Article: Go for an eco-friendly Christmas

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Saturday, December 10, 2005

 

A call and a guide for a safe and simple Yuletide celebration

 

Go for an eco-friendly Christmas

 

 

From the Ecological Waste Coalition

 

Lifestyles and consumption patterns change with the evolution of

society. Today's Christmas celebration, for example, is characterized by

crass commercialism and seemingly lacks the simplicity and spirituality

of this faith-based tradition.

 

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Photo courtesy of Westin

Philippine Plaza

 

Garbage and pollution are now attendant problems to the celebration of

Christmas. It seems as though we cannot revel in the season without the

unrestrained generation and disposal of waste onto our sidewalks and

streets, and into canals, creeks and rivers, vacant lots and open dumps.

 

 

With all that in mind, shouldn't we try to make this year's holiday

season different? As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Redeemer, and

prepare to usher in the new year, the Ecological Waste Coalition is

calling on the public to make this very special season an eco-friendly

one.

 

Below are practical suggestions on how to make the decorations,

festivities, gifts, as well as the celebration of the New Year, safe for

everyone and for Mother Earth.

 

On trimming trees and homes

 

Reuse Christmas decorations from previous years.

 

Make decorating a family affair. For example, encourage each member to

help create a lantern or the Belen from objects found inside the house

or the yard. Try creating biodegradable decorative items from dried

leaves, grass, flowers, corncobs, branches, bark, banana stalks, palm

fronds, etc.

 

Use potted trees or plants as Christmas trees. Other options include

branches or broomsticks in a jar or pot.

 

If you really have to buy decorations . . . Choose items that are local,

natural, energy-efficient, durable, produces little or no waste and uses

nontoxic materials.

 

If possible, avoid stringing too many Christmas lights to save on

energy. Following the example of the City of Makati, savings may be

donated to the charity of your choice. If you really want to light up,

use bulbs with low wattage to save on energy and to avoid overheating

especially if they are going to be left on for longer periods.

 

On planning holiday happenings

 

Plan for modest festivities and donate savings to needy families.

 

Bring Christmas cheer to poor families. An example of what you can do is

to gather old clothes and toys and donate them to street children.

 

If food is catered, request for reusable utensils. If food is bought

from restaurants, bring containers to avoid plastic, styro, etc. Single

use packaging only end up in waterways and dumpsites.

 

Make sure that waste segregation is properly observed. Compost food

wastes. Reuse nonbiodegradables or return them to the factory for

recycling.

 

Choose reusable cloth napkins instead of single use paper napkins. You

can make cheap cloth napkins from cheesecloth or flour bags. Simply wash

and store for future use.

 

Think of rituals and programs that will leave a message of peace and

unity for the country and for the environment.

 

On giving gifts and spreading cheer

 

Collect unused gifts, old clothes, toys, books and other materials and

donate them to a charitable institution.

 

Volunteer your time and talents to projects and services for the

community and the environment. Ask your barangay, church, school or

organization how you can be of help.

 

Personalize gifts by making them yourself. Why not gift friends and

family with your specialty dish, plants from your own backyard,

scrapbooks, or a CD music selection.

 

Give old items that you already have a new look. This not only prevents

waste generation, it also allows room for personal creativity. It also

gives the receiver the feeling that you took the time and effort to

create for her/him.

 

Give products, delicacies from your province. Go for fruits, vegetables,

plants, sweets, condiments, decorative and functional crafts, etc.

 

Give environment-friendly gifts made of recycled materials or products

or services that advocate sustainable living.

 

Buy eco-friendly. When buying gifts, choose products that do not come

from old-growth forests, contain no GMOs, are not fossil fuel based,

nontoxic, and not made from child or abusive labor practices.

 

Wrap up lessons. Give items that will teach recycling such as handouts,

primers and manuals on the different kinds of recycling.

 

Choose gifts that do not need to be wrapped. Meaning potted plants,

massage from blind masseurs, gift checks, concert tickets, raffle

tickets etc.

 

If you need to wrap the gift . . . Use old magazines or newspapers

(especially the comics section), old bandannas, etc. You can also use

craft paper and jazz it up with colored pencils.

 

Send e-card to family and friends with Internet access. Create your own

greeting card to give it a more personal touch or buy cards from groups

with a special mission or advocacy. Make a phone call to friends.

 

For Catholics . . . Offer a Thanksgiving Mass instead of material gifts.

 

 

On shopping for the season

 

Plan your shopping trips and examine your list to save on gifts and fuel

costs.

 

Be ready to carry. Bring a bag, basket, bayong when shopping to avoid

plastic bags.

 

Avoid excessively and expensively packaged items. Remember that the cost

of the packaging is added on to the price of the item.

 

On heralding 2006

 

Avoid generating waste and causing pollution when greeting the New Year

by:

 

Creative reuse or recycling of things that you had planned to throw out

after home cleaning.

 

Using nontoxic cleaning agents. For example, use vinegar instead of

muriatic acid, baking soda instead of chlorinated cleansers etc.

 

Preparing enough and not excessive amounts of food to avoid spoilage.

 

Avoiding styro, plastic and other single-use food packaging materials.

 

Not burning tires and other materials.

 

Not setting off firecrackers and similar materials.

 

Using other forms, other than firecrackers, to create noise. Try shaking

coins in a container, gleeful shouts, banging pots and pans, etc.

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The Ecological Waste Coalition acknowledges the contributions made by

the following partner groups in drawing up this advisory: Archdiocese of

Manila Ecology Desk, Bangon Kalikasan Movement, Cavite Green Coalition,

Concerned Citizens Against Pollution, Global Alliance for Incinerator

Alternatives, Greenpeace Southeast Asia, Health Care Without Harm,

Institute for the Advancement of Educational and Ecological

Alternatives, Kaalagad Katipunang Kristiyano, Maskara, Miriam PEACE,

Mother Earth Foundation, Sining Yapak, Soljuspax, Tanggol Kalikasan, and

Zero Waste Philippines. For more information, visit the Ecological Waste

Coalition at Unit 320, Eagle Court, 26 Matalino Street, Quezon City.