No to Firecrackers!

I was jumpy as a kid and I'm more jumpy now that I'm regressing into childhood.  Which was why I have not been fond of firecrackers and the noise of New Year.  Yeah, yeah, the noise is supposed to ward off bad luck---tell that to those who got maimed handling these mini explosives!

In 1992, then Department of Health Secretary Juan Flavier did a very effective campaign by showcasing firecracker related injuries on TV.  The message was clear, "If you don't want to end up like this---don't do firecrackers."  That did the job and statistics would show that a significant decrease in firecracker related incidents.  However, after Flavier's term as DOH Secretary ended in 1995 this campaign also came to its end and the "courageous" Pinoys started going back to their firecracker trip.

In 2002, I got diagnosed with asthma and my anti-firecracker sentiment got even more pronounced.  Every year as if like clockwork I'd be down with asthma the first week of January.  This prompted me to buy a heavy duty gas mask to protect me from the smoke-filled merry making.  Of course, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and my four boys inherited my lung disease---QUADRUPLE DARN!!

Firecrackers still persist today and I can only pray that those who decide to play with this menace survive the festivities with all appendages intact.  Me, I'm doing my own kind of noise.  I'm putting my speakers on maximum volume and playing my favorite rock and roll classics!  On New Year's Eve I'm joining the firecracker noise with my recording of firecracker sound effects which I just downloaded.  It's safe, smoke-free, and can be put in a loop!

The Firecracker Menace

Year in and year out firecracker related injuries has left many children limbless or missing a couple of appendages (if not causing blindness or in some instances---death).

Based on the latest report by the Department of Health, the number of injuries as we welcome 2011 is 8% higher than the average number of incidents in the last 5 years, it has gone down by 20% versus the number of firecracker related injuries in 2010. However, no matter the number, the continued practice of New Year revelry with firecrackers will claim its yearly toll. Further compounding this is that many of those injuries involve children. To be an amputee at an early age is a lifelong stigma. Regulating the sale and production of firecrackers is not the solution---TOTAL BAN IS!

Davao implemented City Ordinance 060-02, or the Anti-Firecracker Ordinance in 2001, which prohibits the manufacture, sale, distribution, possession or use of firecrackers or pyrotechnic devices and such other similar devices and the use of firecrackers or other similar explosives within the territorial jurisdiction of the city.

Kudos to Mayor Duterte!

If the other mayors really want to zero out firecracker related injuries it's just a matter of political will. I wonder why nobody had the cajones to follow the lead of Mayor Duterte?

We don't need firecrackers to ward off BAD KARMA for the coming year. Just plant the seed of GOOD KARMA in all that you do and you will definitely reap an equivalent ---if not more of it---in your lifetime!