THE environmental watchdog Eco Waste Coalition on Thursday renewed its campaign against the use of firecrackers and reminded the people of its hazardous effect to human and animal health, as well as the environment.

Led by Miss Earth-Philippines 2007 Jeanne Harn, environment activists from EcoWaste teamed up with students of the Esteban Abada Elementary School in Project 7, Quezon City to launch “Iwas PapuTOXIC 2008,” a campaign that aims to highlight the toxic effects of firecrackers on human, animal and environmental health and to promote the use of alternative noisemakers for the upcoming New Year’s celebration.

“Our customary way of welcoming the New Year by lighting up firecrackers comes with a price: it creates a lot of dirty smoke, piles of trash and risks of serious injuries—all of which are threats to our own health and those around us,” said LJ Pasion, youth  campaigner for the EcoWaste Coalition.

“This tradition has a history of blown-off fingers, burned skin and other bloody injuries. We should move to safer alternatives in order to ensure nobody gets hurt during this usually war-like revelry,” added Pasion.

The eco-group also cited the ill effects of firecrackers on animals, whose more sensitive sense of hearing makes them more vulnerable to loud blasts and explosions.

“We encourage the public to avoid firecrackers and employ safer and cleaner means of celebrating the coming of the New Year, so as to help create a healthier environment for one and all,” stated Harn.

During the event, students of Esteban Abada Elementary School, led by Principal Lilia Galvez, demonstrated the use of alternative noisemakers made from recycled materials and other things commonly found in the household.

These eco-substitutes to firecrackers include horns, tambourines made of bottle caps; maracas made from tin cans; cymbals using pot lids; shakers made from plastic bottles and beverage cans; and soap, toothpaste and medicine boxes filled with seeds or coins.

The EcoWaste Coalition welcomed the proposal from the Department of Health (DOH) for legislative action that will ban the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnics in residential areas to prevent injuries and deaths caused by such devices that are commonplace during the New Year festivities.

Data obtained from DOH indicate that from December 21, 2006 to January 5, 2007, some 1,300 people, most of whom were children, were injured by firecrackers. At least 7 percent of these injuries required amputations. The top contributor to fireworks injuries was the popular boga, or a toy cannon made of polyvinyl chloride pipes, followed by piccolo, five-star and whistle bomb.

53 more Magdalo members released

THE Armed Forces released from detention on Thursday 53 of the 54 noncore leaders of the Magdalo who have earlier admitted to the charges after President Arroyo commuted their seven-year sentence by one month, allowing them to spent the holidays with their families as free men—but civilians.

THE government will likely operate under a reenacted 2007 budget by January 1 owing to the failure of a bicameral conference committee to hammer out a consolidated final version of the P1.23- trillion spending bill for 2008 before the yearend.

THE wife of jailed provincial broadcaster Alexander Adonis has expressed fear for the safety of her husband after learning that the latter was illegally taken out of prison for a purported check-up on December 11.

THE environmental watchdog Eco Waste Coalition on Thursday renewed its campaign against the use of firecrackers and reminded the people of its hazardous effect to human and animal health, as well as the environment.

A LEGISLATOR has filed a bill mandating a total gun ban to address the spate of killings and violence in the country.

THE Ilusorio-Africa group, that constitutes one of the two boards of director of the government-sequestered Philippine Communications Satellite Corp., (Philcomsat) used mere letters signed by the former chairman of the Government Service Insurance System and the solicitor general to replace the presidential appointees in the Philcomsat group, belying its claim it represents the government in these corporations.