Shoshanna Lee, an AYUDH member, won a Rotary Award for AYUDH’s plastic activities in the Bay Area. This is her speech given at the Rotary – 14 may

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I use to see plastic waste as worthless garbage. For good reason. Recycling water bottles is good but what about chip bags, candy wrappers, and grocery bags? What can be done with them? That was the question in my mind when I joined the Plastic Project. The plastic project shifted my outlook. Certainly I still wanted folks to reduce or eliminate using plastic. The change was that I began seeing those chip bags as something useful and attractive. Not only has the Plastic Project changed my mindset it fulfills the rotary 4-way test.

While Mother Earth is in an environmental crisis, so are many people in the world. In today’s world 2 out of 3 women are employed in unstable or under paid jobs. India is an example. The tsunami of 2004 left many women widowed and some with children to support. Recently a crisis with farmer suicide in India has again left many women to care for their families. These widowed women in India cannot pick themselves up after these disasters. They have little to no opportunity for education or vocational training.

A renowned Humanitarian from India, Mata Amritanandamayi, also affectionately known as Amma had an idea to help both the impoverished women in India and the environment. It is called the Plastic Project.

Plastic Project volunteers in America are making purses, wallets, and handbags out of recycled chip bags, candy wrappers, and grocery bags. Amma’s idea is to take the Plastic Project to India where rural women can make the crafts which will be sent back to America to be sold. Americans want these products. Is it the truth: That this project will help the poor? Yes I know it is because Amma’s organization has a proven track record of helping the needy.

Amma’s foundation Embracing the World began in 1987 when it opened it’s first school in Kerala, Southern India. Since then Amma’s organization operates in over 30 countries, fighting hunger, building homes and schools, giving free medical treatment, and establishing orphanages. Embracing the World was praised by former chairman of the UN Human Rights Commission Olara A. Otunnu, on “how much of the money that is mobilized, actually goes and benefits directly those in need.” he said “it is very striking to me how she managed to get that formula right”

Amma, the founder of Embracing the World, has won the Ghandi-King award for nonviolence in 2004, The Centenary Legendary Award of the International Rotarians in 2005, and an honorary doctoral degree of Humane studies from Buffalo University in 2010. These are just a few of the awards for her humanitarian service.

Getting back to the Plastic Project, here is an important question: IS it beneficial to all concerned? Yes Because the women who make these crafts in India will receive most of the profit. America will receive these wonderful products to sell, and on top of that the earth is being helped.

In the American plastic project we know how to make wallets, purses and water bottle holders quickly and efficiently. They sell well and are built to last. The Plastic Project website will contain tutorials on how to make the items. Embracing the World has specially designed computers which can be taken to remote areas in India to demonstrate the crafting techniques for wallets, water bottle holders and purses. Impoverished women in India can thus learn to make items which can be sent to America and sold. This empowers the rural Indian women to have their own home businesses.

Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Yes. The U.S. will be building good relationships with underprivileged people. It will set a good example for the world and it will fortify the U.S.’s friendship with India. People from different countries with different economic backgrounds can work together receiving profit on both ends while helping the earth. If the women are being helped, their children will automatically be helped. Children in India will be able to enjoy a higher standard of life and may receive education their parents couldn’t otherwise afford.

Finally, Is it FAIR to all concerned? Of Course. Amma has a proven record of making sure money goes to the needy and not to administrators.

The Plastic Project started as a fun idea to make useful items from recycled plastic but it has become so much more.

Amma said: “You may think it is only a small gesture but through projects like this the hearts of individuals blossom and others are inspired to follow. This can lead to significant changes in society.”

Thank you.