Climate Change and Dollar Stores

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Online pic.

We slide in and out of dollar stores for necessities like shower curtains, brooms or detergent. We also shop for special things we use for one day celebrations.

l Christmas

l Halloween

l Valentine’s Day

l St. Patrick’s Day

While these days are a good reminder of what’s happening around us, the items associated with them are difficult to recycle. Factories also produced them in processes harmful to the environment.

Climate change is not on our mind when we drop them in the shopping basket. The price propels us. Cards and hats cost about $2 to $4 including taxes. The price is also a magnet for first year university students and new immigrants.

Some schools also mount some of the above celebrations, therefore forcing parents to visit the dollar store, so that their kids are not left out of the fun.

Once upon a time, these one-day-use items were made at home, and could be re-used. Today’s reality is that parents don’t have the time or inclination to sew a Halloween costume. They also don’t have sewing machines like great grandparents.

Therefore price is an obstacle to climate change. I can afford it, becomes paramount.

This is another ‘written podcast’ from Nonqaba waka Msimang.

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