Climate Change and the Philippines

Recent scientific studies reveal that human activities have contributed significantly to the increase of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that causes climate change.

The Philippines is a hotspot for climate change disasters particularly the risk for agriculture and food
security due to extreme El Nino and severe tropical cyclones. The spread of infectious diseases are
influenced by fluctuations in climate variables, temperature, relative humidity and rainfall. Sever
super typhoons like Reming that pummeled the Bicol region in 2006 destroyed at least $90-million
worth of agricultural products and infrastructure.

Diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, cholera have increased throughout the years. Climate change
impacts on coastal zones and marine ecosystems caused massive coral bleaching especially in 1998 due
to elevated sea temperature and fish kills and red tides like the one that occurred in 1992 which was
an El Nino period.

Scientists warned the Philippines could experience famine by 2020, as the adverse impact of global
warming takes its toll on natural resources. Thousands will be displaced from their homes especially in
low-lying coastal communities.
P O S T E D B Y I M A G I N E E C H O P R O J E C T S AT 5 : 0 5 P M

Decline of Natural Resources and Biodiversity

The Philippines is suffering from degradation of the natural environment. It has fifty major rivers now
polluted due to abuse and neglect. Approximately two-thirds of the country's original mangroves have
been lost. A hundred years ago, the Philippines had close to 22 million hectares of old growth forest. At
the start of 2000, we had less than 600,000 hectares of old-growth forest left. In one century, we had
cut down close to 97 percent of our original forest. A study by the Environmental Scientists for Social
Change (ESSC) reveals that we have systematically cut this forest down and that we have not stopped
its destruction and that of its core biodiversity.

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) estimates that it takes over 4,000 liters of water to
produce one kilo of rice. Because of the loss of forests, we have less water since most of our
freshwater comes from watersheds found in forests. Therefore, loss of forests means loss of food.

More than 400 plant and animal species found in the Philippines are currently threatened with
extinction, including the Philippine eagle, the tamaraw, and the dugong. In 2001, 49 of the nation's
mammal species, 86 bird species, and 320 plant species were threatened with extinction. Endangered
species in the Philippines include the monkey-eating eagle, Philippine tarsier, tamaraw, four species of
turtle (green sea, hawksbill, olive ridley, and leatherback), Philippines crocodile, sinarapan, and two
species of butterflies. The Cebu warty pig, Panay flying fox, and Chapman's fruit bat have become
extinct.

F R I D A Y, A P R I L 4 , 2 0 0 8

Alarming Waste Problem in the Philippines

The Philippines is looming with garbage problems despite the passage of the Ecological Solid Waste
Management Act or the Republic Act (RA) 9003.

2007 first quarter data from the National Solid Waste Management Commission shows that there are
677 open dumpsites, 343 controlled dumps, and 21 landfills in the country. An additional 307 dump
sites are subject for closure or rehabilitation plans but without definite schedules for enforcement.
About 215 additional landfills are being proposed to be set up nationwide.

About 1,000 open and controlled dump sites exist in the country. Prominent dumps all over the country
can be found in Antipolo and Montalban in Rizal; Baguio City; Calapan, Mindoro Oriental; Carmen,
Cagayan de Oro; Mandurriao, Iloilo City; Obando, Bulacan; and San Pedro, Laguna.

Environmentalists stress that Republic Act 9003 calls for the adoption of the best environmental
practices in ecological waste management and explicitly excludes waste incineration as an ecological
option. These polluting disposal facilities are major sources of greenhouse gas emissions to the
atmosphere which adds to global warming.
Landfills and open dumps, according to studies, account for 34 percent of human-related methane
emissions to the atmosphere, a global warming gas that has 23 times more heat-trapping power than
carbon dioxide. These landfills and open dumps are illegal under RA 9003.

Incinerators, on the other hand, have significantly higher levels of greenhouse gas emissions (per
kilowatt) than a coal-fired power plant when all of the carbon coming out of an incinerator stack is
measured. Such emissions are banned by the countrys Clean Air Act.
Inaction on garbage contributes to the death of at least two persons every minute due to complications
from environmental problems, which could be prevented if the country only developed a more efficient
environmental management program.

Mismanagement of waste has serious environmental consequences: ground and surface water
contamination, local flooding, air pollution, exposure to toxins, and spread of disease. Many of the
disposal sites contain infectious material, thus threatening sanitation workers and waste-pickers.

Annual waste generation in the Philippines is expected to grow 40 percent by 2010. Improvements in
recycling, collection, and disposal will become even more critical as garbage production continues to
increase with population growth and economic development.

Past efforts to promote waste segregation at source have minimal impact despite the presence of
Republic Act 9003. Most of these were barangay, city, and municipal ordinances providing for sanctions
and penalties for non-compliance. Campaigns, seminars, trainings and other different community
activities were implemented with the help of various private groups or NGOs to pursue the objective
of solving the garbage problem.

RA 9003 further calls for the establishment of materials recovery facilities, or ecology centers, in every
barangay or cluster of a barangay. To date, only 1,923 ecology centers exist, serving 2,133 barangays of
a total 41,975 nationwide. In Quezon City alone, only 52 barangays have established Materials Recovery
Facilities out of a total of 142.

Peoples Behavior Toward Waste

Behaviour is a key cultural aspect that is embedded in peoples way of life. Studying a communitys
behavior and introducing new ones requires intensive, long-term, and creative social marketing. This
can be done by studying the demographic and cultural fiber of the community through immersions and
capacity building activities.

The Resources, Environment and Economics Center for Studies, Inc.s (REECS) 2002 study on household
waste management systems and the attitudes and behavior of the communities in two barangays in
Metro Manila ( Bennagen, Nepomuceno, Covar, 2002) showed that:

1. Waste management is still perceived by many as the responsibility of government.

2. Public participation in waste management, especially in segregation at source, remains limited.
3. More extensive awareness- raising activities and training on ecological waste management are
needed, together with stricter enforcement of the Law and local ordinances must be observed.
4. There is lack of community empowerment and political will to resolve the problem.

Recognizing the importance of the environments immediate recovery and effects of improper waste
management to the Philippines, there is a need for understanding and reformation of attitudes and
concern towards the protection of environment. The impending garbage crisis can be prevented if we
only practice waste segregation at source, recycling, and composting as what the law requires. An
intensive social marketing program has to be established on a long-term scale within a barangay the
smallest unit of the local government.
It takes only small steps to make a big difference.
Creating a new, climate-friendly energy future is a daunting task. But in reality, small steps by many people
will change the worldand protect the planet.
We made a short list of the things you can do today to make a difference. Many of the items listed below will save you
money too. Thats rightyou might even make a little green by being green.

Seal the deal. We waste a lot of energy inadvertently heating and cooling the outdoors. Fully close windows,
weather strip, caulk gaps and holes and upgrade your insulation and windows when you renovateyou can
save up to 20 percent on your annual heating and cooling costs.

Recruit the best. Upgrade to high efficiency (ENERGY STAR) water heaters, AC units, lighting and
appliances when it is time to replace old unitsmany of these upgrades even are available with substantial
tax breaks!

Surf. Many states, cities and utilities have programs that make up the cost difference between highefficiency appliances and the average. Do a quick Internet search on your local utility Web site to see if there
are such programs in your area. Energy saved is money saved.

Set and forget it. A programmable thermostat reduces energy use by adjusting temperatures while you
sleep or when youre not home. Keep your home at 68 in the winter and 72 in the summerjust a few
degrees can save you more than 10 percent on your heating bill.

Put the bottle down. Bottled water and other highly packaged items contribute to landfills and emissions.
Filter systems are cleaner and cheaper. Ninety percent of the cost of bottled water goes to the cap and
bottle, making it 240 to 10,000 times more expensive than that of tap water!

Designate a driver. Where possible, use public transportation or carpool. Better yet, walk or bike instead
and enjoy the fresh airstudies show that getting out of your car makes you healthier and happier.

Talk it up. Share what you do with your friends and coworkers. Let your public officials know that you care
about climate issues and remember them in the voting booth.

More you can do to reduce your carbon footprint and do your part to address our global climate challenge.

Plant trees, which absorb carbon dioxide

Use rechargeable batteries

Wash your clothes in cold or warm water

Turn off the heated dry function on your dishwasher

Change your light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)

Environmental problems in
the Philippines
Saving precious remains
There are few signs today of the Philippines' once sprawling rainforests. With
a growing trend in human population, it is hoped that the country's marine
environment will not suffer the same fate.
Overfishing and destructive fishing
Fishers in the Philippines are increasingly coming home with pitiful catches. Of a number of
factors which have led to this situation, one stands out: over-fishing in many areas.
According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), there has been a drop of 90% in the
quantity of marine organisms that can be trawled in some traditional fishing areas of the
Philippines.
This isnt just a question of declining fish stocks and biodiversity, but also of social impacts
and economic losses. Mismanagement of fisheries resources is estimated to cost US$ 420
million annually in lost revenues.

At the root of the overfishing problem is weak fisheries management, ineffective policies and
poor enforcement of fishery laws.

WWF

Coastal infrastructure development

Coastal zone development has been particularly damaging to the Philippines marine
environment, especially to coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrasses.
As populations have increased, so have their needs for construction materials and living
space. Excavation, dredging, and coastal conversion to accommodate coastal development
have seen corals being extracted for reclamation and construction, especially in coastal
villages.
Mangroves have particularly suffered from coastal development, notably at the hands of the
aquaculture industry. In the Philippines, aquaculture has reduced mangrove stands to only
36% of 1900 levels.

WWF-Canon / Jrgen FREUND

Deforestation
After decades of deforestation, which has left about 3% of the original cover, forests
continue to be under threat from agriculture and urbanization, illegal logging and forest
fires.

WINNING HIGH SCHOOL ESSAY: A SWING TO

RENEWABLES
MANILA, DECEMBER 21, 2007 (MALAYA) By Modelynn Quidet (A fourth-year student of
the Misamis Occidental National High School bested 373 participants from 115 high schools
nationwide in the 5th World Environment Day Essay Writing Contest. Modelynn Quidet was

awarded P15,000, a personal computer and a computer set for her school. This is her
winning essay.)
It is amazing how Mother Nature loves us Filipinos so much to provide us with everything
we will ever need: water when we are thirsty, heat when we are cold, food when we are
hungry and everything else in between. There can never be a more perfect place to live in
than the land of abundance, wealth and splendor the Philippines . Its people have been
blessed to be given the chance to experience its gifts. Yet with the natural instinct of man to
stand alone, a Filipino focused on another path different from that already planned by
Nature. This can only lead him, whether he is aware or not, to his own destruction when his
plans flop.
It seems impossible for a country so blessed with natural sources to experience even the
slightest of problems. It seems impossible for its people to experience poverty, loss or even
discontentment. With a land so gifted, residents outside the country could only presume our
problems to be not concerning our needs, but we Filipinos know in full fact it is just that.
Since when did living become a euphemism for surviving? Since when did money become
the measure for ones wealth? Since when did the terms struggle and hardship become part
of every day conversations? These questions only strengthened the fact that we no longer
know the place that we live in anymore. Thousands of Filipinos ask these questions but
millions experience the very things.
So, what led us to these difficulties that even the lightly blessed countries did not
experience? For one, in our efforts to make life easier for us, weve convene on something
we thought could help fossil fuels for energy. Looking only at the better side of things, we
forgot to take a peek at the dangers it brought to the table.
One fact is that energy has become a vital input in a countrys growth. At present, the
Philippines energy needs have been efficiently fulfilled by fossil fuels, the continuous
consumption of which yields negative economic and environmental threats. For one, in a
countrys dependency on fossil fuels, it is exposed to oil price and fluctuations which can
seriously undermine the energy security of the nation. Because of this, food prices and
transport services are directly affected by oil price in the market, poverty ratings go up and
the race to survival begins. Another is that the combustion of these kinds of fuels creates
large amounts of greenhouse gas release. An increase in concentration of these gases,
through emissions, causes an imbalance in the Earth-Atmosphere system thus changing the
regional or global climates of the earth over time. Plus, these fossil fuels take billions of
years to be created so we say they are irreplaceable once we use them up, theyre gone
forever!
And yet nature left us hope! Looking around us, we see our answer Renewable Energy. It
uses natural sources that can be replaced or "renewed" by nature without harming the
environment. It uses natural sources, which the country is abundant in. "Renewables" is
what we call the energy we get from the sunlight, the wind, the tides, and the earths heat.
Renewables are the only source that provides cost-effective energy supply with big carbonsavings. Renewable energy flows are more than enough to supply for our energy needs.

This is because majority of the renewable energy technologies today are indirectly and
directly powered by the sun and there is no shortage of solar derived energy on earth. Plus,
with the abundance of the blessings provided by Nature on the Philippines, shortage on
these sources may be the last thing we will ever experience.
When given the chance, renewables can deliver as the main source for energy supply. It can
provide everything fossil fuels currently offer in terms of energy services, minus the
pollution. Another benefit of discovering a new source of energy is that it can provide a new
industry, in turn, provide new jobs. The renewable energy industry is labor intensive so
manpower is a must in harnessing such energy. This provides an opportunity for Filipinos to
acquire jobs to feed their families and elevate their lives. Renewable energy also boosts a
countrys economy. We could save the funds we are supposed to spend on fossil fuels and
use it to develop our own renewable energy technologies. Since there is no more need for
energy imports, the money stays within the country. An industry like this in the Philippines
will for sure be the foundation to a more progressive economy. People can "live" without oil
price affecting their purchase of food and transportation services. Through this, we uphold
the usage of renewables and help the environment while having the energy security in our
land firmly within our grasp.
With political commitment renewables can deliver to its full potential. The progress on the
usage of renewables in solely supplying our energy needs is still in the budding process.
What we need now to do now is expand first on renewable energy sources and wait for the
proper time. Filipino consumers have their part to act too. They need awareness on such
topics and participate in mapping out their energy future. They should have a say on the
kind of energy they use everyday. They should be alert on the negative impacts of coal on
humans and on the environment. They should take part in behalf of the generations to
come.
So, can renewable energy really save our country? The answer fortunately, is yes. There are
many sources of Renewable energy here in the Philippines that can provide us with strong
and steady source of electricity for our baseload needs. To take advantage of these, though,
we have to speed up renewable energy installation, develop a broad range of renewable
energy technologies and develop strong energy-saving programs. Taking these steps,
seriously, we can start shutting off the most polluting power stations in the Philippines and
shift to a more beneficial source of energy supply.
Renewables play a major role as an alternative to fossil fuels for energy supply here, in the
Philippines . Renewables is the "solution" to the economic difficulties that we experience
right now brought about by fossil fuels. Through this, we help the environment and our
country without sacrificing our comfort zone our lifestyle in the modern times of living.
What we can do now is work with what we have and use it to its full potential. We can use
the beauty of the Philippines to our own advantage with renewable energy. It is cleaner. It is
better. It is better. It is about time we make the ones who really cared proud of us once
more.
Let us do it for the Filipino and for nature!

Sustained forest loss in the Philippines is causing severe soil erosion, and is threatening the
countrys rich biodiversity. This is particularly worrying as many of the Philippines species,
which depend on these forests, are endemic (they cannot be found anywhere else in the
world). For example, of 180 native terrestrial mammal species here, about 61% are
endemic.
Inconsistent laws, inadequate regulations, weak enforcement and lack of funding are
making forest conservation a major challenge.
Pollution
Only about 10% of sewage in the Philippines is treated or disposed of in an environmentally
sound manner. The rest goes back to nature usually the sea.
In this context of poor waste treatment and high population growth, water pollution is a
growing problem for the countrys groundwater, rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. Polluting
industrial material is also found in abandoned mining areas, with mercury pollution affecting
water bodies in these areas.
These problems are unfolding in a context of poor planning, and weak management and
enforcement of regulations.

Environment in the Philippines

by Denny Kang & Steven Waters

Do you care about the environment? The Philippines is a much polluted place but is
improving to change the environment. Many animals and people are having a hard time
living under a bad environment. They are suffering because we dont care about the
environment. Our mind is not ready to reach the point where we have to help the
environment. The Philippines should improve to change the environment.
The targets from the U.N. Millennium Goals are to reduce the loss of environmental
resources such as trees. Their second target is to reduce the loss of biodiversity, the variety
of life. Their third target is to reduce half of the population of people who do not have proper

access to clean water and basic sanitation. Their fourth target is to improve the lives of
people who just live by in an overcrowded urban street. They are very poor that the only
place they can live in is the slums.
The population in the Philippines is about 102 million (indexmundi.com). Trees are cut down
every year which makes living creatures suffer. 2% of trees are cut down every year in the
Philippines. The growth of population creates more water and air pollution since more
people are living. People in the Philippines transport with motor vehicles which creates air
pollution.
For the past decades the Philippines is among the countries with the highest rate of
deforestation (articlesbase.com). 10 forests lost at least 90% of their original habitat and
only 27 thousand forests are left. If the government will not do something to stop this kind of
problem, then most of the Philippine forests will be destroyed. Some cities in the Philippines
are not that polluted because they take care of the environment. Palawan Island contains
the largest remaining expanse of unbroken forest cover in the Philippines (jstor.org).

Some causes of the bad environment would be pollution. Air pollution is created because
there are many cars and motorcycles all around the Philippines. Baguio City is considered to
be the most polluted city in the Philippines due to air pollution (spectrumbluesteel.com). It
is because of the fog from the cool weather and the smoke from the transportation. Pollution
can be natural causes or man-made. People throw trash in the river which creates water
pollution. Many people dont have access to clean water so they just get sick and die. If
people dont waste water and take care of water properly, then these situations would not
happen again.
Many people from different countries are helping out the environment of the Philippines.
64,000 trees were planted to help the environment in 2011 and it is planned to plant 12
million trees more. A workshop was held in Vegan, Philippines to teach children how to
clean the area and how to throw trash properly (web.ebscohost.com). Many people from
churches such as people from Subic Korean Community Church also helped out some kids
in 12th street, Philippines. Brent School is also having a recycling club which will help make a
change to the environment in the Philippines. The United Nations Development Programme
of the Philippines is also helping out the environment.
Air pollution, water pollution and deforestation are the major problems that causes bad
environment. If people continue to help clean their areas and save any recyclable products,
then the Philippines would be a better and a cleaner place in the future. Many people are

helping and teaching children how to clean properly. Since people who live near the slum
dont have access to clean water or basic sanitation, the people who help them should be
responsible for them, then the Philippines would be a happier place

Stop pollution Now

By Carlos81298, New Brunswick, NJ
More by this author
Email me when Carlos81298 contributes work

Image Credit: Bianca C., Phoenix, AZ

The author's comments:

I was inspired by the fact that we are killing thisplanet and we must take care of
it
Pollution is a really big problem in our planet and it must bestopped immediately. It must be
stopped before our planet goes extinct. There are three main reasons, in my opinion, why
pollution should be stopped. We cant keep living in some of the conditions our planet is on
because of us and what we do to it.
The first reason why we should stop pollution is that pollution is destroying the environment
we live in. Power stations produce nearly 10 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year. Carbon
dioxide is a big contribution for pollution. Carbon dioxide affects our climate in many
different ways. The way it works is that basically certain 'greenhouse gases' can't escape
from our atmosphere because they get trapped. CO2 is what plants need to create oxygen.
But when there is too much carbon dioxide being admitted into our environment
from burning fossil fuels, cars etc, and we are cutting down trees for paper, it is
imbalanced. Pollution is the introduction of harmful contaminants into an environment that
causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to living organisms and ecosystems.In 1987,
the U.S. released 1.2 million tons of toxic chemicals into our atmosphere, 670,000 tons into
our soil, and 250,000 tons into our water. 40% of Americas rivers and 46% of Americas
lakes are too polluted for fishing, swimming, or aquatic life. This shows that water pollution,
air pollution, and ground pollution are common.
The second reason why we should stop pollution is that it also affects us humans. Pollution
also affects human life and that is a big problem. According to the US-EPA, emissions from
power plants contribute to over 2,800 lung cancer deaths and 38,200 heart attacks annually

in the US. The risk of cancer from breathing diesel gas is about ten times more than
ingesting all other toxic air pollutants combined, with diesel emissions contributing to over
70% of the cancer risk from air pollution in the USA. both developing and developed
nations, fossil fuel consumption- mostly by industry, vehicles and power plants, releases air
pollutants such as particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ground-level
ozone. According to the World Health Organization, indoor air pollution from the burning of
coal or biomass fuels like wood jeopardizes perhaps half of humanity. Air pollution causes 2
million deaths per year, mostly from heart disease and respiratory disorders like infections
and lung cancer.
The third reason why we should stop pollution is that if we do, we can live longer on this
planet. If we dont stop pollution and global warming, something really bad will happen to
every. Our existance, humans, wont be over if we do the right thing if we all help the
environment. Modern humans have been on Earth for 200,000 years and in those years,
humans have destroyed the planet so quick. We can live longer and extend our existance on
this planet so that our childrens childrens can live in a planet without worries.
In conclusion, pollution must be stopped immediatly and once in for all. This is our only
home and we must protect it and take care of it as much as we can. pollution must be
stopped before we ruin our planet. We can live anywhere else, therefore we must try to
save it.

Pollution is a major concern

" This entire planet is our home. We are the only species that systematically destroy our own
habitat."- Marianne Williamson
Pollution prevention is an exceptionally major global concern because of the harmful effects of
pollution on the persons health and on the environment. Environmental pollution comes in various
forms, such as: air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, etc..
Everyone is a stakeholder as we are all inhabitants of this one and only mother earth. Each person
has something to contribute to advance an effective pollution preventionawareness
initiatives. Environmental protection is caring for ourselves, loving our children and ensuring a
sustainable future for generations to come.
"If we heal the earth, we heal ourselves."
You and I should therefore accept personal responsibility for the success of the environmental
protection programs of our respective community by cooperating and actively participating in making
the atmosphere pollution free. Help stop pollution today. Although on an individual basis we can help
combat pollution in our own immediate environment, efficient control can be best institutionalized
through legislation. Thus, most countries have already addressed the issue by passing some form of
pollution prevention measures.

Averting the onset of pollution in any area, i.e. be it on air, water or land, could be the start and the
simplest preventive solution to the problem. This calls for a conscientious effort to adopt good
practices or habits by the people, the passage and the proper implementation of appropriate
government laws and the strict compliance especially by potential industrial pollutants.
If there are no pollutants, there will be no pollution. And yet, this is easier said than done. Certain
bad habits are entrenched and industrial development somehow carries with it the concomitant
burden of pollution. The cost to business and its commercial ramifications make this rather simple
preventive approach quite complicated and more difficult to implement.

Street trash

Drinking polluted water

Stop global warming

Clean earth

Happy family

Happy family, too!

cardinal feasting on a mulberry

Source: Paloma De Los Santos onto God's marvelous creations!

How can we help?

The good news is that there is hope. This seemingly difficult situation does not deter environmental
protection advocates to pursue their dream for a more pollution-free earth. Kudos to Greenpeace
and all similar organizations all over the world as they bear for us the campaign torch
on environmental issues.

Everyone can help by self education and by adopting good and healthy practices. It is also important
that we help raise awareness about the significance of environmental issues, their dire
consequences and what can be done.
One person alone cannot save the planets biodiversity, but each individuals effort to
encourage natures wealth must not be underestimated.- United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP)
Every action or inaction of any person in regard to her or his surroundings has an effect- be it good,
neutral or bad- on the environment. Nature already provides for our needs.Whatever we do to it gets
back to us. If we are friends of the earth, it will also be friendly to us. By becoming aware and doing
the right action, we choose to be part of the solution. What comes to mind now to serve as
reminders include the following:

Stop smoking or at least follow the No Smoking sign.

Use unleaded gasoline in your cars.

Keep your car properly maintained to keep it in good running condition to avoid smoke
emissions.

Share a ride or engage in car pooling.

Instead of using your cars, choose to walk or ride a bicycle whenever possible. With this ecofriendly practice, you will also be healthier and happier by staying fit.

Never use open fires to dispose of wastes.

Adopt the 3Rs of solid waste management: reduce, reuse and recycle. Inorganic materials
such as metals, glass and plastic; also organic materials like paper, can be reclaimed and
recycled. This takes into account that the proven solution to the problem of proper waste
management (especially in third world countries) is proper disposal (in waste bins for collection
and not in the street where it could fall into drains), waste segregation and collection, and
recycling.

Start composting brown leaves in your yard and green scraps from your kitchen. It will
reduce waste while improving your yard and garden soils.

Reconnect with nature. Live green by using green power supplied abundantly and freely by
wind and the sun. Hang your laundry to dry to minimize use of gas or electricity from your
dryers. Enjoy fresh air from open windows to lessen the use of air conditioning system.

Patronize local foods and goods. In this manner, transporting goods and foods prepared with
GMOs which uses fuel from conventional energy sources will be minimized.

Use eco-friendly or biodegradable materials instead of plastic which are made up of highly
toxic substances injurious to your health.

Create your green space. Value your garden. Plant more trees and put indoor plants in your
homes.They clean the air, provide oxygen and beautify your surrounding. Thus, care for them
and by protecting them, especially the big trees around and in the forest, you protect yourself
and your family, too.

Have a proper waste disposal system especially for toxic wastes

Take very good care of your pets and their wastes.

Never throw, run or drain or dispose into the water, air, or land any substance in solid, liquid
or gaseous form that shall cause pollution.

Do not cause loud noises and unwanted sounds to avoid noise pollution.

Do not litter in public places. Anti-litter campaigns can educate the populace.

Industries should use fuel with lower sulphur content.

Industries should monitor their air emissions regularly and take measures to ensure
compliance with the prescribed emission standards.

Industries should strictly follow applicable government regulations on pollution control.

Organic waste should be dumped in places far from residential areas.

Say a big "NO" to GMOs or genetically modified organisms. Genetically engineered crops
are not only bad for the environment since they require massive amount of fungicides,
pesticides, and herbicides; but GMO altered foods are also health risks and negatively impact
farmers' livelihood.

Help stop pollution. Join the Earth Day celebration every April 22nd and consider
making it an everyday practice for the rest of your earthly life.
The following reminder has been sourced from facebook (05.04.13) which I added to this article
because of its relevance:
MANDATORY REMINDER FROM CNN- NASA reports that by the next 10 months, earth
gets hotter by 4 degrees from now. Himalayan glaciers are melting @ rapid rate. Our
climate is changing drastically & it's getting worst. We must help fight Global Warming
by doing the following steps:
1) Plant more trees
2) Don't waste water
3) Use cloth bag and don't burn plastic
Pls copy & paste this to your wall: SAVE MOTHER EARTH

Consider these . . . Breathing is life. We know that we will survive without food for several weeks
and without water for few days, but without oxygen, we will die in a matter of minutes. The oxygen,
the air we breathe sustains us. So, let us make today and everyday a good day for everyone. Allow
the earth to have more clean air. Help control pollution.
"You're not going to make me have a bad day. If there's oxygen on earth and I'm breathing, it's going
to be a good day." ~Cotton Fitzsimmons
"Negative thinking destroys your brain cells and causes global warming." Source: The Scientific
Institute of GetOverIt!
We have a moral and spiritual bond to the planet that God made the source of all living things that
our own survival depends upon. Many urban dwellers have lost their spiritual bond to the earth when
they lose a connection to the natural environment. They can lose their inner peace too. Fr. Shay
Cullen
Final thoughts
Let me leave you with the following excerpts from Eckhart Tolle's "The Power of Now".
". . . The pollution of the planet is only an outside reflection of an inner psychic pollution: millions of
unconscious individuals not taking responsibility for their inner space."
"Are you polluting the world or cleaning up the mess? You are responsible for your inner space;
nobody else is, just as you are responsible for the planet. As within, so without. If humans clear inner
pollution, then they will also cease to create outer pollution."
Another one
What is pollution?, What causes pollution? How can we stop pollution?Pollution is the introduction of
contaminants into an environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem
i.e. physical systems or living organisms . Pollution can take the form of chemical substances, or energy,
such as noise, heat, or light energy. Pollutants, the elements of pollution, can be foreign substances or
energies, or naturally occurring; when naturally occurring, they are considered contaminants when they
exceed natural levels. Pollution is often classed as point source or nonpoint source
pollution. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contaminant -------------- Sources and causes
Air pollution comes from both natural and manmade sources. Though globally manmade pollutants from
combustion, construction, mining, agriculture and warfare are increasingly significant in the air pollution
equation.
Motor vehicle emissions are one of the leading causes of air pollution. China, United States, Russia,
Mexico, and Japan are the world leaders in air pollution emissions. Principal stationary pollution sources
include chemical plants, coal-fired power plants, oil refineries, petrochemical plants, nuclear waste

disposal activity, incinerators, large livestock farms (dairy cows, pigs, poultry, etc.), PVC factories, metals
production factories, plastics factories, and other heavy industry. Agricultural air pollution comes from
contemporary practices which include clear felling and burning of natural vegetation as well as spraying of
pesticides and herbicides
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contaminant Pollution prevention (P2) describes activities that reduce the
amount of pollution generated by a process, whether it is consumer consumption, driving, or industrial
production. In contrast to most pollution control strategies, which seek to manage a pollutant after it is
formed and reduce its impact upon the environment, the pollution prevention approach seeks to increase
the efficiency of a process, thereby reducing the amount of pollution generated at its source. Although
there is wide agreement that source reduction is the preferred strategy, some professionals also use the
term pollution prevention to include recycling or
reuse. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollution_p Regulation and monitoring
To protect the environment from the adverse effects of pollution, many nations worldwide have enacted
legislation to regulate various types of pollution as well as to mitigate the adverse effects of
pollution. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contaminant
Pollution control
Pollution control is a term used in environmental management. It means the control of emissions and
effluents into air, water or soil. Without pollution control, the waste products from consumption, heating,
agriculture, mining, manufacturing, transportation and other human activities, whether they accumulate or
disperse, will degrade the environment. In the hierarchy of controls, pollution prevention and waste
minimization are more desirable than pollution control. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contaminant
Pollution control devices
Dust collection systems
Cyclones
Electrostatic precipitators
Baghouses
Scrubbers
Baffle spray scrubber
Cyclonic spray scrubber
Ejector venturi scrubber
Mechanically aided scrubber
Spray tower
Wet scrubber
Sewage treatment
API oil-water separators[18][12]
Sedimentation (water treatment)
Dissolved air flotation (DAF)
Activated sludge biotreaters
Biofilters
Powdered activated carbon treatment
Vapor recovery systems http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contaminant
Perspectives
The earliest precursor of pollution generated by life forms would have been a natural function of their
existence. The attendant consequences on viability and population levels fell within the sphere of natural
selection. These would have included the demise of a population locally or ultimately, species extinction.
Processes that were untenable would have resulted in a new balance brought about by changes and
adaptations. At the extremes, for any form of life, consideration of pollution is superseded by that of

survival. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contaminant
For humankind, the factor of technology is a distinguishing and critical consideration, both as an enabler
and an additional source of byproducts. Short of survival, human concerns include the range from quality
of life to health hazards. Since science holds experimental demonstration to be definitive, modern
treatment of toxicity or environmental harm involves defining a level at which an effect is observable.
Common examples of fields where practical measurement is crucial include automobile emissions control,
industrial exposure (eg Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) PELs), toxic

How we can Stop Pollution

Anywhere and everywhere, there is pollution that we can see. It could sometimes be pollution in the
air or in the water or some other pollutionthat we still have to discover. At home, when we spray
perfumes to smell good, use pesticides, chemicals and herbicides we still contribute to the pollutants
in the air. There are vehicles zooming and emitting smokes outside and those simple things we do in
our day to day activities that we are unaware that much damage are contributed to our planet. Those
are very simple things that are causing our world with so much pain.
Stop pollution and start within yourself. Learn more about this issue and gather all the details and
facts you can have whether in books, surfing the web and other people that is more knowledgeable
about it than you. All of these will help you have a better understanding of the situation.
Plant trees, fruits or vegetables if you can. Plants can help you produce oxygen and in return
absorbs carbon dioxide in the air. Always think and apply the 3 Rs. Reduce, reuse and recycle
materials and things that can be reduce, possibly reuse and recycle for other purposes such as
newspapers. Save and conserve energy by turning off your lights when you are not using it or you
leave the room, unplug your appliances and more. If not needed and you own a car, do not use it,
instead try to use public vehicles such as train, bus, the subway, jeep etc, since more people use
them and less fossil fuels are being released in the air or you can just walk as much as possible if its
only a short distance or ride a bike or your destination is within 5 to 10 miles. These will help you
exercised as well as it is good for the environment. Help groups or start to speak out to your family,
friends, or neighbors all that you know to be able to have them understand the seriousness of the
situation. Discuss with them what you can do to stop polluting your environment. Do whatever you
can do to get it out and for the world to know. Avoid using plastics because it is one of the poisons of
earth like disposable plastic cups, plastic bags, and other plastic items you do not need. Water
conservation is essential to the stoppage of pollution. You can also designate your own compost in
your yard for healthy life.
Every little thing you can think of doing for the reducing of pollution, do. When things dont
materialize on the first try, try it for the second time and so on. Do not rush yourself into it and take
one step at a time. We can all stop pollution if we actually try. In general, do not waste anything. Our
determination will be the key to successfully prevent and stop pollution. Just do it now and do it
smartly. Be our planets friend.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

We should stop polluting(essay)
Pollution is becoming a serious issue as it causes huge impact to our environments. Millions
of years ago the Earth was the most beautiful planet in the galactic system but now because
of peoples misbehaving it is dying.
First of all, the reason why we should stop polluting the Earth is because of global warming.
Global warming can change our life and planet. Global warming also called as green house
effect. Logically what green house effect means is because air pollution makes an ozone
whole and the ozone whole protects us from sunlight (or else we will be fried), and if there is
a whole in it, the heat will get in end never be able to get out only by going through the
ozone whole. So the Heat will remain still in Earth and gather every time the ozone whole
gets bigger caused by our human activity, we will be fried or over heated by the sunlight
which isnt always good for us. It can give us skin cancer and over burnt skin. However this
is not all the problem of global warming. If the heat gathers and melts the Ice in Antarctica
and Artic, it will make the see water go higher and if that happens unfortunately countries
and Islands will sink to the bottom of the sea.
The second reason why we should stop polluting the Earth is because of animal extinction. If
we keep destroying the nature, thousands or maybe millions of animals will extinct. If one
kind of animal gets extinct, a process called food chain might be damaged, which will then
lead to destruction of all the living things. If everything dies we wont have anything to eat
and once that happens we will die.
The third reason why we should stop polluting the Earth is because when industrial pollution
from factories goes into the ocean it will kill the entire ocean animals such as dolphins, fish,
sharks and many more. Moreover when the polluted water evaporates from the sea,
according to the water cycle acid rain may fall to the ground which is harmful to us.
In my opinion, we should realize how much pollution will affect the Earth and this will lead us
into danger. We should stop polluting our planet by decreasing the pollution such as planting
more trees and trashing litter into the trash bins not into the river or a sea. There are lots of
ways to save the Earth and the biggest problem is pollution.