‘Go green this Christmas’
Environment Secretary Ramon Paje urged the Filipino people on Monday to “go green this Christmas.”
Paje said green should not only represent money and the massive consumerism and commercialism that seem to be equated with Christmas, but also “the color of the environment, which is one thing that Filipinos should also think of in this time of celebrations.”
“This is the season when tons of garbage are produced after all the parties and gift-giving,” he said.
“We enjoin each Filipino to be responsible enough, especially in disposing their trash, so as not to wreak further havoc to our already degraded environment,” he added.
For gift-giving, Paje reiterated his recommendations of reusing Christmas wrappers, using recycled paper and reusable bags or “bayong” to put gifts in, giving live plants as gifts, and patronizing products of companies or organizations known to implement green practices.
As for the endless parties that mark get-togethers among families, co-workers and friends, Paje advises segregating biodegradables or compostables, recyclables, and unusable wastes that include disposables.
He also suggests holding activities that would promote advocacy for environmental causes, such as tree-planting.
“Let us consider purchasing, giving and using gifts and food that come in reusable or recyclable packaging to minimize waste that end up in the dumps and in our esteros,” he said. “The less trash we generate, the less we clog our waterways, and the healthier and cleaner is our environment.”
He also reminds the public that Christmas should be “a time to give thanks to our Creator for giving us one earth to live in, and the best way to show this gratitude is by being responsible stewards of His creation.”*PNA
