Scrimping for Nature

Scrimping for Nature

For heating my food in the microwave longer than necessary, I got a reminder that today is Earth Day. Meaning: Minimize Yeah right! Save the planet and all that very familiar slogans.

Cut down on electricity. Check. Our aircon is not on 24/7 and we settle for the electric fan when the temperature is tolerable, meaning not enough to cause heat stroke. I do not have that too many gizmos that suck kilowatts.

Fix the leaking faucet. Check. We adjust the water pressure when it is powerful enough to burst our pipes.

Walk. Check. I walk nearly a kilometer a day, giving me a trim figure, perspiring body, and aching feet.

Take mass transportation. Check. I ride in buses, trains, jeepneys….daily and not only on color coding days. It is nice really. I get to save the planet while darting speeding vehicles as I cross the street to the vehicle-loading zone.

Plant a tree. Check. Back in Tacloban, I planted a guava tree in reparation for another guava tree, axed when I off it and sustained a cut on my upper eyelid. Years ago, I also buried some mango seeds in the miniforest behind our house, but I do not know what became of them.

In short, my carbon footprint is minimal. So, next Earth Day, I hope I will not be chastised again for heating my lunch a little longer. I have been Earth friendly. Please give me a little latitude in utilizing some of man’s technological marvels. Better yet, accost that environmentalist who operates a power plant and a lumber mill, owns a fleet of cars, lives in an air-conditioned mansion, charters a jet, sails in a yacht, etc.



- Prospero E. Pulma Jr. -