The Ecowaste Coalition has thrown its support behind the Department of Health’s campaign against firecrackers, saying these are harmful not only to humans but to animals and the environment, too.
“We hope to reinforce the high-profile campaign of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and our health workers by informing the public about the other compelling reasons why we should turn away from blasting firecrackers and go for a non-toxic way of heralding the New Year,” Ecowaste president Manny Calonzo said.
Ecowaste, a network of 75 groups, launched last week its “Iwas Paputoxic” campaign to reinforce the DOH’s “Iwas Paputok” program to raise awareness about the toxic effects of pyrotechnics to humans, animals and the environment.
Calonzo said firecrackers contain harmful substances that could trigger chemical sensitivities, asthma and other respirator ailments.
“The bursting of firecrackers (violates) the fundamental right of the people to breathe clean air and goes against the effort of the health and environmental authorities and the citizenry to improve air quality,” he added.
Exploding firecrackers, according to Calonzo, also results in “toxic litter” that adds to the heaps of holiday trash.
And the “loud bangs” of exploding firecrackers also torture and traumatize animals that are “most sensitive” to sound than humans, “hurting their ears, terrifying them and making them flee to safety.”
Ecowaste is promoting the use of “emission-free, zero waste” noisemakers from recycled materials such as tambourines made from bottle caps, maracas from tin cans, cymbals using pot lids, and shakers from plastic bottles, among others.
“While recognizing the marked decline in firecracker-related injuries in the past years, we believe that the DOH and the entire government machinery should do more and aim for zero injury, death and pollution from firecrackers, which is definitely the better way to welcome the New Year,” Calonzo said.