Green is in

I t’s oh-so-hot! I’m sweating profusely as I write this. And I’m hot under the collar because on top of the heat, I must contend with air pollution, like the suffocating and dangerous carbon emissions coming out of vehicles and getting into our lungs. Only this month, I registered my car and subjected it to the mandatory emission test. I paid P400 for it; last year, the fee was only P300. My nearly five-year-old but well maintained car (thanks to Honda’s great service) passed the test with flying colors. Great! Now, I can drive in the streets of Metro Manila knowing that I’m not endangering anybody’s health. I grew up with asthma; I belong to a family of asthmatics so I know how it feels to be deprived of breathing. And Manila’s air quality (or the lack of it) is not helping any. Every day, as I drive to work, I see cars in front of mine spewing billows of black smoke. Did these cars pass the emission test? And then there are the PUJs, belching out smoke with impunity. How did these vehicles pass the emission test?

The authorities must answer these questions. Meanwhile, we contend with global warming. With the Earth Day 2007 just ended, the environmental advocacy group EcoWaste Coalition has released a 101-point survival guide to help ease climate change. This coalition of public interest groups working on waste and pollution concerns has compiled some "green" tips to encourage Filipinos from all walks of life to take concrete steps to protect the local environment and our planet by "living simply and sustainably."

Says EcoWaste Coalition secretary Manny Calonzo, "The survival of the planet is at stake. By following these ‘green’ tips, we personally contribute to the global task of preventing the devastating consequences of climate change. Every step taken to cut greenhouse gases by changing the way we live, travel, shop, and consume will no doubt make a positive difference."

These down-to-earth tips are clustered into seven sections, listing commonsensical ideas that every individual and household can follow to curb climate change. "The idea is to promote a low-carbon lifestyle by using less of the earth’s finite resources and conserving energy," Calonzo points out.

There are ecological tips on how to save energy, conserve water, travel wisely, shop smartly, pass up toxic products, and prevent trash. And then there are tips on how to voice out preferences and change policies.

The EcoWaste Coalition’s "climate change survival tips" zero in on the need to judiciously use resources such as electricity, water, gasoline, goods, and discards which eat up lots of energy derived from the burning of fossil fuels that results in huge quantities of carbon dioxide being pumped out into the atmosphere, the No. 1 culprit in global warming.

Consider these hot facts:

• Using less electricity from oil and coal-fired power plants cuts down the carbon dioxide pumped into the air.

• Maximizing natural lighting and airflow will lessen the use of electrical lights and air conditioners.

• Unplugging electrical appliances and gadgets instead of keeping them plugged in or on stand-by power mode reduces electric consumption.

• Choosing low-energy, long-life compact fluorescent lamps will get you just as much light while using 75 percent less power.

• Conserving water reduces the consumption of fossil fuel energy that is used to tap and transport water into our homes.

• Fixing dripping faucets or toilet tanks, not flushing the toilet unnecessarily, filtering gray water for other uses, shortening shower time, not using running water to thaw meat, using fewer cooking utensils and dishes and other water conservation habits translate to reduced carbon emissions.

• Changing the way we travel will reduce fuel consumption.

• Keeping car use to a minimum, for example, will trim down vehicular fumes and help ease traffic congestion in the city. Walk, bike or use public transportation utilities such as the padyak (pedicab), mass railway transit (LRT, MRT), river ferry, and non-belching tricycle, jeepney or bus.

• Planning your trips, paying your bills online, and sharing car trips with neighbors and friends save energy and cut down air pollution.

• Factories pump out lots of pollution when making new products, so shop smartly. Check for things that can be repaired or reused before purchasing new ones.

• Minimize your shopping trips; select items that are durable and can be repaired, reused, recycled or passed on to other users; reject items that come in excessive packaging, and refuse plastic carry bags.

• Buy local products — they require less energy to transport.

• To prevent the generation of methane and other greenhouse gases, we need to reduce our waste size, segregate at source, and divert as much reusable, recyclable, and biodegradable discards away from landfills and incinerators. As a general rule, we should not bin our discards, but have them repaired, reused or recycled as many times as possible.

"Reusing and recycling delay the need for resource extraction and manufacturing and thus minimize greenhouse gas emissions. We need to shift to a zero waste paradigm where products and processes are redesigned so that wastes and the greenhouse gases produced by those wastes are eliminated," stresses Calonzo.

These "green" tips were contributed mainly by Add Up, Buklod Tao Foundation, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives,Greenpeace Southeast Asia, Health Care Without Harm, and Mother Earth Foundation, and endorsed by several other green groups.

For more information, call the EcoWaste Coalition at 929-0376.

Beat the blues; have a "green day."

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More on the Senior Citizens’ Act

Dear Consumerline,

Did you know that Mercury Drug does not give the Senior Citizens’ discount if you pay with a credit card? They apply the discount only if the purchase is in cash. Is this specified in the Senior Citizens’ Act?

ROLLY PEREZ

And here’s the answer we got from the Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Consumer Protection:

"Republic Act 9257 or the Expanded Senior Citizens’ Act grants discounts to elderly persons in the purchase of certain goods and services, including medicines, regardless of whether it is made with cash or credit card. The issue that Mr. Perez raised in his e-mail has been brought to the attention of Mercury Drug. After a meeting with several government officials including VP Noli de Castro, the company has agreed to honor the discount for both manners of payment. Should there be reports of drugstores still not complying with the said law, these may be directed to the Department of Social Welfare and Development with telephone numbers 931-8130 and 734-8643." 

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