Philippine Daily Inquirer Editorial Cartoon, 10 May 2015
The EcoWaste Coalition, a garbage and pollution watchdog, today paid
homage to all mothers who live out the green mantra “reduce, reuse, recycle” as
champions for Mother Earth.
homage to all mothers who live out the green mantra “reduce, reuse, recycle” as
champions for Mother Earth.
Through a press statement coinciding with the celebration
of Mother’s Day, the group lauded the immense contributions that recycling
mothers make to protect and preserve the environment.
of Mother’s Day, the group lauded the immense contributions that recycling
mothers make to protect and preserve the environment.
“Mothers who recycle and teach their children to do the
same are doing a great service to the environment that we all should be
grateful for,” said Aileen Lucero, Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.
same are doing a great service to the environment that we all should be
grateful for,” said Aileen Lucero, Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.
“We thank our mothers for not throwing recyclables to the
bin and for the many environmental, health and financial benefits that
recycling brings,” she said.
bin and for the many environmental, health and financial benefits that
recycling brings,” she said.
Recycling is beneficial to the public health, the
environment and the economy because it:
environment and the economy because it:
– Reduces the volume of discards that goes to the waste
stream for disposal.
stream for disposal.
– Prevents toxic releases into the air, soil and water.
– Decreases pressure for more landfill space and reduces
environmental damage.
environmental damage.
– Saves energy and lessens demand for virgin raw
materials.
materials.
– Prevents deforestation and reduces the demand for
mining and other extractive activities.
mining and other extractive activities.
“Moreover, recycling is an easy way to stir up children’s
love for the environment. It’s an effective technique for teaching
environmental and ethical values to kids through learning by doing,” Lucero
said.
love for the environment. It’s an effective technique for teaching
environmental and ethical values to kids through learning by doing,” Lucero
said.
“It’s a smart way of stretching the household budget and
trimming down expenses while saving the environment at the same time,” she
said.
trimming down expenses while saving the environment at the same time,” she
said.
As Mother’s Day is observed, the EcoWaste Coalition also
exhorted the public to think about the well-being of Mother Earth amid the
changing and warming climate.
exhorted the public to think about the well-being of Mother Earth amid the
changing and warming climate.
To reduce wasteful consumption, the group prodded the
public to consider “alternative gifts” such as giving potted in lieu of cut
flowers, sharing a special meal at home as a substitute for dining out, or
giving handmade cards or gifts instead of buying new ones.
public to consider “alternative gifts” such as giving potted in lieu of cut
flowers, sharing a special meal at home as a substitute for dining out, or
giving handmade cards or gifts instead of buying new ones.
The group also identified other practical ways of showing
one’s love for Mother Earth such as by not littering or burning trash, by
reducing food waste and composting kitchen scraps, by breaking the plastic bag
habit, by recycling e-waste safely, by fixing leaky faucets, by switching off
lights when not needed and by patronizing public transport.
one’s love for Mother Earth such as by not littering or burning trash, by
reducing food waste and composting kitchen scraps, by breaking the plastic bag
habit, by recycling e-waste safely, by fixing leaky faucets, by switching off
lights when not needed and by patronizing public transport.
-end-