Youth leaders call for toxic-free environment

CHEMICAL pollution is an important issue for the youth given its direct impact on their health, bodies and future. Fetuses, infants and children are most at risk from the harmful exposure to numerous toxic substances that we now commonly find in the air we breathe, in the products we buy, and the food we eat.

Recognizing the potentials of the youth as key partners in the quest to make the environment safe and clean, the Ecowaste Coalition, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) and Earth-UST organized the "Youth Workshop on Environmental Health and Justice" from May 29-30 at the Center for Ecozoic Living and Learning (CELL) in Silang, Cavite.

"As members of the society, young people need to be provided with environmental education and training to effectively understand and act upon the toxic threats in their respective communities," Gigie Cruz of GAIA said in a press statement.

For his part, LJ Pasion of Earth-UST said: "In the struggle to save the future, the youth plays a huge part because we're the ones who can live long enough to actually see it. The future is ours."

Eager to share and learn from one another, some 41 youth leaders from 20 community and school-based organizations in Metro Manila and the nearby provinces of Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite and Laguna spent two days together learning about waste and pollution issues, and youth responsibilities. Among the enthusiastic participants were young people from communities that are suffering from the health and environmental effects arising from the dumping and burning of discards.

On the first day of the workshop, the participants visited communities in Carmona, Silang, Tanza and Trece Martires, Cavite and interacted with community advocates for the ecological management of discards. The second day was spent learning more about the issues and solutions, and discussing possibilities for youth action and cooperation.

The visit to the Cavite Institute in Silang particularly stirred the interest of the participants when a team of high school students narrated how WISHCRAFT is "transforming garbage into gold." WISHCRAFT stands for "Win a Scholarship through the Collection of Recyclables and Frequently Generated Trash." Imagine 16 scholars graduating from money raised solely from collected discarded materials?

The "cash-for-trash" project involves the collection of recyclables from students' classrooms and houses, which are then brought to the school's receiving station where they are checked, weighed, and exchanged with coupons. The cash equivalents of these coupons are deducted from the tuition fee balance of the scholars. The more recyclables the students collect, the bigger the tuition fee deduction or scholarship grant.

"The success of the project can be attributed to the dedication and commitment demonstrated by the students," said Eny Rojas, outgoing WISHCRAFT adviser, as she encouraged the workshop participants to show concern for the environment by practicing waste reduction, segregation, and recycling. "This initiative didn't only help save Mother Earth, but
also taught our students to become responsible and independent," Rojas added.

Speakers from the Cavite Green Coalition, GAIA, Greenpeace Southeast Asia, Health Care Without Harm, International POPs Elimination Network, and Mother Earth Foundation not only provided information on waste and pollution issues, but also inspired the participants to work actively towards a toxics-free future.

The workshop proved to be a real eye opener for most of the youth participants as they pledged to help advance the cause of environmental health and justice for the benefit of the people.

Participating groups include the Agrilakas-Dagatan Family Farm School; Archdiocese of Manila Ecology Desk; Center for Positive Futures-San Mateo; Christian Foundation for Children and Aging; Earth- UST; Environmental Science Society-Ateneo de Manila University; Haribon UPLB; Kalikas-Lipa City Colleges; Kalikas-STI Lipa City; La Sallian Community Development Center-Cavite; Luntiang Kalikas-De La Salle Lipa; Maskara; Student Council of the Navotas Polytechnic University; November 17 Movement; Pusod, Inc.; San Jose de Troso Parish, Tondo, Manila; St. Joseph Parish, Carmona; United Methodist Church-Obando; and UP Haring Ibon-UP Diliman.

For more information, you may contact Gigie Cruz of GAIA/Ecowaste Coalition at +63 2 9290376.