Plastic not a solution to protect from COVID 19 – webinar
A conservation organization encourages the minimal use of plastic products even in a pandemic.
In a webinar titled “Why Should Christians Care for Creation” on August 28, Creation Care Champion Ms. Veronica Mendoza called for continued conservation, recycling, and reducing carbon footprint.
Relating to the current COVID-19 outbreak, she noted the following facts that people should be aware of in using disposable masks:
- Single-use disposable masks are made of plastics called polypropylene
- They are not the exclusive use of medical frontliners anymore
- They are being discarded improperly and finding their way to streets, sewers, parks, beaches, etc.
Mendoza recommended the following ways to still address the plastic problem even as we protect ourselves from COVID-19 and other diseases:
- Embrace reusable masks
- Swap gloves for more frequent handwashing
- Find alternative materials for packaging
According to a 2015 report from the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) that Mendoza presented, the average Filipino produces at least 1 kilogram of plastic trash everyday. Out of that amount of plastic, only 9% of them are actually recycled. Some are incinerated, which is not good for the environment.
“One hundred fifty million tons of plastic in our water system is what we call the Plastic Vortex, a floating mass of plastic in the Pacific Ocean, where 80% are from land and 20% from ships,” she reported. “Plastic could be in what we drink or eat, because some of them have been ingested by animals.”
Mendoza shared and recommended five actions being done at the Zero Waste Movement:
- Refuse – end the use of disposable items and toxin generating goods and services
- Reduce – limit your ecological footprint
- Re-use – choose items you can use over and over again
- Recycle – there is surely usefulness beyond the conventional life cycle of anyting. Nature does not throw away.
- Restore – hasten the revitalization of natural systems. Step back, watch nature heal itself.
In addition to this, she shared steps to aim for zero waste:
- Bring your own container
- Use a “tampipi” (bamboo, rattan, or palm leaf bag) or banana leaf in packaging
- Bring own utensils when dining in
- Refill alcohol in refilling stations
- Use reusable masks but make sure that you are still handwashing and maintaining social distance
‘Christians should be the first to champion creation care’
Ptr. Dave Trinidad, Senior Pastor of Sampaloc Bible Christian Community and Chair of Christians in Conservation (CIC), emphasized that Christians should be among the first ones to know how to care for creation.
“Christ’s disicples can’t love God and not love His creation,” he said.
He elaborated through four points: (1) God cares for His creation (Genesis 1:1, 1:31); (2) We were created to care for creation (Gen. 1:26); (3) God’s covenant covers the material world (Genesis 9:12); and (4) God’s community is part of His creation (Psalm 24:1)
“The Gospel is a ‘green Gospel’. The Good News for sinners is also good news for all creation,” Ptr. Trinidad said.
He encouraged the audience to Conserve, Advocate, Replenish, and Educate (CARE) for the environment.
The webinar was sponsored by CIC, also the Creation Care Commission of PCEC.
