TODAY is the 50th year of Earth Day. As COVID-19 ravages the planet, the global call for climate action and for socially-just and sustainable solutions to the pandemic has become urgent. As the Earth Day Network averred: “The coronavirus pandemic does not shut us down. Instead, it reminds us of what’s at stake in our fight for the planet.”
Indeed, if we don’t demand change to transform our planet and meet our climate crisis, our current state will become the new normal — a world where pandemics and extreme weather events span the globe, leaving already marginalized and vulnerable communities even more at risk.
But what can we do for Mother Earth while on lockdown? There are simple, practical ways by which Filipinos from all walks of life can help address both the novel coronavirus disease and heal the planet from waste, pollution and destruction. Like the acts of kindness and solidarity we’ve been seeing throughout the COVID-19 lockdown, the small and big changes that we make in the way we treat, care for and defend our environment have the potential of spreading on a large scale starting with our families and communities.
Embracing earth-friendly ways will help reduce carbon footprint while protecting public health and the environment against preventable sources of chemical and waste pollution and disease. Why not get started with a zero waste lifestyle as you stay at home to stem the spread of COVID-19; know and cut back on what you throw away starting with single-use plastics.
Use your spending power to prevent and reduce the volume and toxicity of what you buy and discard during the COVID-19 enhanced community quarantine such as by picking non-toxic products with less packaging.
Segregate discards at source, and make composting of food waste and other organics a habit; plunge into home composting and gardening during the lockdown.
Properly dispose of used face masks, gloves, tissues, wipes and other potentially infectious waste with care to ensure the safety of waste workers and to prevent the spillage of such waste into the beaches and the oceans, which can harm aquatic life.
Home-based composting and gardening is a simple yet a most meaningful way of giving back to Mother Earth.
These small steps each of us takes, when combined, is a giant leap to healing our planet.
