Typhoon Egay with all the deaths and destruction it caused is a painful reminder for all of us about the disastrous effects of climate change. As this is being written, it is raining like ghosts or monsters quarreling on rooftops to complete about a month of daily strong rains. Enough to loosen our mountainous soil and their hold on rocks which at any time will come tumbling down. One strong downpour lasting for 24 hours or more, the way typhoon Pepeng was, would be all it takes for horrific landslides to occur. People who are fast asleep could be massacred as entire barangays could be wiped out. .
After so many happenings of such magnitude we still appear not to have learned our lesson. How many more in your face reminders do we need?
It takes the whole world composed of societies and communities to make a dent on the problem. Such are composed of people or individuals including you and me. Things have to start somewhere, with you and me.
Let us look at ourselves every day, the plastics we use and throw, the fossil fuels we burn, the things we buy that can be forgone. We should start there, to reduce, reuse and recycle with the goal of allowing mother earth to recuperate. In the process we would in microscopic ways be helping in lessening the causes of climate change. It would also be good for our health as it reduces disasters. Cliché that it is, it is worth repeating. The lives you will save might be your own or those of your family or close relatives and friends.
All it takes is a little effort from everyone.**