MANILA, December 24, 2011— An environmental watchdog has urged the public to celebrate Christmas simply but meaningfully, in solidarity with the victims of flash floods in Northern Mindanao.
The EcoWaste Coalition called on the people to avoid crass consumerism in celebrating Christmas and instead donate generously to disaster relief and rehabilitation programs initiated by various sectors to help affected communities, especially in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.
Coalition president Roy Alvarez said that by keeping the celebrations simple, “we avoid falling prey to obtuse consumerism that has veiled the genuine meaning of Christmas and literally wrapped our surroundings with trash.”
“We invite the faithful to celebrate the joyful season in a way that is closer to the simplicity of the first Christmas and to find inner happiness in looking after our fellow human beings and the environment,” he said.
The group also appealed to both public and private sectors to cancel firework shows on Christmas and the New Year and channel the funds instead to help rebuild the lives and homes of typhoon victims.
A simple celebration of Christmas would cut down unnecessary expenses and wastes, as “unrestrained celebrations eat up huge amounts of raw materials and energy, and generate voluminous wastes and pollutants, including greenhouse gases that cause the planet to heat up,” the group pointed out.
The group said “discarded plastic bags, disposable containers, packaging materials and party leftovers from Christmas bazaars and parties usually end up in marginalized communities where these are either buried or burned, posing health and environmental hazards to residents.”
“We therefore urge the public to be environmentally responsible and remember the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) as Christmas is observed,” the environmental watchdog said. (CBCPNews)
