april 22 is earth day

this earth day, let me share with you an article we wrote few years back. i had this with my former colleague, benedict jan. putting this in words is certainly not the most important thing we can do to mother earth, but  the stewards as we are, we ought to be reminded of what needs to be done. truly, the bigger challenge is how we act on it. 


be captain planet! help save the ailing mother earth

with the high frequency of natural disasters, retreat of glaciers in mountainous areas, abrupt increase in sea level, coastal flooding, and just about the extreme weather condition we now experience, these are the effects brought about by climate change. plants and animals have become extinct, sudden outbreak of diseases in various places are now high -- these and the many more damages are the price we all have to pay for taking for granted the planet that has provided and nurtured us.

nature has taken its toll on us. her own destructive ways of getting back to us to show her displeasure from everything we have caused can now be evidently felt. it is never too late to act on it. the physical impact of climate change may be irreversible, but it can be slowed down. it is about time we give back to her by taking good care of what is left for us.

reduce, reuse, recycle. having heard of this old dictum over a thousand times, does this still impact how you live your life? this is still the greener and more economical ways to help the environment. simply, reducing entails cutting back from where you are now, such as cutting in water consumption at home, waste less energy in lights and equipments, choosing electronics and appliances that are energy- efficient. to reuse is to make do of things that still has value, like reusing old containers and plastic bags, trading or selling outgrown apparel and items at home. recycling, on the other hand, allows the proper disposal of products while setting aside those that can still be of use. aside from reducing the pile of wastes we have, it also helps cut down the need for raw material consumption.

energy conservation. carbon dioxide is the primary contributor to global warming, and because this is emitted from the consumption of energy form fuels, changing our lifestyle can help reduce energy use. starting from the way your home appliances are being handled, that is,  using energy saving bulbs such as LED lamps, turning off and plugging out electronic devices when not in use, and cleaning and replacing air filters regularly.

when getting around and whenever possible, you may walk, use your bike, car pool or use mass transit to save on fuel consumption. did you know that every gallon of gasoline you save avoids 22 pounds of carbon dioxide emission? imagine the immense contribution you can do on your part.

plant trees. as the saying goes, the best time to plant trees was 20 years ago, the second best time is now. the trees' ability to absorb carbon dioxide, thereby decreasing the level of it in the atmosphere can negate to the factors that cause global warming. also, the protection that shields us from natural disaster, the oxygen that it provides us, as well as the refuge they give to animals can help make this planet a completely better place to live in.

we may do little things individually to help protect out ailing mother earth, but it can stir a difference. as efren penaflorida said on his acceptance speech as 2009 CNN hero of the year, "you are the change that you dream as i am the change that i dream, and collectively, we are the change that this world needs to be".