30 December 2024, Quezon City. As the clock ticks down to a brand new year, the environmental and health advocacy group EcoWaste Coalition led a community meeting and caravan enjoining the public to go “Iwas Paputoxic.”
Organized in collaboration with the leadership of Barangay Bagong Silangan in Quezon City, the event urged residents to avoid the use of “paputoxic” (a term introduced by the EcoWaste Coalition to emphasize the toxic effects of “paputok” or firecrackers) in welcoming 2025.
Bagong Silangan, a highly populated area of some 152,000 citizens, is a partner community of the EcoWaste Coalition for its PHINLA sustainable waste management project.
“We call upon all families to celebrate the New Year in a joyful and safe manner through the use of alternatives to toxic firecrackers and fireworks,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.
“By going ‘Iwas Paputoxic,’ we avoid inflicting harm to ourselves, the children in particular, our pets and our surroundings,” she said, noting that firecrackers and fireworks can cause physical harm to humans and animals, and dirty our environment with nasty air pollutants and hazardous residual waste.
Joining the event on a drizzly morning were the barangay officials and personnel, local police and fire officers, members of various homeowners’ associations, and representatives of fraternity, youth and civic groups, including the Barangay Silangan Resource Collectors’ Association (BASIRCA).
The barangay, police, fire and other community leaders took turns cautioning residents, especially the children, from the reckless use of firecrackers and fireworks.
As the majority of victims of firecracker-related injuries are children, the EcoWaste Coalition prepared mock firecrackers with wicks replaced with bloodied hands and severed fingers to discourage kids, as well as adults, from lighting firecrackers.
During the meeting, the organizers presented some substitute noisemakers, creating a mixture of sounds from the banging of common kitchen utensils such as pots, casseroles and pans, ladles and the jiggling of recycled maracas, piggy banks and other improvised shakers.
Here are some photos of the “Iwas Paputok” Event:
Aside from calling attention to the dangers posed by firecrackers and fireworks, the event also highlighted the benefits of not using firecrackers and fireworks such as:
— preventing accidents that may cause minor to major burns and injuries requiring amputations;
— preventing deafening sounds, blinding lights and noxious fumes from scaring and hurting defenseless cats and dogs;
— preventing the discharge of hazardous chemical pollutants to the air, land and water;
— preventing the generation of residual non-recyclable waste that add to the tons of holiday trash or “holitrash”;
— preventing fire incidents that can destroy properties and claim lives; and,
— preventing wastage of money for a few minutes of entertainment, which is better spent to satisfy essential needs or to help people in need.
“It is our earnest hope that our citizens will heed our call, ensure the health and safety of their families and neighbors, and usher in a new beginning in 2025 with body parts intact, with less trash, and with cleaner air,” the EcoWaste Coalition said.
