Garbage spreads like cancer

Raul Ilogon .

IT is everywhere, from the highest peaks to the depths of the sea. Where humans go, it follows.

It used to be seen only in esteros, urban waterways, and big open drains turned human settlements. But now it’s everywhere: beaches, mountains, schools, streets, airports. Even churches are not spared. Wala nang sinasanto. Social media is full it. Almost everyday there are posts condemning litter bugs. There was one fun run, supposedly in celebration of Earth day. Ironically, the route was littered with paper cups.

Studies show that at the rate we are going, in 50 years we will have more plastic garbage in our ocean than fishes. Soon our oceans will have islands made of garbage. Fishes, whales, and turtles die from ingesting so much plastics. Coral reefs vanish because they are covered with trash and plastics. Mind you, the Philippines used to rank 5th among the world’s top plastic polluters. Now we have climbed to Top 3. Are we aspiring for the top spot?

My daughter said, “We worry about global nuclear war but it’s our garbage that is killing us and our planet.” I believe her. Someday, we will all choke in our own trash.

Garbage spreads like cancer. No amount of local government intervention can cure it. Laguindingan town may have won as the cleanest coastline in the whole Philippines but when I went there last week, the garbage was back — littering the beautiful white sand coastline. Yes! That’s only a few weeks after Laguindingan won the award. Clean-up drives are only stop-gap measures. After a while, balik na rin sa dating gawi.

Garbage, like cancer, has no permanent cure even after chemotherapy. But like cancer, it can be prevented.

Garbage, same as cancer, is a lifestyle disease. To avoid getting cancer, observe how you live: live right, avoid stress, eat healthy food, drink lots of water, take your supplements, and exercise. It takes discipline.

With discipline, garbage littering can be prevented. Discipline has to start with yourself. Throwing garbage anywhere has become our lifestyle. We can only control garbage if we change our garbage-lifestyle. Stop throwing garbage anywhere. Put it in your pocket or your bag and take it home for proper disposal.

We can discipline ourselves one step at a time. If you’re a smoker, try throwing butts in ash trays. When outdoors, don’t throw trash anywhere. Try putting it back in an empty cigarette case and dispose of it properly. If you’re a mother, you can start by bringing your own plastic bag in groceries. If you’re a student who loves to eat chichiria, try putting the wrappers in your bag, not in any nook and cranny.

Cagayan de Oro once had the honor of being the cleanest city. We had full-time street sweepers and trash cans in every street. But this is not the case now. Time have changed but our attitudes have not. We still have the mentality that someone will go after our trash. We have to change how we think. Our garbage, our responsibility. Stop throwing trash anywhere. Bring your trash home and dispose of it properly.

Make it a habit. Start with small things, but if we are all doing it, it will make a big impact. It is something! We all complain but let us also do our part because the local government can only do so much. We have to do our part.

Let the change start with you.

Then your family.

Next, the community!

There is hope. Only if we change our ways, then the result will be different.