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PRESS RELEASE
Cardinal Sin Asks Citizens to Support a Wasteless
4th World Meeting of Familes
15 January 2003, Quezon City. “Make the 4th World Meeting
of Families a Zero Waste celebration of life,” says Jaime Cardinal Sin
in a statement issued in support of the Church-NGO project to minimize waste
at the PICC and Rizal Park. Initiated by the Ecological Waste Coalition, the
project involves the implementation of a waste reduction and segregation scheme
at the two main sites for next week’s Meeting activities. The Coalition
believes that the Zero Waste project will help minimize the environmental impact
of the Meeting and set positive standards for future events.
The Cardinal, who chairs the National Organizing Committee, asks the faithful
to pay attention and observe the following steps:
- · Minimize the creation of waste by using as few resources as possible
at the various events.
- Avoid using plastic and disposable items.
- Separate and dispose waste at the designated “Recycling Stations.”
- Put waste into the proper containers to facilitate recycling and make simpler
the work of cleaners and collectors. Place biodegradable (nabubulok) and non-biodegradable
(hindi nabubulok) waste into their respective bins.
Member groups of the Ecological Waste Coalition lauded Cardinal Sin’s
support, which is consistent with the Church ministry of caring for the earth
and with the state policy of ecological solid waste management as contained
in R.A. 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000).
Church worker Lou Arsenio of Caritas Manila says: "Reducing waste and
maximizing the recycling of discards at the 4th WMF will be one way in which
the Filipino family can shine and help in spreading the word that the family
that prays together also recycles. The support of the Cardinal is welcome indeed.”
“This project is a concrete proof that will demonstrate that waste segregation
at source and recycling can be done if there is a commitment to do it. We appeal
to the participants and the general public to fully support it,” says
environmentalist Sonia Mendoza, President of Mother Earth and Commissioner at
the National Solid Waste Management Commission.
The Ecological Waste Coalition is leading the move, in cooperation with the
Meeting organizers, to reduce waste as much as possible at the 4th World Meeting
of Families. Participating groups include Caritas Manila, Global Alliance for
Incinerator Alternatives, Greenpeace, Health Care Without Harm, Mother Earth
Unlimited, National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace, Recycling
Movement of the Philippines Foundation, Smokey Mountain Resource Recovery Systems
and other public interest NGOs.
For more information, please contact Lou Arsenio of Caritas Manila (63 2 5641831)
or Manny Calonzo of GAIA (63 2 9290376).
About the Project >
Read Archbishop Jaime Cardinal
Sin's Letter>>
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