Our Editorial weeks ago pounced on global warning as it threatens water supply and civilization itself. In less than 50 years, we could have a modern-day tamer version of the deluge in Noah's time.

Only this time, we cannot put 5 billion people in one boat or space ship. We have the deal with the killer blows within our own territories. Al Gore's documentary on the environmental crisis called "The Inconvenient Truth" should disturb us inconveniently.

We must realize that our land vehicles cause the most amount of carbon dioxide in the air that aids to the so-called Greenhouse Effects on the environment.

Luckily, the world has declared war. The United States and Brazil, two of the world's greatest producers of ethanol have joined hands to supplant the dependence on oil for our transportation needs. Rightfully, they think the Free World's dependence on oil on the Middle East and Latin American countries for our energy needs - is both environmental and global security risks. This is especially so since many Arab nations see blood in both military and economic aspects of their lives against the West and its allies.

The clash of Civilization is graphically illustrated in the attacks on the Twin Towers in 9-11 and the occupation of Iraq by the United States and allied forces - both in the recent past, for instance.

In the Philippines, we have joined the war with the approval of the Biofuels Act into law. According to Dean A. Lao, COO of Chemrez Technologies Inc., the law mandates that by 2007 all diesel fuel will contain biofuel (up to 1%) and gasoline ethanol biofuel (up to 5%). In 2009, both will be derived from coconut plants.

It is a good start, according to Raymond Tan (PHD), director of the De La Salle Graduate School. It will, however, only make a dramatic impact when the biofuel component of diesel and gasoline rises to 75%. Anna Whitehouse, president of Total Gas in the Philippines, on the other hand, assured that the change in final cost to the end-user will not be that prohibitive with the introduction of the biofuel.

As individuals, we can contribute our share in the total war effort to preserve the environment of the Earth - the only planet that we have.

We can plant trees. Because one tree alone can take away one ton of carbon dioxide out of the air in its lifetime. We can use recycled paper. Remember it takes the whole of 19 trees to make one ton of paper. And using recycled paper means saving approximately 17 trees. One ton of recycled paper can save 380 gallons of oil.

We have to plan our travel and not travel unnecessarily, because a car emits approximately five tons of carbon dioxide into the air in one year. How many cars are being used by the world's over 4 billion population?

We have to recycle, not throw, aluminum can for our use. Recycling one can alone can save an amount of energy that can operate a TV set for three hours. These little things. Moreover, reducing household garbage by 10% means saving 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.

Below is a list of things "We Can Do" as world citizens out to save the environment, which we should read and put to heart, cut out and make copies of and give to friends and relatives:

(CUT FROM HERE AND PASS TO FRIENDS)
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CALL TO ACTION:

BE CONSCIOUS of using too much paper and plastic. Paper comes from trees while plastics are non-biodegradable.

USE FLOURESCENT LIGHT BULBS instead of incandescent bulbs so you can keep 700 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the air over the bulb's lifetime.

PAINT you home with light color to save 5,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

REFUSE PLASTIC BAGS from stores if your items are handy enough for you to carry.

LESSEN your consumption for DETERGENTS for your household needs.

USE INSULATORS for your roofs and walls to reduce the amount of energy to cool your homes.

RESORT TO RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES to lessen the damage of the disposable ones.

CLEAN AND CHECK your appliances for well functioning to consume less energy.

STRICTLY FOLLOW THE WASTE SEGREGATION policy implemented in your locality. Don't BURN your trash.

LIMIT YOUR CAR SPEED to 60-80 kph to save gas and decrease emission.

Let us do our share in preserving Mother Nature!