Earth Week 2000

Save the planet. It's the only one we've got. If that sounds too ambitious for you, how about starting with your neighborhood? If that's still too tough, how about starting with your household? You can contribute to environmental protection through proper garbage disposal. You can have the family vehicle checked regularly to reduce its toxic tailpipe emission. You can start a garden -- even a small grouping of potted plants -- to help improve air quality.

Every little bit counts in environmental protection. But in the 21st century, when some countries are harnessing waste for fuel, many Filipinos still refuse to do their little bit in protecting the environment. As the nation marks Earth Week 2000 starting today, Filipinos are still worrying about garbage disposal. Metro Manila is one of the most polluted urban centers in the world. Much noise has been made about forest denudation, yet the country's forest cover continues to dwindle rapidly. Except for a few areas protected in the name of ecotourism, coral reefs are also disappearing, threatening the country's marine resources. There is no aggressive drive to promote environment-friendly technology. Many species of flora and fauna have disappeared or are threatened with extinction.

Some progress has been made. The Clean Air Act is in place, promoting cleaner fuel and a more aggressive campaign against air polluters. But the pace of national efforts to clean up and protect the environment is still too slow. Perhaps many Filipinos are too busy worrying about survival to worry about the environment. Saving the environment, however, will not get in the way of survival.

What is needed is an educational campaign to inform the people that a clean and green environment means a healthier, better life. The campaign for environmental protection and sustainable development needs more initiatives from the national leadership. The Clean Air Act is a good start. With political will and a strong push from the top, there could be a change in Filipinos' interaction with nature. This is no campaign to save some exotic creature few people care about. It's a campaign to improve the quality of life.