Iwas-PapuToxic Ngayon Na!

Isa ang patay, lima ang sugatan sa naganap na pagsabog noong Lunes, Nobyembre 15, sa isang pabrika ng paputok sa Angat, Bulacan na tila hudyat sa mga mangyayari pang kapinsalaan at karahasan kakabit ng maingay, mausok at madugong pagsalubong sa Bagong Taon.

Sa tala ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan (DOH), 990 ang nagtamo ng sugat dahil sa paputok at 45 dahil sa ligaw na bala noong 2009. Ang mga biktima ay may edad na dalawang buwan hanggang 78 taon. Ang pinakamaraming kaso (288) ay edad 1-10 o mga maliliit na bata. Karamihan sa mga biktima o 79% ay mga kalalakihan.

Mayorya o 57% sa mga biktima ay direktang gumamit ng paputok.

Dalawa naman noong 2009 ang naiulat na namatay dahil sa paputok. Ang isa ay dahil sa matinding pinsala
sa mata mula sa kwitis, at ang isa naman ay dahil sa pinsala sa utak mula sa jumbo kwiton.

Ang limang pangunahing paputok na nagdulot ng pinsala noong 2009, ayon pa rin sa DOH, ay ang piccolo (30%), kwitis (14%), luces (7%), five star (6%) at pla-pla (5%).

Bunsod ng mga madugong datos na ito ay maagang nagbabala ang DOH sa publiko kontra pagpapaputok, laluna sa hanay ng mga bata, upang maiwasan ang tiyak na panganib sa katawan at kalusugan.

Kaagad na nagpahayag ng suporta sa maagang pangangalampag ng DOH laban sa paputok ang EcoWaste Coalition na naglulunsad ng kampanyang “Iwas-PapuToxic” tuwing Disyembre simula pa noong 2006, kasama ang libu-libong mag-aaral sa Krus na Ligas Elementary School, QC (2006), Esteban Abada Elementary School, QC (2007), Claret School (2008) at Marcelo H. del Pilar Elementary School, QC (2009).

Nakatuwang rin ng EcoWaste Coalition ang Miss Earth Foundation, Ministry of Ecology of the Our Lady of Remedies Parish in Malate at Philippine Animal Welfare Society sa pagpapa-abot at paghikayat sa mamamayan na itaguyod ang “Iwas-PapuToxic.”

“We are keen to collaborate with the DOH in achieving our shared purpose of minimizing, if not eliminating, the risks and hazards posed by firecrackers to life, limb and property, and to the ecosystems as a whole,” wika ni Roy Alvarez, Pangulo ng EcoWaste Coalition.

Upang mapalakas at mapalapad pa ang kampanya kontra paputok ay iminungkahi ng EcoWaste Coalition kay Secretary Enrique Ona ang mga sumusunod:

1. Isama ang isyu ng kalikasan sa kampanya ng DOH. Bigyang diin rin na ang usok, basura at ingay mula sa pagpapaputok ay mapanganib sa kalusugan ng tao, hayop at buong ekosistema.

2. Maglabas ng health advisory tungkol sa ingay mula sa pagpapaputok na isang uri rin ng polusyon na may masamang epekto sa pandinig ng tao at hayop.

3. Ipatupad ang pagbabawal sa pag-angkat ng mga paputok ayon sa itinakda ng Republic Act 7183.

4. Maglabas ng “black list” ng mga ipinagbabawal na paputok, kasama ang atomic big triangulo, super lolo at mga kahawig na malalakas na paputok, five star, kwitis, luces, pla-pla, piccolo, watusi, PVC bazooka at iba pa.

5. Italaga bilang “silence zone” o lugar na bawal ang anumang pagpapaputok sa paligid ng mga simbahan, paaralan, ospital, palengke at zoo.

Iminungkahi rin ng EcoWaste Coalition na patampukin ng DOH sa pangangampanya nito ang tagumpay ng Davao City at iba pang lugar na nagpapatupad ng firecracker ban sa kani-kanilang lugar.

Upang higit na maiparating sa madla ang mensahe ay hinimok rin ng grupo ang DOH na hikayatin at palahukin ang iba’t ibang ahensya at sektor, kasama ang mga personalidad sa radyo, telebisyon, pelikula at palakasan, sa naturang kampanya.

Para sa malusog at ligtas na pagharap sa 2011, mag-“Iwas-PapuToxic” na!

Read More

Iwas-PapuToxic Ngayon Na!

Isa ang patay, lima ang sugatan sa naganap na pagsabog noong Lunes, Nobyembre 15, sa isang pabrika ng paputok sa Angat, Bulacan na tila hudyat sa mga mangyayari pang kapinsalaan at karahasan kakabit ng maingay, mausok at madugong pagsalubong sa Bagong Taon.

Sa tala ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan (DOH), 990 ang nagtamo ng sugat dahil sa paputok at 45 dahil sa ligaw na bala noong 2009. Ang mga biktima ay may edad na dalawang buwan hanggang 78 taon. Ang pinakamaraming kaso (288) ay edad 1-10 o mga maliliit na bata. Karamihan sa mga biktima o 79% ay mga kalalakihan.

Mayorya o 57% sa mga biktima ay direktang gumamit ng paputok.

Dalawa naman noong 2009 ang naiulat na namatay dahil sa paputok. Ang isa ay dahil sa matinding pinsala
sa mata mula sa kwitis, at ang isa naman ay dahil sa pinsala sa utak mula sa jumbo kwiton.

Ang limang pangunahing paputok na nagdulot ng pinsala noong 2009, ayon pa rin sa DOH, ay ang piccolo (30%), kwitis (14%), luces (7%), five star (6%) at pla-pla (5%).

Bunsod ng mga madugong datos na ito ay maagang nagbabala ang DOH sa publiko kontra pagpapaputok, laluna sa hanay ng mga bata, upang maiwasan ang tiyak na panganib sa katawan at kalusugan.

Kaagad na nagpahayag ng suporta sa maagang pangangalampag ng DOH laban sa paputok ang EcoWaste Coalition na naglulunsad ng kampanyang “Iwas-PapuToxic” tuwing Disyembre simula pa noong 2006, kasama ang libu-libong mag-aaral sa Krus na Ligas Elementary School, QC (2006), Esteban Abada Elementary School, QC (2007), Claret School (2008) at Marcelo H. del Pilar Elementary School, QC (2009).

Nakatuwang rin ng EcoWaste Coalition ang Miss Earth Foundation, Ministry of Ecology of the Our Lady of Remedies Parish in Malate at Philippine Animal Welfare Society sa pagpapa-abot at paghikayat sa mamamayan na itaguyod ang “Iwas-PapuToxic.”

“We are keen to collaborate with the DOH in achieving our shared purpose of minimizing, if not eliminating, the risks and hazards posed by firecrackers to life, limb and property, and to the ecosystems as a whole,” wika ni Roy Alvarez, Pangulo ng EcoWaste Coalition.

Upang mapalakas at mapalapad pa ang kampanya kontra paputok ay iminungkahi ng EcoWaste Coalition kay Secretary Enrique Ona ang mga sumusunod:

1. Isama ang isyu ng kalikasan sa kampanya ng DOH. Bigyang diin rin na ang usok, basura at ingay mula sa pagpapaputok ay mapanganib sa kalusugan ng tao, hayop at buong ekosistema.

2. Maglabas ng health advisory tungkol sa ingay mula sa pagpapaputok na isang uri rin ng polusyon na may masamang epekto sa pandinig ng tao at hayop.

3. Ipatupad ang pagbabawal sa pag-angkat ng mga paputok ayon sa itinakda ng Republic Act 7183.

4. Maglabas ng “black list” ng mga ipinagbabawal na paputok, kasama ang atomic big triangulo, super lolo at mga kahawig na malalakas na paputok, five star, kwitis, luces, pla-pla, piccolo, watusi, PVC bazooka at iba pa.

5. Italaga bilang “silence zone” o lugar na bawal ang anumang pagpapaputok sa paligid ng mga simbahan, paaralan, ospital, palengke at zoo.

Iminungkahi rin ng EcoWaste Coalition na patampukin ng DOH sa pangangampanya nito ang tagumpay ng Davao City at iba pang lugar na nagpapatupad ng firecracker ban sa kani-kanilang lugar.

Upang higit na maiparating sa madla ang mensahe ay hinimok rin ng grupo ang DOH na hikayatin at palahukin ang iba’t ibang ahensya at sektor, kasama ang mga personalidad sa radyo, telebisyon, pelikula at palakasan, sa naturang kampanya.

Para sa malusog at ligtas na pagharap sa 2011, mag-“Iwas-PapuToxic” na!

Read More

'Campaign vs cigarette butt littering is sheer hypocrisy'

Two citizens' groups called as 'sheer hypocrisy' a drive against cigarette butt littering launched by a cigarette maker, Philip Morris, last Friday.

The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance, Philippines (FCAP) and the EcoWaste Coalition said the said campaign to distribute cigarette butt receptacles is "below the line advertising gimmick" offering a false solution to the toxic by-product of smoking.

In a statement, they also called the campaign as "a form of deceptive advertising disguised as community service or corporate social responsibility action."

Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp. Inc. launched last Friday a campaign against cigarette butt littering. Receptacles for cigarette butts will be given to local government units "to proactively address the issues caused by cigarette butt litter."

The Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 bans tobacco firms from advertising in "paid" or "above-the-line" media—television, radio, and newspapers—but not in “below-the-line,” which includes social or community work.

'Superficial and disproportionate'

“It is sheer hypocrisy on their part to tackle cigarette butt littering, but continue manufacturing tobacco products that have been causing diseases and deaths to millions of Filipinos,” said Dr. Maricar Limpin, Executive Director of FCAP.

“The provision of cigarette butt receptacles offers a very superficial and disproportionate approach to the severe health and environmental impacts of tobacco addiction. It misleadingly promotes the notion that it is perfectly alright for the people to smoke as long as they properly throw the butts," added Dr. Leah Primitiva Samaco-Paquiz, Secretary of the EcoWaste Coalition.

The two groups also reminded the government and LGUs that participating in the campaign is a violation of Joint Memorandum (MC) Circular 2010-01 of the Department of Health and the Civil Service Commission which seeks to protect the bureaucracy from tobacco industry interference.

They also said the campaign "will sow confusion on the government’s implementation of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) that seeks to protect the people from second-hand smoke and help smokers get rid of smoking addiction".

Cigarette butts as no. 2 pollutant

Senator Loren Legarda, on the other hand, called on smokers to dispose cigarette butts responsibly, citing the fact that cigarette butts are the 2nd highest pollutant in the country, according to the Deparment of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

"Smokers should be more responsible when they dispose their used cigarette butts. Smoking alone, with the various chemicals in cigarettes, pollute the air. Now even cigarette butts are major pollutants because they are just being thrown anywhere," Legarda said.

She urged everyone, not only smokers, to throw their litter in waste baskets, and for the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to strictly implement the Anti-Littering Law.

Legarda also noted that cigarette butts take up to about 15 years to break down, according to the Eco-Waste Coalition. Some 4,000 chemicals are released in the process, which can harm ecosystems.

Call for Pnoy to quit smoking

Last May, FCAP asked President Benigno Aquino III to be the poster boy for the government's anti-smoking campaign.

It said Aquino can "make a difference and uphold public health" if he can show the public that he can kick his nicotine habit.

Aquino, however, replied by saying he is not yet ready to stop smoking.

Read More

Health, environmental groups blast tobacco industry's campaign vs. cigarette butts

Two major citizens’ coalitions dismissed an industry-led drive against cigarette butt littering as “below the line advertising gimmick” that offers false solution to the toxic by-product of smoking.

Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance, Philippines (FCAP) and EcoWaste Coalition slammed a move by the tobacco industry to distribute cigarette butt receptacles as a form of deceptive advertising disguised as community service or corporate social responsibility action.

Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp., Inc. (PMFTC), maker of Philip Morris and Marlboro, launched last Friday a campaign that will provide cigarette butt receptacles to local government units (LGUs) “to proactively address the issues caused by cigarette butt litter.”

“It is sheer hypocrisy on their part to tackle cigarette butt littering but continue manufacturing tobacco products that have been causing diseases and deaths to millions of Filipinos,” said Dr. Maricar Limpin, Executive Director of FCAP, adding that "this campaign is akin to providing receptacles to used suicide implements" as she cautioned LGUs not to fall into the advertising trap.

“The provision of cigarette butt receptacles offers a very superficial and disproportionate approach to the severe health and environmental impacts of tobacco addiction. It misleadingly promotes the notion that it is perfectly alright for the people to smoke as long as they properly throw the butts," said Dr. Leah Primitiva Samaco-Paquiz, Secretary of the EcoWaste Coalition.

The PMFTC campaign will sow confusion on the government’s implementation of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) that seeks to protect people from second-hand smoke and help smokers get rid of smoking addiction, the groups insisted.

Distributing cigarette butt receptacles will confound the purpose of LGUs who have agreed to declare their cities and municipalities smoke-free, they stated.

“The government agencies and LGUs that will participate in this gimmick of the PMFTC need to be forewarned that they will be inviting violation of the Joint Memorandum Circular 2010-01 of the Department of Health and the Civil Service Commission,” Limpin emphasized.

Joint MC 2010-01 seeks to protect the bureaucracy from tobacco industry interference in accordance with the FCTC Article 5.3.

As defined in the said Joint MC, “tobacco industry interference refers to the broad array of tactics and strategies used by the tobacco industry to interfere with the setting and implementing of tobacco control measures.”

The Joint MC prohibits public officials and employees from soliciting or accepting, directly or indirectly, any gifts, donations and sponsorships from the tobacco industry.

Read More

EcoWaste calls for affordable eco-friendly bags

BEGINNING today and every Wednesday thereafter, more malls and
supermarkets will observe "Reusable Bag Day" by not providing free
plastic bags for their customers’ purchases or charging them a fee for
preferring plastic bags.

The "Reusable Bag Day Campaign" was launched last month by the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources in partnership with
the National Solid Waste Management Commission, Earth Day Philippines
Network, and the retail industry under the Philippine Amalgamated
Supermarkets Association, Philippine Retailers Association and some
other participating stores.

Some of the bigger outlets like the Ayala Malls, Ever Malls, Hi-Top
Supermarket, Isetann Malls, Makro, Robinson’s Supermart, Savemore, and
SM Hypermart have been implementing this for some time now despite
initial resistance from customers.

The campaign calls for concerted efforts to shift public consciousness
from using plastic bags to reusable bags to address the environmental
hazard posed by improper disposal of plastic bags.

The environmental group EcoWaste Coalition, however, appealed to
participating retailers to bring down the price of their eco-friendly
bags for the benefit of consumers on tight budgets. The group said the
current price of reusable bags which range from P25 to P295 each will
not attract ordinary consumers who might want an alternative to
plastic bags but cannot afford the reusable bags’ price.

"Budget-conscious consumers, even if they appreciate the ecological
benefits of reusable bags, are put off buying anything expensive,"
said Sonia Mendoza of the EcoWaste’s Task Force on Plastics.

EcoWaste said Hi-Top’s reusable bags are P25 each; SM, P35 each;
National Book Store, P65; Healthy Options, P75; Robinson’s, P90;
Shopwise/Rustan, P99.50 for canvas and P60 for waterproof bags; and
Body Shop, P295 each.

"We definitely welcome the initiative of these market leaders to
introduce eco-friendly bags and we hope that more supermarkets and
stores will join the green bandwagon," Mendoza said. "Any scheme that
will allow consumers to get their reusable bags for free or at a
discounted or subsidized price will hopefully bring about increased
preference and demand for reusable bags,"

Mendoza suggested the promotion of home-based, job-generating industry
in the provinces, with support from the private and public sectors,
that can flood the market with more affordable and durable
eco-friendly bags made from non-plastic, cloth-based, and
locally-sourced materials, knowing that plastic reusable bags will
soon disintegrate and pose disposal problems.

Ecowaste advised retailers to encourage their customers to make and
bring their own reusable bags by providing financial and non-financial
rewards such as discount, rebate, movie or museum pass for
earth-friendly buyers.

Gloria Estenzo-Ramos of the Philippine Earth Justice Center advised
consumers to make a "financial sacrifice" and spend money for reusable
bags – if they are not able to make their own – for the sake of the
environment. She pointed out that Chapter IV of RA 9003 provides for
various incentives to encourage and support local government units,
business enterprises, non-government organizations and other entities
to actively implement ecological solid waste management, including
waste prevention, reduction, reuse and recycling activities.

Read More

Never too late to learn about phthalates

It’s in the food you eat; the pencil eraser your child may be chewing
on; the wallpaper, furniture, flooring in your house; the hair spray,
nail polish, deodorant, perfume you put on; in your children’s toys
and, if you have one, in your sex toy, too. We’re referring to the
much-talked-about phthalates, which not everybody knows a lot about.
Well, when it comes to phthalates, it’s never too late to learn.

Fact is, a Reuters report recently dished out some facts about
phthalates. According to the report, the global chemicals industry
produces nearly six million tons of phthalates every year. Phthalates
(a family of industrial chemicals used as plastic softeners or
solvents in many consumer products) are suspected to be the culprits
behind “the massive drop in male fertility globally over the past
decades.” In the developing world, for instance, studies repeatedly
show sperm counts have decreased by about 50 percent in the past half
century. Phthalates have been believed to interfere with the sexual
development of boys in the womb.

Phthalates can damage the lungs, kidneys, and liver.

The report points a finger at food as the main source of phthalates
via plastics used in the food processing machinery. A conglomerate of
environmental groups has zeroed in on the dangerous chemicals that are
present in everyday consumer products that we use from erasers to
adhesives, raincoats to shower curtains, hair spray to perfume,
deodorant to nail polish (and many other beauty products), children’s
toys to sex toys.

Sex toys? According to the Reuters report, a Berlin lab tested samples
from the shaft of a smooth blue vibrator and found it had 55 percent
DEHP (diethylhexyl phthalate) by weight while another called Prince
Charming had 63 percent (how’s that for a deadly Prince Charming?).

While there’s no law covering objects such as pencil cases and
erasers, environmentalists believe that consumers should be given full
information on the chemical properties of the products that they buy.

Now, I’ll buy that.

Read More

Garbage piles up at Metro Manila cemeteries, surrounding streets

As in past years, the observance of All Souls’ Day ended on a messy
note as visitors to major Metro Manila cemeteries left behind not only
prayers for their dearly departed, but also tons of garbage.

However, repeated nagging by environmental groups appeared to have an
effect as the garbage this year was lesser than last year’s, according
to reports on dzBB radio on Tuesday.

It also said security remained tight at the cemeteries for visitors
who still wish to visit the tombs of their departed loved ones.

In Manila’s North Cemetery, dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported at least eight
garbage trucks had to be brought in to haul the trash left behind by
visitors who spent All Souls’ Day there Monday.

The garbage trail extended all the way to streets near the cemetery
including Blumentritt Street and Aurora Boulevard, the report said.

Rains since Monday night made matters worse, adding mud to the garbage
trail inside and outside the North Cemetery, the biggest in the city.

However, cleaning crews said the garbage left behind this year was
“less" compared with that in last year, but they did not elaborate.

Joining the cleaning crew from the city government were members of
environmental group EcoWaste Coalition, some of whom wore “zombasura"
masks.

EcoWaste had called on visitors to cemeteries last week to shun the
“zombasura" image. “Zombasura" a combination of zombies and basura
(garbage) was a term used to denote those who mindlessly throw their
garbage anywhere while inside cemeteries.

At the Manila South Cemetery, meanwhile, dzBB’s Roland Bola reported
garbage was similarly left behind, but cleaned up as of 7 a.m., with
trash gathered and packed into plastic bags.

Most of the garbage included plastic wrappers and bags.

Tight security

Security remained tight at the cemeteries even though the government
had declared Tuesday a regular working day.

Police kept watch against possible violence similar to the fatal
stabbing of a 17-year-old boy in what police believe to be a gang war
Sunday night.

On Monday night, dzBB’s Sam Nielsen reported at least three people
were injured in violent incidents in cemeteries in eastern Metro
Manila.

At Heavens Gate in Antipolo, an unidentified man stabbed a certain
Teddy Santos, 17, while a drunk man stabbed one Gringo Julian, 21.

At the Loyola Memorial Park, five unidentified men assaulted a certain
John Paul Magpayos, 16, who was rushed to the Amang Rodriguez Memorial
Medical Center.

Rains to continue

Meanwhile, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical
Services Administration (PAGASA) said an Intertropical Convergence
Zone (ITCZ) affecting Central and southern Luzon, the Visayas and
Mindanao and a tail-end of a cold front affecting northern Luzon will
bring rains to these areas.

“The whole country will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered
rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming widespread rains over the
eastern sections of Central and Southern Luzon," it said in its 5 a.m.
bulletin.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over
Luzon and coming from the southeast and east over Eastern Visayas and
the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

Light to moderate winds coming from the southeast to east will prevail
over the rest of the country with slight to moderate seas.

Strong to gale force wind is expected to affect the seaboards of
Luzon, prompting PAGASA to urge fishing boats and small seacraft to
avoid going out to sea, and bigger craft to watch out for big waves.

Read More