Green and Yellow Volunteers Hold Ecological Post-Election Clean Up
Green beauty queens and campaigners for Mother Earth and yellow-clad supporters of presidential race frontrunner Noynoy Aquino braved the blistering summer heat to get rid of unsightly political materials used in the recently-concluded polls.
Miss Philippines-Earth 2010 Kris Psyche Resus led some 100 participants belonging to the EcoWaste Coalition, Miss Earth Foundation, PiNOY Power and local residents in removing campaign materials at the vicinity of the Flora Ylagan High School in Malakas St., Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City.
Resus were joined by fellow eco-queens Miss Philippines-Fire Gwennaelle Ruais, Miss Philippines-Air Renee Rosario McHugh and Miss Philippines-Earth runner up Nadine Bendigo.
Together with Barangay Captain Jesus Lipnica, Jr., the combined green and yellow team of beauty titlists, environmentalists and supporters of winning presidential bet Noynoy Aquino conducted an “eco-clean up” with the two-fold objective of promoting the removal of campaign remnants without delay and ensuring that the materials are duly segregated to facilitate recycling.
The other groups that took part in the clean up drive were the Akbayan, Buklod Tao, Citizens’ Organization Concerned with Advocating Philippine Environmental Sustainability, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Health Care Without Harm, Kupkop Kita Kabayan Foundation, Malayang Tinig ng Kababaihan sa Komunidad, November 17 Movement, Sagip Pasig Movement, Sining Yapak and Zero Waste Philippines.
“By choosing to segregate and recycle the campaign discards, we prevent resources such as paper, plastic and wood from being wasted often through dumping or burning,” Resus said in a statement.
“We bat for eco-clean up because it is not enough just to rid the surroundings of campaign discards and then transfer pollution to other communities where dumpsites operate despite known hazards to human and environmental health,” explained Rei Panaligan, Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.
According to the EcoWaste Coalition, neither dumping nor burning will truly solve the post-election garbage woes.
“The campaign discards may be out of sight after a usual clean up, but they’re really far from gone since waste dumping and burning can cause the formation of toxic leachate and gases that can pollute the air, water and soil and even the food supply,” the waste and pollution watchdog said.
At the eco-clean up, the participants removed assorted campaign materials, mostly made of paper and plastic, that were on school walls, waiting shed, street posts and cables.
After removal, the materials were then sorted, bundled and placed on used rice sacks that bear the recycling symbol of three chasing arrows.
The segregated paper and plastic materials were brought and sold to a junk shop for recycling.
The bamboo frames were given to the barangay for gardening and other useful purposes.
“With this action, we hope to encourage our people to get into the post-election clean up mode that should be carried out with urgency and with the health and safety of our communities in mind,” the groups said
-end-
Miss Philippines-Earth 2010 Kris Psyche Resus led some 100 participants belonging to the EcoWaste Coalition, Miss Earth Foundation, PiNOY Power and local residents in removing campaign materials at the vicinity of the Flora Ylagan High School in Malakas St., Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City.
Resus were joined by fellow eco-queens Miss Philippines-Fire Gwennaelle Ruais, Miss Philippines-Air Renee Rosario McHugh and Miss Philippines-Earth runner up Nadine Bendigo.
Together with Barangay Captain Jesus Lipnica, Jr., the combined green and yellow team of beauty titlists, environmentalists and supporters of winning presidential bet Noynoy Aquino conducted an “eco-clean up” with the two-fold objective of promoting the removal of campaign remnants without delay and ensuring that the materials are duly segregated to facilitate recycling.
The other groups that took part in the clean up drive were the Akbayan, Buklod Tao, Citizens’ Organization Concerned with Advocating Philippine Environmental Sustainability, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Health Care Without Harm, Kupkop Kita Kabayan Foundation, Malayang Tinig ng Kababaihan sa Komunidad, November 17 Movement, Sagip Pasig Movement, Sining Yapak and Zero Waste Philippines.
“By choosing to segregate and recycle the campaign discards, we prevent resources such as paper, plastic and wood from being wasted often through dumping or burning,” Resus said in a statement.
“We bat for eco-clean up because it is not enough just to rid the surroundings of campaign discards and then transfer pollution to other communities where dumpsites operate despite known hazards to human and environmental health,” explained Rei Panaligan, Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.
According to the EcoWaste Coalition, neither dumping nor burning will truly solve the post-election garbage woes.
“The campaign discards may be out of sight after a usual clean up, but they’re really far from gone since waste dumping and burning can cause the formation of toxic leachate and gases that can pollute the air, water and soil and even the food supply,” the waste and pollution watchdog said.
At the eco-clean up, the participants removed assorted campaign materials, mostly made of paper and plastic, that were on school walls, waiting shed, street posts and cables.
After removal, the materials were then sorted, bundled and placed on used rice sacks that bear the recycling symbol of three chasing arrows.
The segregated paper and plastic materials were brought and sold to a junk shop for recycling.
The bamboo frames were given to the barangay for gardening and other useful purposes.
“With this action, we hope to encourage our people to get into the post-election clean up mode that should be carried out with urgency and with the health and safety of our communities in mind,” the groups said
-end-
EcoWaste Coalition
Unit 329, Eagle Court Condominium
Matalino St.Quezon City, Philippines
+63 2 441-1846
ecowastecoalition@yahoo.com
Comments