The Consumer
A love affair that has to end
By Linda Bolido
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:49:00 02/13/2008
MANILA, Philippines—This Valentine’s Day, the environmental group EcoWaste Coalition is asking Filipinos to show their love not just for humans but for Mother Nature, too.
Specifically, the coalition wants Filipinos to end their love affair with disposables that is wreaking havoc on the environment and the world’s climate. EcoWaste warned that “society’s addiction to everything convenient, trendy and plastic is causing a tremendous stress on our diminishing natural resources and desecrating the environment.”
Gigie Cruz of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Task Force on Plastics said the high demand for disposable items was using up too much raw materials and fossil fuels. The production, consumption and disposal of throw-away products, Cruz said, produced too many toxins and too much waste.
She encouraged Filipinos to return to reusable things and avoid single-use disposables to promote environmental health, conserve resources, reduce wastes and cool the planet.
EcoWaste said disposable cups, straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates, bowls, napkins, placemats, takeout containers and bags had become so popular that people took no notice of their health and environmental costs.
The group pointed out that plastic disposables consumed large quantities of petroleum, aside from not being readily biodegradable. Moreover the plastic products were often dumped carelessly, clogging the waterways, choking marine animals and causing flash floods. If burned, they released toxic pollutants like dioxins, “the most notorious manmade chemical poison known to science.”
This Valentine’s Day, EcoWaste Coalition calls on Filipino consumers to have a heart and choose eco-friendly alternatives, like washable handkerchiefs, refillable mugs, durable tableware, and bayong and other reusable carry bags.
For more environment-friendly tips, e-mail ecowastecoalition@yahoo.com. The EcoWaste Coalition is at Unit 320, Eagle Court, 26 Matalino St., 1101 Quezon City; 9290376, fax 4364733.
Not the same
C.C. Lozano of the Home Shopping Network Inc. wants to make it clear it was not their company that reader Luisa Brodit was complaining about in last week’s The Consumer.
Brodit, according to Lozano, was not in their customer or prospect list.
Lozano stressed that while their company offered “a wide range of quality, imported products through shows aired daily on Shop TV (Skycable CH13, Destiny CH9), we don’t have any minimum quantity/amount purchase requirement—neither do we require our shoppers to buy products they find [they do not] need—to avail of any of our products.”
Lozano advised Brodit and others who may be planning to buy a product shown on television “to beware of unscrupulous telemarketing agents [of companies] introducing themselves as home shopping or claim to be an affiliate or sister company of HSN. Only HSN sells HSN products and we’re proud to be the only home TV shopping company that provides 24-hour customer service.”
HSN, Lozano said, even aired regular advisories to warn the public against knock-offs and counterfeit products sold in tiangges or showrooms at lower prices.
Local invention
Daniel H. Rodriguez of 238 Lecheria Kanluran Calamba City, Laguna (danielhr007@yahoo.com), says Filipinos do not have to look far for a cheap, environment-friendly stove.
Rodriguez was reacting to a New York Times article about a stove developed for developing countries with the assistance of the Shell Foundation.
Rodriguez says his stove uses as fuel coconut shells and husks, and even items considered as trash like dried fruits, vegetable peelings, discarded boxes, etc.
The stove, he adds, is cheaper, costing only about US$5 (a little over P200 at today’s exchange rate) compared to the US$10 foreign invention, and also easy to make requiring cement, sand, steel bars and empty cooking oil can.
He says his stove is kalan tamad because it is easy to operate and kalan walang gastos because it uses trash for fuel.
Send letters to The Consumer, Lifestyle Section, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Chino Roces Ave. cor. Mascardo and Yague Sts., Makati City; or e-mail lbolido@inquirer.com.ph
|
