As I Open My Eyes

Global warming is a very common term often heard or read about in the media but few people actually grasp the actual contributions their day-to-day decisions and actions have on worsening the effects of global warming. I have been guilty of ignoring the effects of my daily activities to the environment ever since. I thought my everyday actions are not that huge of contributions for the global warming to worsen. I also thought that the large industries and cars were the only things to blame whenever the topic of global warming comes out of my mind. But, when I took the quiz that the site www.myfootprint.org offers, I came to realize that I actually have been contributing much to global warming and in retrospect, to the danger this phenomenon poses to the planet where I live. Although the site says that I live in an ecologically conscientious lifestyle, still, I have to exert effort to reduce my footprint. As the site says, everything we do has consequences- a statement I chose to disregard before.

• The quiz actually gave me some tips about energy saving habits and features at home such as compact fluorescent bulbs, energy efficient appliances, extra insulation, insulating blinds, solar panels, storm doors and windows and water saving fixtures. The quiz gave me an idea about the environment-friendly things that I could use when I own and maintain my own house in the near future. I also learned from the quiz that our diet and the type of foods that we eat contribute significantly to the increase of our carbon footprint. However, it is hard for me to be a vegetarian so to help lessen my carbon footprint, I simply plan to cut off excess food intake whenever I can. Also, the site says that we must choose foods that have less packaging. I could not agree more. Restaurants (fast-food or fine dining) that do not use reusable materials especially during dine-in orders are despicable. I also became aware of the fact that the faster we buy things, the faster we deplete the resources of the earth. With regard to this, I suggest to my family to buy durable items because these would not only save us time and energy but also reduce our carbon footprint. Recyclable materials are also recommended by the site for it delays the depletion of the earth’s resources.

Another thing that made me more wary of the things that I do everyday is my second time of watching the GMA Network’s full-length documentary entitled Signos: Ang Banta ng Nagbaba- gong Klima. The documentary showcases an in-depth analysis of the current situation of the Philippines and its people which is being altered by the global warming phenomenon. This documentary is highly commendable because it gives a wake-up call to most of the Filipinos who are busy with political problems and personal problems. I am one of them. This documentary serves a help for us to realize that our planet is now suffering from a climate change that might lead in an ice age. Although the documentary aroused many minds to start acting, I hope people, especially the Filipinos, would remain vigilant to the effects of the global warming. I would not want an earth flooded with water, infested by diseases and destroyed by calamities. The fast rising of global sea water levels is really alarming. Global warming is a serious and pressing problem. We should begin taking steps now, like implementing environmental policies, even if this involves significant costs.

Unfortunately, the Philippines cannot brag about any environmental policies in any way. It is indeed true that a Waste Management Act has been implemented, yet if we look at our everyday lives; the sad reality comes crushing down on us Filipinos. We barely care for our environment. We see wrappers all over what should have been a green environment. We see people burning their garbage in their homes and on the streets. We even love to shower ourselves with the abundance of fresh water, which could have been saved. All of these things do not really imply that the Philippines is really affected by global warming (which it is in fact, but more of that later), rather it seems that Philippines plays a big role as a contributor in global warming. If we Filipinos think that we can escape the effects of global warming, we are mistaken. As a matter of fact, the Philippines could even cease to exist because of global warming, because once the sea level has risen a couple of meters, even our highest mountains may not be high enough anymore to sustain a whole country.

• Personally, I started experiencing the adverse effects of global warming in my daily life. Last summer was unbearably hot. I remember a few years ago when I could traverse the streets without an umbrella during summer. But, last summer, I hated being outside the house for even if equipped by an umbrella, I still could not take the heat. Last year, I felt the heat of the summer later that when I did during the summers of the previous years. In our province in Pangasinan, I heard some of my relatives say that the harvest seasons of rice were not the same as compared to several years ago. It alarms me because if global warming continues on altering the agricultural condition of our country, it will be not long enough that we suffer from hunger and famine. 

It is really alarming to hear that global warming has started on affecting our country and the rest of the countries in the world. However, I am glad that I became aware of the topic soon enough. I can still change my lifestyle for I am still young.

SOURCES:

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=emilJurado_feb22_2007

http://www.bloggernews.net/15985

http://www.freewebs.com/lindartw/PHrain02.JPG

https://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/~mikeh/research/philippines.pdf

• SALVADOR, Jay-R D.
• 2006-03105