Taking care of our Breathing Space

When asked for your corporate environment program what is the first thing that crosses your mind? Tree Planting!

And most often, that is what is required by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of companies as a requisite to an environment compliance certificate (ECC) prior to new undertakings and expansion activities. Usually that is what business’ response to the call for climate change is.

Truth is, if there really is a faithful tree planting then there would have been forests and forests of trees alive considering that even in our grades we were already required to plant at least ten trees to graduate. Perhaps there would barely be any space.

But again, the little saplings we plant are laid victim to vandals, stray animals and the lack of environment police or eco-wardens as some want to call the group, to enforce the law against indiscriminate cutting of trees and converting them into lumber or sadly charcoal. Sadly, we need to further educate our citizenry on the repercussions of their selfish move.

Still I advocate for the planting of more and more trees. And the protection of the right of these trees to live till mature and replaceable and take note, the operative word is replaceable. When you cut a tree, make sure you replace it.

Although it is true that massive tree planting brings in the very much needed oxygen and allows the foliage to digest the gnawing nuisance of carbon dioxide in the air that eats up the ozone layer, there are other methane producers that silently corrupt our fragile earth.

Continuous accumulation of solid waste is one. Whether organic or non-organic, bio-degradable or not, for a time, they occupy space and emit noxious elements that threaten the very thread of our ecosystem. It is my wish that the cleaning up of sewage systems and the maintenance of a good waste disposal system should also be considered as an environment program that would pass as an ECC measure.

Recycling of wastes is also another area where environment programs can be put to effect. And companies who practice “Zero Waste” are commendable in their effort.

In some of the plant tours I have been to for environment education, I have noted that in their garbage segregation there is always a monumental number of fluorescent bulbs that are stored albeit orderly in the hazardous waste areas. Although I know of some light bulb companies who are willing to exchange an incandescent bulb for their LED lamps, I still have not come across a business willing to recycle used and busted fluorescent lamps. If there is any manufacturer who accepts used fluorescent lamps, let yourselves be known through this column so that others may avail of your services and you can be recognized for your valuable effort to recycle and de-load the earth of this debris. Perhaps my “googling” abilities have not gone that far.

Coastal clean-up, deep sea clean-up drives and the maintenance of creeks, brooks and waterways should be done regularly by residents who most often are the culprits of clogged up canals and culverts as well as the growing residue of dirt, grime and solid waste at the sea or river beds. In these beds, even the fish can not sleep.

The communities who live along the creeks and water passages should not pass on floating garbage to the next neighbor. Instead they must responsibly pick it up and dispose of the waste properly in the right receptacles. There has to be a commitment to perform the role of a good citizen by doing one’s share even in these small things which have an eventual big impact.

This is a challenge that remains and that needs a self-sacrificing community to pursue and sustain. As responsible business, perhaps you can support the programs of your community on any of the environment enhancing activities and continue to educate the unaware and the “pretentious unawares” to help in the protection of the environment for it is here where we breathe.