Stop burning objects in pagodasPham Tat Thang, vice chairman of the National Assembly Committee for Culture, Education, Youth and Children, talks to the Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper about efforts to change public behaviour regarding the burning of votive objects in pagodas or shrines. How do you respond to the Viet Nam Buddhist Association’s proposal to ban the burning of votive objects in Buddhist pagodas and shrines? Burning votive objects is a common act in all Vietnamese shrines or pagodas. However, the act of burning votive objects, including paper horses or motor bicycles and others is wasteful and causes environmental pollution. — Photo tienphong.vnSome people have suggested that the authorities should ban the production of votive objects or impose heavy taxes on the production and the consumption of votive objects.