LESSON 4A READING AND VOCABULARY
Indonesia has a big problem with plastic bags. Every year, millions of single-use plastic bags are used on the islands, especially in Bali and Java. These bags are cheap and convenient, but they cause serious pollution. They end up on beaches, in rivers, and in the sea. They harm marine life (such as turtles and fish) and take hundreds of years to decompose (break down).
Plastic pollution damages tourism and the beautiful environment of Indonesia. Many people throw away plastic bags after using them once, and most of them are not recycled.
Fortunately, young people are taking action. Two sisters from Bali, Melati and Isabel Wijsen, started a famous campaign called "Bye Bye Plastic Bags" when they were only 12 and 10 years old. They organized beach cleanups, collected signatures, and raised awareness. Thanks to their efforts and many other activists, some places in Indonesia have started charging money for plastic bags or introducing bans (prohibitions) on single-use plastics.
The article encourages everyone to say no to plastic bags. Instead, we should use reusable cloth or bag alternatives. Small actions by young people can lead to big changes and help protect the environment.
Questions and Answers
1. What do the photos on pages 54 and 55 show?
The photos show polluted beaches full of plastic waste, people (activists and volunteers) doing beach cleanups, beautiful Indonesian nature damaged by rubbish, and possibly signs or activities from the "Say No to Plastic Bags" / "Bye Bye Plastic Bags" campaign.
2. What is the article quickly about? Give a good introduction.
The article is about the serious plastic bag pollution problem in Indonesia and how young activists, especially two sisters in Bali, are fighting against it through the "Bye Bye Plastic Bags" campaign. It explains the damage plastic causes to the environment and marine life, and encourages readers to refuse plastic bags and support solutions like reusable bags and bans.
3. What do you think about the article?
I think the article is inspiring and important. It shows that even children and teenagers can make a real difference in solving big environmental problems. The story of Melati and Isabel Wijsen proves that youth campaigns can lead to government action, such as bans on plastic bags. We should all follow their example and reduce plastic waste to protect our planet.
Vocabulary
| English Word / Phrase | Arabic | Simple Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic bag | كيس بلاستيكي | Shopping bag made of plastic |
| Single-use | استخدام لمرة واحدة | Used only once then thrown away |
| Pollution | تلوث | Dirty waste that harms nature |
| Environment | بيئة | The natural world around us |
| Decompose / break down | يتحلل | To rot or disappear naturally over time |
| Marine life / sea creatures | الحياة البحرية | Animals and plants that live in the sea |
| Harm | يضر / يؤذي | To damage or hurt |
| Rubbish / waste | قمامة / نفايات | Trash or garbage |
| Beach cleanup | تنظيف الشاطئ | Removing litter from the beach |
| Campaign | حملة | Organized activities to achieve a goal |
| Activist | ناشط / ناشطة | Person who works hard for a cause |
| Ban | حظر / منع | Official rule that stops something |
| Reusable | قابل لإعادة الاستخدام | Can be used again and again |
| Reduce | يقلل | To make smaller or less |
| Solution | حل | A way to fix a problem |
| Say no to plastic bags | قل لا لأكياس البلاستيك | Refuse to take plastic bags |
| Protect the environment | حماية البيئة | Keep nature safe |
Useful Extra Phrases:
- Youth campaign → حملة شبابية
- Plastic pollution → تلوث بلاستيكي
- Hundreds of years → مئات السنين
