Many reasons explain why firecrackers and fireworks must be banned during the New Year’s celebration. The biggest of which is the fact that the smog created by these mini-explosives may cause more people to develop respiratory problems.
Some of these people may already be suffering now, a few days before that noisy revelry. We pay the price of that merrymaking in the form of aggravated respiratory ailments like asthma and allergic rhinitis. The toxic smog has added another level of danger to the already-contaminated air that we breathe.
The so-called Total Suspended Particulates (TSP) pollute the atmosphere following the firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices used in this celebration. Experts have it that these fine particles in the air and penetrate the upper respiratory tract and be deposited deep in a person’s lungs.
It is said that the most susceptible to risks associated with these minute pollutants are children, the elderly, and people with heart and lung diseases. It is not surprising that many of them are now suffering from respiratory problems, especially in urban areas where the use of firecrackers during new year’s eve is so rampant despite warnings and campaigns against it.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said that the TSP in Manila has tremendously increased from 134 ug/ncm in 2009. The normal TSP standard for a year is 90 ug/ncm, according to the World Health Organization. Too bad our rejoicing for the new year also sends toxic pollutants into the air, to our hazard.
The past administration of President Duterte, then, made so much sense in banning firecrackers and other related devices to usher in the new year. The government is mandated to protect its citizens from any harm, and since these items are rather injurious, they have to be banned, or else the people will suffer as a result.
Surely, healthy people are also necessary for the government to operate and function normally. It would cost the government huge funds if epidemics and pandemics prevail among its people. So, as much as possible, if healthy hazards can be avoided, they should be done away with as prevention is always better than cure.
So what if the new year turns out quiet? That would be better than having a noisy one with damaged respiratory system.
My wishes are on the lines of a song
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR III
The year 2022 is ending after all the tumultuous and virus stricken and economic down turn that it brought we cant help but feel optimistic as Social Weather Station surveyed and found out that 46 percent of Filipinos feel that their lives will improve. The National Optimism score rose from 43 to 46 % . Optimism glows on Filipinos and its something unusual given the economic realities that we are experiencing . The High Cost of Fuel, Onions , Commodities and even Noche Buena staples.
As the year ends a series of government benefits came as mandated PEI (Productivity Enhancement Incentives) and SRI (Service Recognition Incentives) came as a welcome acronyms . The benefits with the maximum of Php. 25 ,000 combined and Php. 15,000 minimum, can jumpstart the new year.
This writer would like to stress and dwell on the positives, and perhaps focus on the best that this column space can convey, with the PEI and SRI reality and the safety we are lucky to be bestowed by the Lord, let me share the good song “May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You”. This is a popular song by Meredith Willson, Robert Reiniger Meredith Willson was an American flutist, composer, conductor, musical arranger, bandleader, playwright, and writer. He is perhaps best known for writing the book, music, and lyrics for the 1957 hit Broadway musical The Music Man and “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas”. Wikipedia
The song is now considered a standard, recorded by many artists.
It was used as Tallulah Bankhead’s theme song for her NBC radio program, “The Big Show.” Bankhead would recite the words in her husky voice, with guest stars joining in reciting the words, one line per star, which made a memorable ending for the show.
However, it was most popular when it was regularly sung by Kate Smith on her early 1950s TV show as the closing song.
Here is that song:
May the good Lord bless and keep you
Whether near or far away
May you find that long awaited
Golden day today
May your troubles all be small ones
And your fortunes ten times ten
May the good Lord bless and keep you
Till we meet again
May you walk with sunlight shining
And a bluebird in every tree
May there be a silver lining
Back on every cloud you see
And all these beautiful lyrics be my wish for everyone, Happy New Year everyone!