"We were shocked to see this culinary celebration where piles of disposable tableware including mugs, glasses, cutlery [...] were handed out in large amounts only to be used for a short time," Benu Village Esch lamented in an indignant facebook post.
Esch's environmental non-profit organisation did not have too many words of praise for the 36th Migration Festival, which took place at Luxexpo from 1 to 3 March last weekend.
While conceding that it is undoubtedly a well-known festival of "integration, respect and social cohesion," the organisation also lashed out at the festival's stance (or lack thereof) on sustainable development. The organisation highlighted the near-daily onslaught of the impact of the use of our fast lifestyles, including the limits of recycling, mountains of landfill, and animals dying of plastic.
The organisation also criticised that rich countries like Luxembourg use developing countries as dumping grounds:"The most perverse aspect of this situation," the organisation argued, is that many of the poorer countries that were represented at the festival are ultimately the ones to be "flooded again with our waste in the coming weeks."
"Let's stop this. Today. Now," the organisation implored, adding that the question of sustainability should always be thoroughly discussed prior to large celebrations and festivals.
The post sparked countless reactions on Facebook. One user commented that she "kept her cutlery for the duration of the festival" to minimise her plastic use.
Another Facebook user, Heather, recommended to "bring your own containers" to take the food home.
Hannah also deplored that these kinds of festivals do not seem to seize the opportunity to prove that alternatives to disposable waste exist.
The Liaison and Action Committee for Foreigners (CLAE) did not comment.
