At our own risk

A cleanup done in relation to the International Coastal Cleanup Day recently turned up the usual trash, but aside from the plastic containers, glass bottles, cans, and food wrappers, volunteers also found a lot of discarded face masks in our shores and rivers.

This prompted the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-7 to urge people to dispose of their used face masks properly.

Garbage found in our shores and rivers is nothing new. It’s an unfortunate fact that although we Filipinos have good personal hygiene, many of us somehow cannot dispose of their garbage properly.

And because face masks have become required for anyone leaving the house, this item is quickly becoming more and more commonly found discarded in places they shouldn’t be.

Not too long ago, we wrote that items like face masks, face shields, and Personal Protective Equipment would become a problem to deal with, because of the sheer volume they present as trash. And because items like these were made to protect, they aren’t biodegrading anytime soon.

While we are not at that point yet, the fact that items such as these are now being found in our seas and rivers seems to indicate we are headed in that direction.

We would do well to heed such a call from BFAR, as well as other entities warning us of environmental decline.

Whatever good was experienced by the environment because of the halt in human economic activities last year is no more. In some areas in the world economic activities are back in full swing, negating the gains that Mother Nature made.

In other areas, the need to catch up to lost business and economic opportunities have even worsened environmental problems.

Issues regarding how we care for the environment --which can also be linked to climate change-- are at the risk of becoming eclipsed by the issues about the pandemic, as well as others brought on by the economic slowdown.

We ignore calls to help heal Mother Nature at our own risk.