The month of June of every year is declared as the Philippine Environment Month through Proclamation No. 237, s. 1988. This is to encourage people’s participation and make them more involved in current environmental issues like climate change, plastic pollution, and ecological destruction.
Many of us recognize the problems that are threatening the planet. Climate scientists have declared that we are just a few years before an environmental catastrophe happens, brought about by climate change. Even in our small ways as ordinary Filipinos, there are many things we can do to help protect and conserve Earth.
In this blog, let’s talk about how to celebrate Philippine Environment Month this coming June. These are simple enough to be done by individuals, but can also be done collectively by groups and organizations.
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Plant endemic trees
Tree planting is probably the most popular activity related to the environment. Whenever there are talks about saving the Earth, surely, tree planting will come up as a proposed activity. But most tree planting activities in the country involve foreign exotic trees. This is primarily because they are easier to take care of and they are faster to germinate. But exotic trees have more damaging effects on the environment than good ones.
They naturally alter soil around them and prevent other trees from growing. Wildlife also tends to nest on native trees making exotic trees useless in protecting them. Let us advocate planting native trees because they help recover and expand forest ecosystems of plants and animals. They also secure the livelihood of local people.
Join cleanup drives
Coastal cleanup drives help show people of the reality our environment is facing. Some people may criticize clean up drives because the collected trash will just return, lacking an efficient and effective waste disposal system. But cleanups can be symbolic, showing people how beautiful a place can be if we just stop destroying and start conserving it.
Unplug your devices
Modern day technology still uses energy even when they are turned off and not unplugged. We often fail to see the impact of our electrical consumption on our environment. Unplugging unused electrical gadgets and appliances helps us reduce carbon emission since our electricity is still mainly using fossil fuels.
Walk
Walking or biking from point a to b helps protect our environment. It lessens noise, it helps decrease use of fuel that warms up the atmosphere, and also makes us more fit.
Having said that, we know that most cities in the Philippines are not walking-friendly. Metro Manila, for example, is too car-centric, that in some places, it’s almost impossible to walk without feeling the danger of getting hit by a vehicle. Thus, it is best if we as citizens and taxpayers convince our politicians to make and implement laws that will provide safe spaces for pedestrians.
Carpool to work
Carpooling is one of the ways we can minimize the cars on our roads to improve traffic. It is also beneficial for the environment as it means less fuel being burned and less air pollution.
Teach kids about taking care of the environment
The best time to teach people about looking after the Earth is when they’re young. If you are a writer, you can write children’s books that explore environmental issues and protection that will be easily understood by young readers. If you enjoy performing before children, you can conduct storytelling sessions in schools, libraries, bookstores, and other venues.
You can also organize contests like slogan- and poster-making, essay writing, spoken poetry, or short films where young learners can express what they have learned about environmental conservation.
Eat more planet-friendly meals
We know that eating fruits and vegetables is good for our body and give us long life. But did you know that it’s also great for the planet? Yes! This is because producing plant-based foods is less taxing to our natural resources compared to animal-based foods.
The planetary health diet is a flexible diet with a focus on eating predominantly plant-based foods. It is symbolized by a plate that consists of fruits and vegetables on one half, and the other half divided into grains, legumes, plant oils, some animal products, and a bit of added sugar starchy vegetables.
Support calls for governments and large corporations to take action
Lastly, we have to support organizations and individuals who are seeking accountability from large corporations which are part of the worst polluters of the Earth. Individual actions are commendable, but in reality, without policy and strict enforcement of laws, these are not enough. We need our governments to protect our future by putting in place laws for environmental protection and conservation, and we need large corporations to adhere to these laws.
This is no simple feat. However, as ordinary Filipinos, we can help our climate activists by signing signature campaigns, donating funds to environmental causes, and using our purchasing power to make our voices heard. If possible, let’s buy from small, local businesses, especially those that promote sustainable practices. For example, you can buy fish from ordinary fisherfolk in the coastal regions instead of large fishing companies that destroy the oceans.
