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[av_heading heading=’EDITORIAL | Controlled use of firecrackers’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
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Monday, June 26, 2017
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NOT GIVEN much attention last week – due to other pressing matters of national importance such as the Marawi City siege – was President Duterte’s signing of an executive order regulating the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices. The order aims to save lives and protect the climate, the environment and the public health from hazardous emissions and wastes.
Firecrackers and fireworks cause serious, if not fatal, injuries to users and non-users alike. They generate carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change, and produce toxic fumes that exacerbate the air quality and aggravate respiratory and cardiovascular episodes.
Firecrackers and fireworks generate tons of toxic-laced non-reusable and non-recyclable discards disposed of in streets, waterways, dumpsites and landfills, and worse, they can lead to fires.
The massive detonation of both legal and illegal pyrotechnics goes against the basic state policies of protecting human health and the ecosystems as enshrined in the Constitution. Certainly, we can usher in the New Year and celebrate other special occasions in a non-toxic, non-wasteful fashion through non-deafening and non-injurious ways.
Firecrackers and fireworks create thick smog resulting to poor visibility, causing public safety hazards. They produce ear-splitting noise that is painful for humans and animals, especially to cats and dogs.
The truth is firecrackers and fireworks squander hard-earned money for few minutes of “dirty” entertainment that is better spent for food, clothing, books, medicines and other necessities.
Let’s be practical and realistic. Let’s do away with firecrackers to save lives, protect the environment and our health.
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