New York State is one of ten states with ban on single-use plastic bags. However, many small shops still offer them for free, while numerous customers accept them. This campaign is meant to encourage those mom’s and pop’s stores willing to make the switch to selling eco-friendly bags.

 

Out of the multitude of such small businesses, the campaign aims to support New York corner stores, known as delis or bodegas.

This is a quote from the above article:

“The New York State law is not intended for us to replace single-use plastic bags with single-use paper bags,” she said. “The law is intended for people to bring reusable bags, so it’s not intended to put the burden on the store owners.”

Thus, both sides involved - stores & customers - should join intentions & forces by meeting in the middle. Currently, many stores offer the cheaper version for free (aka single-use plastic bags), and don't have eco-friendly bags on stock. So, when New Yorkers forget their reusable bags at home, they have no other option but accepting a disposable free plastic bag. 

 

In order to fracture this cycle, with your help, We Are Atlas is raising funds which will be used to buy starter kits of unforgettable eco-friendly bags. These packages will be donated to delis, which should sell them. The money they make should be used to buy a new batch & transition for good to good bags!

In true We Are Atlas manner, regardless if they donate or not, everyone is invited to nominate a deli, by posting a comment under the pinned deli post on Ig ( @WeAreAtlas238 ). Based on your suggestions we will go from deli to deli and ask them if they are interested to accept the gift which will consist of foldable, very light tote bags that can be easily attached to a purse, backpack or belt area, becoming part of one's outfit. Each bag is so light, that you will even forget you have it on you, meaning that you'll never forget it at home either!

That way, New Yorkers will always have a bag on them, just as they carry a cell phone or their keys (however, this will be a lighter load when folded), and they will not be at risk of being caught empty-handed at check-out.

Yes, delis can nomin8 themselves!

When it comes to the fashion aspect, think about this as 'practical, compassionate Earth fashion.' Camels and elephants have been found dead after they ingested thousands of plastic bags, while one bear in Colorado was just euthanized because of all the trash it ate. We don't have bears, camels or elephants in NYC, but we have pigeons & seagulls, and we have a bag-ban that could use our joint support.

We also have a city logo that recently changed from I <3 NY to WE <3 NYC. This is a logo that went around the world, and inspired many other logos, such as, I <3 Paris, Berlin or Rome. Now is the time*, as New Yorkers, to show New York pride & Real Love through a very Simple Action - > Don8, Nomin8 & Wear Compassion8 Earth Fashion.

Let's Make It Happen!



In fact, if you agree with this project & you want to bring progress to life, don8 now as little or as much as you can & spread the word, so others would do it, too!




Please check www.WeAreAtlas.net to see other We Are Atlas ongoing community projects, such as the disposal boxes for single-used vapes (to be recycled as electronics).

Another project is a free eco-scavenger hunt on the streets of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in zip code 11206. This is a street game that was organized for groups starting last fall, marking the moment the world population became 8 billion, on November 15th '22. The content was just transferred online, so anyone could go on the route at their own convenience, alone or with friends. Look for Team A & Team B Clues & Findings on www.WeAreAtlas238. com under the Scavenger Hunt tab. Dress for the weather and reserve 2 to 3 hours of your time (depending on your pace) for a fun activity that involves walking!

Thank you for taking the time to read this far! This campaign is fiscally sponsored by Fractured Atlas, which is a legal entity that allows your donations to be tax deductible (minus the value of the gifts), and which checks that your money goes where it was promised. These are services that require a certain payment taken out of the donations (all crowd funding campaigns are subjected to a fee). Please keep that in mind when you donate, as well as the fact that We Are Atlas will pay taxes based on the amount you offered. Also, some expenses may arise, for instance when the unforgettable-eco-bags will be delivered. These are things to remember, but do not worry, the results will show for as long as more Atlases will join the We Are Atlas joint effort! In other words, share this campaign and don't forget, if you don't have an unforgettable-eco-bag yet, get yourself one soon from your favorite deli!