AB 1998: 'The Majestic Plastic Bag' Nature Mockumentary Raises Support For California Plastic Bag Ban Bill (VIDEO)

With the California Senate preparing to vote on AB 1998 -- a bill that would ban plastic bags statewide -- Heal the Bay has released a hilarious mockumentary in the vein of a BBC nature film, following the travels of "one of the most clever and illustrious creatures: the plastic bag."

Narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Jeremy Irons, the short video details the journey of a single-use plastic bag through "the open plains of the asphalt jungle," facing many foes on the way, including park services and a teacup Yorkie, "one of nature's most deadly killers." Will the plastic bag ultimately survive the perilous travails, and complete its journey to the sea where it can join millions of tons of other plastic to live indefinitely in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

Heal the Bay created the humorous clip to bring awareness to plastic pollution, and help raise support for AB 1998, which would ban single-use plastic bags from supermarkets, convenience stores, and other similar outlets.

According to Heal the Bay, 19 billion bags are used across California every year, leading to 123,000 tons of waste and costing taxpayers $25 million a year in cleanup efforts.

GO HERE to see how you can help pass this landmark bill, making California the first state to ban plastic bags.

WATCH:

Comments

[Repubnomore]

04:28 PM on 08/19/2010

When I saw the floating plastic bag, the first thing that came to mind was the movie American Beauty. Then I saw the bill, AB 1998.

Is this some strange coincidenc­e or did some legislator use the initials and the year the movie was filmed to make a memorable name for the bill?

[EPAS]

03:32 PM on 08/19/2010

This one is much better!!!!­!

http://www­.futuresta­tes.tv/epi­sodes/plas­tic-bag

[Joanna Phillips]

11:58 AM on 08/19/2010

Agreed. Such a rip off of the original, Ramin Bahrani's "Plastic Bag," narrated by Werner Herzog. http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=YDBtCb61S­d4

[kcyoo]

11:32 AM on 08/19/2010

This is an obvious copy of the original; it's like they're not even trying to hide it.
http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=YDBtCb61S­d4

[sabelmouse]

09:28 AM on 08/19/2010

can any body explain the need for wrapping every single cucumber indevidual­ly in plasti. it's driving me crazy. plastic bags at least make some sense but that!?

[indy100]

02:47 PM on 08/18/2010

Wonderful! Just posted it to Facebook.

[dbmetzger]

02:20 PM on 08/18/2010

Carbon Neutral Round-the-­World Race Underway
Around the world in 80 days? Teams from Australia, Germany and Switzerlan­d have set off on what they hope will be the first carbon neutral race around the world. http://www­.newslook.­com/videos­/242027-ca­rbon-neutr­al-round-t­he-world-r­ace-underw­ay?autopla­y=true

[Debbie338]

12:48 PM on 08/18/2010

Wow. Sheer genius. Thank you, Jeremy Irons, for lending your voice.

[greenturtleman]

11:55 AM on 08/18/2010

Plastic in general needs to be removed from the market place as a packaging material. 3 main reasons we see it in the market place
Its cheap to make (Petroleum by products).
It is very light weight so shipping is less costly.
The convienien­ce of hanging for display and the clear material allows the customer to see through it.
The oil industry increases the fuel price and then one of its own products become more in demand.
A very inbedded complicate­d system.
The green House building movement which I was an early participan­t started with targeting architects­, the Idea was to get there ear on a human scale then let the Idea take root and the customer can be converted within.
The Marketing & distributi­on companies are missing a very good opportuniy to capitalize on a green alternativ­e. Make something that they can replace plastic with and the problem becomes a solution.

Oh yeah figure out how you can get a huge Gov. subsidy to operate your company on.

[SRAC]

10:41 AM on 08/18/2010

If Americans want to preserve what's left of wild America, we will have to start now. Eliminatin­g single use plastic bags is a good step in the right direction.

[cef911f1]

08:10 AM on 08/18/2010

There are a great many other plastic items floating in the Pacific Garbage Dump (as depicted int eh video). Banning the plastic bag isn't going to fix it.

The real problem is people and their propensity to litter. The money spent on this campaign would have been better spent on an anti-litte­ring campaign. These types of problems are more cultural than anything. We need to concentrat­e on changing the culture.

Ps. While I'm not a great fan of plastic bags, they are useful in picking up after our dogs when we go for a walk.

[SRAC]

10:44 AM on 08/18/2010

You are right on about culture. When I first visited Arizona 25 years ago, I was amazed at how much trash there was along the roads.The desert was treated as a trash dump. The people did notice and the State has much less litter now. People can change, they just have to take the first step.

[indy100]

02:50 PM on 08/18/2010

Okay, while I agree with you on using plastic bags to pick up dog poop, that's about the extent of their use and couldn't someone come up with a "poop bag" that would decompose?
Banning plastic bags will not eliminate the Pacific Garbage Dump but it's a great first step. Next up, eliminate all plastic containers­. Make them out of biodegrada­ble materials.

[95flhtcu]

11:32 PM on 08/17/2010

Hopefully, with all the "savings", the state is going to hire all the people that make and distribute those bags. Our good corporate citizens will of course pass those savings from not using bags right on down to you!

[SRAC]

10:45 AM on 08/18/2010

The savings come in the form of a cleaner and healthier plant we call home.

[indy100]

02:52 PM on 08/18/2010

Why don't those corporatio­ns make bags and containers out of biodegrada­ble materials? HUGE potential market there.

[azatrox]

10:44 PM on 08/17/2010

Next those liberal enviroment­lists will expect us to remember a handful of reusable tote bags whenever we go to the grocery store. Taking away our freedoms like they always do.

[SRAC]

10:47 AM on 08/18/2010

You ought to be doing so already. Could you describe what a liberal environmen­talist is for those of us who don't know what that means?

[Debbie338]

12:49 PM on 08/18/2010

I'm pretty sure azatrox was being facetious.

[Bolkonsky]

06:40 PM on 08/17/2010

Yep. Ban them.

(wasn't pretty much this same film already done with a Herzog narration ?)

http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=YDBtCb61S­d4

[rougebaisers]

06:38 PM on 08/17/2010

Humans are so vile.

http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=rwNmobrUw­BA

[SRAC]

10:48 AM on 08/18/2010

Are you alien?