[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’EDITORIAL | Our one and only Earth’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=”]
Saturday, April 22, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
WE ONLY have one Earth. And it may take hundreds, nay, even thousands of years before humans can find and travel to some other suitable planets in the universe should Earth die due to reckless human activities.
So, for the moment, let us make “reduce, reuse, recycle, respond” our mantra from hereon as we mark Earth Day. There is a need to cut back on polluting human activities, including wasteful consumption and disposal practices to avert global warming and its irreversible and grave effects.
But how should we do this? Following up on yesterday’s editorial, here are more doable steps.
Reduce – Check for things that can be repaired or reused before purchasing new ones. Use reusable carry bags when you shop. Opt for products with the least packaging. Find out and try nontoxic substitutes to personal, household and office items containing hazardous chemicals.
Reuse – Pick reusable products that can be cleaned and used time and again. Avoid single-use disposables. Reuse bags, bottles, cans and other containers to extend their life span. Sell or give surplus items to charities or neighbors instead of throwing them out.
Recycle – Separate discards at source, recycle, compost. Patronize products made from recycled materials. Choose recyclable products and containers and recycle them.
Respond – Yes, share practical information on waste prevention, reduction, recycling and composting to community members and friends. Support and get involved in your community materials recovery facilities. Work with community leaders to tap waste pickers as formal partners in the safe and organized recycling of segregated discards. Pressure local government officials to close illegal dumps and manage discards ecologically.
These are just a few concrete steps every Juan can do to advance Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, the law mandating ecological alternatives for managing discards through combined waste prevention, reduction, segregation at source, reuse, recycling and composting.
Let us not harm our one and only Earth.
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
