Thinking Green - Environmental Tips, News, Commentary

Climate change is one of the challenges that our environment is facing. It is the change in the pattern of the weather over a long period of time, mostly decades or centuries. But with the pollution and improper use of energy by people, we are facing a faster climate change which can be harmful for everyone. But of course as with every problem, there is a solution. There are sustainable solutions that we can do to be able to slow or even stop climate change. That is, if everyone will cooperate and do their part for the world. Sustainable solutions are the ways that we can do for the environment that won’t be using or compromising the future needs. It is like avoidance of the negative things that might happen like climate change and in return, it can sustain what we will be using for the future. Here are the top ten ways that we can consider as sustainable solutions for climate change: 1. Walk. God has given us two legs to be able to walk and run. We should use these two legs to walk...

Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees that grow in tropical and subtropical seashores. These areas are hard-hitting places for plants to grow. Mangroves can thrive in salty water and survive in harsh conditions because of their strong roots that can filter the salinity of the sea and only consume the fresh water it needs. Aside from its ability to stand against the salty water of the sea, Mangrove is also well known to contribute to the overall health of the coastal area by providing food, shelter and environmental protection for marine organisms, nest dwellers and even humans living near seashores. This family of shrubs traps and rotates different elements, chemicals, and minerals. Their roots acts as block and provide environmental protection for some various marine organism such as fish and seashells. They also provide food for various marine species such as oyster, shrimp, tarpon, jack, and snook. Not only the marine organisms benefit in mangroves, but their branches also serve...

Davao Region or Southern Mindanao is located southeast of Mindanao. Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Compostela Valley. The Davao Gulf is bounded by these regions. Davao City is its regional center. As it lies outside the typhoon belt, rainfall is evenly distributed though out the year. The area is shielded from the rough weather by Mount Apo, the highest peak in the Philippines. This makes the fauna and flora of the region flourish, nurturing diverse and unique species. But pollution, deforestation, and excessive hunting left these species endangered. The most renowned endangered species of Davao is The Philippine Eagle . It is similarly called Haribon or monkey-eating eagle. Only found in the Philippine islands of Mindanao, Luzon, Leyte, and Samar, it is among the most endangered species of its kind in the world. Length-wise, it is the largest among its kind. Its broad-spanned wings ensure powerful flights. Due to its being rare and majestic features, private...

The drive for awareness on global warming in the Philippines is not an easy feat. Since us Filipinos have a tendency to learn things the hard way. We forgive easily. We forget too quickly. And despite its importance, the issue of global warming in the Philippines is not a priority. Our Waste Management Act, which mandates every city to have a proper waste management, is being implemented since 2007 but is anyone complying on the standards set? The methane gas being emitted by mountains of garbage in poorly managed landfills contributes to greenhouse effect. The illegal logging of trees that could counter the effects of global warming is still rampant. Studies show that 5 million hectares of our forest have been stripped and that the deforestation rate of 119,000 hectares for every year means that in a decade our forests will be in sorry state. The carbon dioxide emissions from our vehicles, what with their old engines, compete among the worst all over the world. The toxic emissions ...

You probably often come across articles about how to conserve energy several times while browsing the web. I do. But did you ever really read it and practice the tips? I don’t. But now I have to create my own list of top 10 ways to conserve energy and I might really consider putting it into practice. Our utility bill at home is taking up a huge chunk of our monthly budget and would you believe, there’s a sense of accomplishment in doing it. Knowing that you have control in lowering your expenses and that you are actually doing the environment a favor when you make a conscious effort to conserve energy. These won’t require you to change your lifestyle - just slight modifications, some discipline and commitment. So try to do these simple ways to conserve energy :

Simply put, it is renewable versus non-renewable energy. The fact that mother earth is in the verge of running out of fossil fuels (studies show an estimate of how much fossil fuel reserve remains), its cost and the environmental effect of its use had spawned ideas about the use of clean energy. Examples of fossil fuel include coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Their benefits affect our everyday lives. Think of electricity, transportation and infrastructures. We have become so dependent on it that we have actually doubled up our usage in one hundred years. And fossil fuel is not renewable, meaning once we have used up its resources, there will be no more. While it is true that fossil fuel can be cheap (true among countries who produce them), readily available and convenient to use, and its importance deeply ingrained in our daily lives, the environmental effect of its usage is slowly making its presence felt as well.