Recycling

This topic will be much like of a continuation of my "True Environmentalist" and "Second Time" articles. I mentioned on my "True Environmentalist" article that there are other minor things that I did to save the environment and on my "Second Time" article, I talked about recycling.

One of the minor things I am doing right now to save the environment is recycling. As I mentioned on my "Second Time" article, recycling became our common practice due to poverty. But since I am already aware of the environmental issue, my purpose for recycling is not only because of money but due to my concern for the environment.

Let me share to you all the things I did using a recycle material. First on the list is the garbage basket that I created. It is made of used plastic straw, used copper wire and wood. I got the plastic straw from packaging of items I bought from Supermarket or Hardware. I got the copper wire from the spiral notebooks of my kids. And the wood is the excess materials from our house renovation. I just tied 8 woods together, forming a rectangular box, and then knitted the plastic straw and that's it a garbage basket was created.


The second one is the pot I created for my bonsai project and I used Styrofoam to create it. I have detailed the creation of it on my blog about bonsai. I also created a pot for my ornamental plant. I have excess cement during the renovation of my house and I used it to create the pots.


The third one is the small chairs we are using when doing our house chores like washing clothes or even when we are having our siesta. My father was a carpenter, and I think I inherited some carpentry skills and interest from him. Since carpentry runs on our blood, it became a hobby to me. My other carpentry works include cabinet, door, roofing for firewood stove, basin, dustpan and towel rack. The materials used were leftover construction materials. My father also used recycled construction materials when he builds our house.


And lastly, the all time favorite, the slipper or flip flop, which I have already discussed how it is being done, on my “Second Time” article.

A Second Time

I have read a blog entitled "A Second Time”, it is all about Jewelry made from vintage watches and other found items. This blog reminds me of my childhood days because I grew up in a poor family and recycling is a way of life. Since we cannot afford to buy new one, we usually settles with second hand or refurbished.


We give second, or even third, fourth life to everything as much as we can. And the most favorite is the flip flop or most commonly known here as slippers. During that time, most of us only wear slippers when going to school, that is why, it is our most overused apparel. And we maximize the use of it even up to the decomposition stage. We do everything to repair it when it is broken so we can use it again.

When only one of it is broken we will look for a slipper that don't have a pair, and we will pair it with the other one that is not broken.
So we will have a pair of slippers that is not similar, left one is usually in different color and design from the right one or vice versa. Or sometimes when the bottom is already worn out, we will remove the strap and transfer it to another sole that is not damage. And if doesn’t fit anymore to our feet, we will hand it to younger siblings. If I remember correctly, my mother bought only two slippers for me up to my high school days.

As I mentioned on my earlier post, we Filipinos are unwittingly helping the environment due to poverty. I started to realize that since childhood I'm already helping the environment by doing that. But I hope someday, poverty or money will not be the reason for doing that but due to our genuine concern for the environment.

Do I Practice What I Preach?

Back then, when I read an article or column that preaches what is right, what is the best thing to do and which is not, etc. I usually have the notion of asking whether the author is doing what he/she had preached. You may also have that notion when reading my blog.

Someone may think that I am environmentalist only in writing but in reality I'm not doing it. I'm not super active environmentalist but I walk the talk. As the saying goes, action speaks louder than word. But since you can only relate to your reader through writing, it is very hard to show the things you are currently doing. But I will try.

For me one of the greatest contributions I have in saving the environment is when I was still in college. I have reported a municipal mayor and a barangay captain for making the Pampanga River as their dumpsite for their garbage. Though I did it anonymously for my safety, I know something happened because after I reported it, my friend told me that they saw a Television crew from the television network to which I reported this incident, taking video of the garbage in the river. And few days after that municipal government stopped dumping garbage in the river.

There are other minor things that I know I did to save the environment, but as I mentioned it is very hard to prove, if what I am saying is true. And since some of them I cannot remember anymore the complete details, I will no longer enumerate all of them. But moving forward, I will try to capture everything if possible and will post it on my blog with complete details and pictures. This is not to brag what I did, my only intention is to inspire other to do the same and hope that this may serve as a guide on how to do it.

Good News

If you will notice, the posting of my blog is somewhat irregular. This isn't good for those who are following this blog. To improve my blog, I will make sure that I will post an article every week. I'm not a full time blogger and my Internet Service Provider is unreliable, but I will still try my best to post it every Saturday, beginning August 16, 2009. In case I failed to do it on Saturday, expect it on Sunday. This will give the followers of this blog an idea when will be the next posting. Hope you enjoy it.