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'Clean and green' observance of All Saints Day encouraged


MANILA, Philippines - A Catholic bishop and an environmental group made a last-minute appeal for Filipinos to keep cemeteries "clean and green" during the All Saints weekend. Caloocan bishop Deogracias Iñiguez Jr. and the Ecowaste Coalition urged the faithful to keep garbage and pollution "to a minimum" to fulfill their responsibility as God's "stewards." "I join the Ecowaste Coalition in urging the faithful to be mindful of the environment as we remember our dear departed ones," Iñiguez, who heads the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines public affairs unit, said in an article posted on the CBCP website. For its part, the Ecowaste Coalition lamented the All Saints weekend is often marred with "wasteful practices and unabashed littering, desecrating cemeteries that are supposed to be hallowed grounds." The group said that over 8,000 tons of garbage is produced daily in Metro Manila alone. "Sacred places such as cemeteries, churches and chapels, could turn into virtual dumpsites if such wasteful use-and-throw practices persist," it said. The Ecowaste Coalition sounded off the following calls: * Pick clean-burning candles that do not give off black fumes or ash. Candles that produce excessive soot can trigger asthma attacks and other respiratory ailments. Also, shun candles with metal wicks, which may contain harmful chemicals such as lead - a neurotoxin. * Light just enough candles to save on money and energy and to minimize pollution. * Offer locally-grown fresh flowers instead of imported ones that are not only costly, but also require tons of energy to get them flown to flower shops. * Refrain from putting flowers in plastic wraps. Plastics eventually end up clogging waterways, injuring and killing marine animals, and poisoning communities with hazardous chemicals such as dioxins. * Desist from bringing or buying excessive amounts of food and beverage to the cemetery to cut on expenses and waste. * Bring your own water in reusable jugs. Discarded plastic bottles add up to the country's garbage problem. Plastics bottles, which are petrochemical products, also require lots of oil and chemicals to manufacture. * Pack everything you wish to bring to the cemetery in reusable bags and baskets in lieu of single-use plastic bags and containers. Instead of plastic disposables, better use banana leaves or containers that can be reused. * Throw all discards into the proper recycling bins and be conscious at all times that littering in the cemetery and elsewhere is a no-no! * Bring home all discards for reusing or recycling. Give food leftovers to pet animals or turn into compost with other biodegradable waste, and reuse or recycle the non-biodegradable discards that may have further use. * Carpool with family instead of traveling in different vehicles. Avoid idling to save gas and avoid pollution. - GMANews.TV