'Green' ways to observe Holy Week

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MANILA, Philippines - An environmental group is encouraging Christian Filipinos to observe the last week of Lent with the planet in mind.

EcoWaste Coalition recently suggested "green" ways to observe Holy Week, which ends on Easter Sunday, April 24.

This year's Earth Day, a day intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the planet's natural environment, also happens to fall on Good Friday.

"The fact that Earth Day this year falls on Good Friday is indeed good for the environment as this should mean less cars on the streets, less energy use in malls, less noise, less non-essential consumption and less garbage. Let Good Friday be a good Earth Day as well," EcoWaste Coalition president Roy Alvarez said in a statement.

He added, "Abstaining from wasteful consumption during the holidays and beyond augurs well for both Mother Earth and the future of our climate change-threatened nation."

EcoWaste Coalition said Kalookan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez Jr. has concurred with the group's call for a green Holy Week in line with "Alay Kapwa," the Catholic Church's Lenten evangelization-action program.

This year's theme for "Alay Kapwa" is "Our Neighbor and Environment, Our Responsibility."

"A green Holy Week is a timely call in response to the wastefulness and greed that is blatantly trashing our fragile environment. I encourage everyone to plan for an earth-friendly and spiritually-nourishing week," Bishop Iñiguez said, adding, "As stewards of God's creation, it is our shared responsibility to respect and preserve Mother Earth and protect her ability to support and perpetuate life."

Here are EcoWaste Coalition's "green" ways to mark the last week of Lent:

No booze and cigarettes. Keep the Pabasa (sung readings of the Gospel account of Christ's Passion) a healthy neighborhood spiritual affair by making your area a "no smoking, no drinking" zone.

Go healthy. Instead of junk food, offer native kakanin (rice cake) and vegetarian meals to your Pabasa participants. Serve these with water, salabat (hot ginger tea), or other fruit juices. During the Easter egg hunt, use only natural ingredients or dyes to color the eggs, and give healthy sweets and treats to kids.

Keep it simple. Skip the firecrackers and confetti during the Easter Salubong. Instead, use fallen leaves and flower petals, which can be composted after the event.

Leave nothing but footprints. Always make it a point to clean up before you leave. Avoid single-use items such as plastic bags, tissue paper, styrofoam and disposable water bottles as you perform your Lenten plans.

Drive less. Walk, ride a bike or take public transport to cut on fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions that can cause global warming and climate change.

Help, help, help. Call off expensive trips this Holy Week and consider giving money to green groups and charities.

source: abs-cbnnews.com