Green hopes and wishes for 2009

New year, new hopes, new dreams, new schemes. So, what’s on your wish list this year? Ours is quite a long one it’ll probably take a whole year to tell you about it. So for now, we’re sharing this down-to-earth list from some of the country’s environment-oriented groups who put their heads — and voices — together to make their dream of a green new year a black-and-white reality. Listen to the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (Manny Calonzo), Greenpeace (Beng Ong), Institute for the Development of Educational and Ecological Alternatives (Eileen Sison), Malayang Tining ng Kababaihan sa Komunidad (Osang Palma), Miss Earth Foundation (Cathy Untalan), Mother Earth Foundation (Sonia Mendoza and Baby Reyes), Sagip Pasig Movement (Meth Jimenez), and Sining Yapak (Bang Palacio) as they articulate their green hopes and wishes for 2009:

• For all families to be more concerned about the environment and actually take simple steps to green their lifestyle, such as by cutting down on plastic bags and conserving energy.

• For consumers to experience again the beauty of using the bayong and other reusable bags in lieu of plastic carry bags. (Remember the time when the only thing that our mothers toted to the palengke was a trusty bayong?)

• For more retail outlets to offer their customers incentives for bringing their own reusable carry bags. (I know for a fact that at Shopwise, shoppers double their reward points, convertible to gift certificates, if they use its green bag.)

• For more people to choose not to use drinking straws, plastic bags, and excessive packaging materials.

• For all household members, including the young ones, to learn and practice proper waste segregation.

• For all mayors and barangay officials to strictly implement the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act to effect dramatic reduction in garbage volume. (Speaking of urban blights or eyesores, would some insensitive mayors please tear down their screaming billboards with their faces on them?)

• For more barangays to set up ecology centers or materials recovery facilities.

• For garbage trucks to have fewer trips with more recycling being done at home and in our neighborhoods.

• For all concerned folks to stop burning mixed waste and yard waste such as fallen leaves and grass cuttings.

• For open and controlled dumpsites to be permanently shut down, cleaned up, and rehabilitated.

• For the National Solid Waste Management Commission to enforce ecological alternatives to dumps, landfills, and incinerators.

• For the Supreme Court decision banning waste disposal facilities in watershed areas to be upheld.

• For Metro Manila and the entire country to implement more clean river zones.

• For new trees to be planted to replace the ill-fated trees in front of the Manila Cathedral and other “tree massacre” sites.

• For fruit-bearing trees to be grown in vacant lots and along the road for shade and cleaner air and for free fruits to kids.

• For urban food gardening to be widely promoted to address food safety and security issues.

• For the movement towards ecological, organic, natural and sustainable agriculture to gain more support and success.

• For community members to have access to training opportunities on environmental care as well as for eco-livelihood.

• For our streets and parks to be litter-free (and crime-free).

• For more mothers and parents to recognize the ecological benefits of breastmilk, which is best not only for babies but for Mother Earth as well.

• For children’s toys to be free from all harmful chemicals that will endanger their growth and development.

• For toxic ingredients in consumer products to be phased out and replaced with safe substitutes.

• For more people to go vegetarian.

• For junk food to be junked by school canteens.

• For Congress to enact picture-based health warnings on cigarettes.

• For the ban on smoking to be fully enforced.

• For owners and drivers of smoke-belching vehicles to clean up their engines and stop dirty emissions.

• For rural folks engaged in charcoal making to have access to alternative livelihood to preserve our remaining woodlands.

• For all government offices to put in place a “green procurement” program.

• For lead to be phased out from paints just like the phaseout of lead from gasoline.

• For political parties and politicians eyeing the presidency to include zero waste, chemical safety, environmental health, and climate justice in their agenda.

• For the Commission of Elections to adopt waste reduction strategies for the 2010 elections.

• For more celebrities to get involved in environmental advocacies.

• For more journalists to take up the cudgels for public health and the environment.

• For the fiesta in honor of the Santo Niño on Sunday, Jan. 18 to be free of wasteful plastic buntings and “happy fiesta” banners.

As they say, green and bare it in 2009!

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Fearful forecasts for 2009

Some professions around the world give their two cents’ worth on the economy in 2009: Read this:

• The Air Traffic Controllers’ Association airs its opinion, thus: “We reckon the whole thing is up in the air.”

• The Archaeologists’ Society gives this grave prediction: “The economy will dig itself into theground.”

• The Air Pilots’ Association warns, “We will shortly be encountering a period of turbulence.”

• The Pilots’ Society announces, “We will shortly be beginning our descent.”

• The Flight Engineers’ Union declares, “There will be a short delay for technical reasons.”

• The Botanists’ Society digs in and asserts, “The problems extend right down to the roots.”

• The Bricklayers’ Union gives its solid position: “It’s going to hit a wall.”

• The Chiropractors’ Association makes no bones about it: “The important thing is to relax and let everything click into place.”

• The Clockmakers’ Society gives this timely prediction: “It will tick over at first, but then wind down.”

• The Association of Courier Companies makes this slow but sure forecast: “It’ll get there, but take longer than you think.”

• Here’s the tooth straight from the mouth of The Dentists’ Association: “Now, this won’t hurt a bit.”

• The Meteorologists’ Association tells us what’s in the horizons: “The outlook is gloomy with scattered storms.”

• The Petroleum Importers Society tells us to brace ourselves for the rough ride: “It’ll run out of gas.”

• The Nanotechnology Institute’s prediction is not to be belittled: “There will be improvements, but they will be very, very, very small.”

• The Union of Nurses tells us what lies ahead: “It’ll be a bitter pill to swallow.”

• The Oceanographers’ Institute gives this ripple of warning: “Trouble is coming, wave after wave of it.”

• The Expectant Mothers’ Society delivers this warning: “You’re laboring under a misconception.”

• The Skaters’ Association gives this cold analysis: “It’s like skating on thin ice.”

• According to the Urologists’ Conference, “The notion of recovery just doesn’t hold water.”

• The World Council of Churches can only heave a collective sigh and say, “Only heaven knows!”

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