Letters To The Editor


“Don’t worry about failures, worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try.” – Jack Canfield



Plastic pollution

As the world’s population continues to grow, so does the amount of garbage that people produce. On-the-go lifestyles require easily disposable products, such as soda cans or bottles of water. Still, the accumulation of these products has led to increasing amounts of plastic pollution around the world. As plastic is composed of major toxic pollutants, it has the potential to cause significant harm to the environment in the form of air, water, and land pollution. Simply put, plastic pollution occurs when plastic has gathered in an area and has begun to negatively impact the natural environment and create problems for plants, wildlife, and even the human population. Often this includes killing plant life and posing dangers to local animals. Plastic is an incredibly useful material, but it is also made from toxic compounds known to cause illness, and since it is meant for durability, it is not biodegradable. Recently, a tweet by Shaneira Akram shook me to the core that even during the time of a pandemic when Karachi was under lockdown for months and when many public places are still shut down, Karachi’s Clifton Beach was still cluttered with plastic waste. The reality is that the only way this problem can be addressed is by individuals and companies around the world, agreeing to implement practices that reduce waste on every level. But the most basic things you can do is that the next time when you go shopping, don’t forget to carry a paper or cloth bag. Also, try to avoid bringing plastic bags at home and purchasing items with too much packaging. Avoid using plastic bottles and try to recycle everything you can. This way, you can help in contributing to the environment in the form of reducing plastic pollution whose ill effects are irreversible.

Yasmin Maqbool,
Karachi.

Truck accidents

If you’ve driven on a highway, chances are you’ve had a heart-stopping moment when you had to swerve out of the path of an 18-wheeler changing lanes, or you’ve seen one barrelling behind you at what seemed like a dangerous speed. It’s scary. And rightfully so. Truck accidents are usually more serious than accidents between passenger vehicles because of their size, the type of cargo they’re hauling, and their high speeds on highways. Recently, I came across news of three siblings whose car was crushed by a truck driver which resulted in their death on the spot. Unfortunately, this accident is not the first of its kinds. Preventive measure must be taken by authorities to limit the movement of trucks on busy roads. Also, the timing of allowing the movement of trucks should be such when there is not much traffic on the road. The competency of the truck driver must also be checked. But what can regular drivers do to prevent such an accident? First, always allow more space when following a truck than you would with a passenger car. Second, stay out of a truck’s blind spot. There’s a little trick to help you know if you’re in a truck’s blind spot: look at the truck’s side mirrors. If you can’t see the truck driver’s face in the mirror, the truck driver can’t see you. Third, leave space when passing in front of a truck. A truck is much heavier than a passenger car, which means it requires more distance to stop. Don’t ever cut in front of a large truck. If you can’t pass with plenty of room, then stay in your lane. Fourth, use caution if a truck is turning. Fifth, pass quickly. You don’t want to linger in the lane beside a truck for any longer than necessary.

Ashar Khan,
Karachi.


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