Actions for clean rivers of our future

“The fish only knows that it lives in the water, after it is already on the river bank.  Without our awareness of another world out there, it would never occur to us to change.”
~Anonymous

Last month, a week before the typhoons hit our shores, my fiancé and I went on a day-trip to Makiling Botanic Gardens in Los Banos, a beautiful parkland paying tribute to national flora and fauna in the Mt Makiling area.

We gravitated towards the Natural Pool and spent a good half hour just relaxing on the rocks by the water, enjoying being out in nature after so much rain in recent times.  Letting the sun-rays hit our skin, we basked in peace and sounds of nature.

Soon our peace was interrupted by dozens of schoolchildren racing down the stairs towards the river.  At first we were heartened to know that schools were bringing busloads of children to the botanic gardens, enabling them to bond with nature.

Creek running through Makiling Botanic Gardens

However, our mood soon changed to one of sadness.  Here is a conversation we overheard between two 8-10 year old boys:

Kid 1: Wow! May ilog! (Wow! There’s a river!)
Kid 2: Kaya lang madumi. (Too bad it’s dirty.)
Kid 1: Bakit? Nakakita ka na ba ng ilog na hindi madumi? (Why? Have you seen a river that isn’t dirty?)

We were taken aback.  Firstly, the river wasn’t dirty.  It was quite clean, just perhaps a little cloudy after all the rain we’ve been experiencing these last few months. 

Secondly, we were dismayed that children in our country are used to seeing dirty rivers and even expect this to be the case (even if in reality it isn’t).

This seemingless innocent conversation really needs to be taken seriously by us adults.  We must remember that a different world is available for our kids, we must make that change.

How do we make that change?  Well, like most solutions, they are simple and pragmatic. 

• DO throw your rubbish in bins, not on the streets - so that no trash is being swept away in drainwater. 
• DO pick up after your dog on walks – so no animal faeces are being swept away in drainwater, causing disease and sickness.
• DO use biodegradable dishwashing detergent, cleaning products and laundry powder (see the Barefootprint Cleaning Recipe)
• DO dispose of chemical waste from your home and business properly, even better use non-toxic alternatives.
• DO use biofuels and cleaner fuel alternatives when driving your car, or cut down on driving and use public transport or better yet – walk or ride your bike.  Exhaust fumes from cars settle on the ground and are washed into the rivers after rains.

The power to change is in our hands.  We just need to remember that another world exists – a clean world, a healthy world.  Let’s make the change, if not for us, then for the next generation and their future.