Is the rubbish of consumerism our most important legacy? And can we stop destroying the oceans, animals, our own selves?

United by the cause “Artists against plastics”, public figures decided to look for an answer to thorny questions such as these on what they have called Social Mondays. By confronting different points of view, this free forum will endeavour to raise important social issues but also to offer solutions – for example eliminating the use of disposable plastics from cafes, restaurants and bars.

The “Monkey House” club, which supports the cause of the artists, is a trail-blazer in replacing all plastic cups, forks, spoons, straws with recyclable and biodegradable items, says actress Lily Geleva. The idea is for more and more restaurants and clubs to evolve towards zero waste – the philosophy of waste-free living.

“What matters most is our realization that every little effort goes a long way,” says actress Lily Geleva. “For example when we shop we are voting for the kind of world we want to live in, and it matters what we shall pick up at the store, and whether we shall say: I don’t want a straw. It is important to travel through life more responsibly. I myself do several things – I try to use public transport or walk, I avoid using things that are disposable, I carry with me a bottle, a glass, a fabric shopping bag, I buy second-hand clothes, at the store I think twice whether I really need one thing or another, I recycle, I separate waste, I estimate how much food I shall need so I do not have to throw anything away. I also think we should eat less animal products because their production costs such enormous amounts of natural resources.”

More awareness and less routine – so we do not automatically reach out for the plastic bottle at the café, for the plastic bag at the supermarket - are simple things but they can change the world.

“If we sit down and think about it – that this spoon will go on existing here on Earth long after you are dead, it is an eye-opener. That is why it is better to leave a different kind of mark in the world than plastics and ugly trash,” saysthe actress whose involvement in environmental causes and eco-conscious way of life were inspired by the documentaries she watched as a child.

“I came to realize that my own comforts and the food on my plate are not all that important as long as they can help the world I live in,” she says. “Our view of the world is global, it is as if we are only interested in saving whales, or some kind of end of the world on the opposite side of the planet. What we should be doing is saving ourselves, because the planet can do without us.”

So as to awaken the sensibility of each and every person so they may take responsibility for the protection of nature personally, Lily Geleva performs a song featuring many other artists. She sends her message sitting on a throne made out of plastic bottles.

“Letter in a Bottle is an ironic ode to a plastic bottle which will outlive me and which is so much closer to eternity than I am,” she says. ”It is a song that appeals to our sense of humour so that we may rethink the mark we are leaving behind. This big project was backed by so many wonderful artists with the idea of spreading the message to as many people as we can. That is a great thing and it gives me real hope.”

Photos: private library