh as well as Ethiopia, Indonesia, Nepal, and southern countries are not yet aware of the subject of plastic and there is still a lot of work to be done. Germany and Europe have already introduced a number of measures to significantly reduce the use of plastic. Bangladesh is still at the beginning of development in this sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of ´Eurogeotex´ ATM Golam Rabbani Raza spoke out in favor of how important it is to raise people’s awareness of the problem of the use of plastic and to inform them about the chances and benefits of using jute instead of plastic. The Co-founder of AltEco Dr. M A K Azad in his presentation informed about the consequences of excessive plastic use. There are now enough alternatives and possibilities to replace the use of plastic with alternative materials. This gives hope and confidence in the protection of our planet.
Among others, Educational Expert from Vamos e.V. Tewannakit Mermagen, the Entrepreneur from eurogeotex Fazle Ali Khandoker, climate activist Jörg Rothe, Editor-in-Chief of the German-Bengali magazine ‘Die Grenze’ Riazul Islam, Research Assistant in the University of Koblenz-Landau Raihan Iqbal Rifat, Vice-Chairman of BASUG Sumana Barua, BASUG Internee Mai Li Julienne, Student Organizer Eunus Ali Rupom took part in the discussion.
German-Bengali singers Abdul Munim and Elius Ahmed rendered enchanting musical performance and poet and artist Mir Zabeda Yeasmin Imi recited her own poem at the end of the symposium. BASUG, Seraji Foundation, Euro Geotex and Vamos exhibited anti-plastic information materials and jute products in the seminar hall.
