The Filipina Mom in Denmark

My concern for the environment is the one that made me start to blog in 2007 so I will repost my very first post as my blog contribution to the Earth Day 2009 .

Hi this is my very first posting on this blog and I stumble on a movement called Blog Action Day which is today where the focus is about the environment that’s give a good idea to talk about.

As a new mom, 5 year housewife, a student who lives in Copenhagen I will write some things that might be environmentally friendly tips . It is surprising to note that simple things in our daily life contributes a lot to the preservation of our environment. As a parent I feel it’s our duty to be environmentally conscious just think of our children’s future. I want my son to see and live not just reading in a book or some archives in a internet site about animals, beautiful nature what was left of our natural environment.

Filipinamom’s Simple Guide to help save our environment

1. Bring you own shopping bag- When going to to the supermarkets bring your reusable bags and don’t buy plastic bags. Plastic shopping bags is not free in Denmark it will cost you around 2.5 to 3.5 danish kroner approximately 0.5 US$ . But most people don’t care they just buy because it’s nothing but they forget that why the state put a very high tax on these plastic bags so that it will reduce the environmental destructions by lesser productions means lesser garbage. One very good example is my husband he said that he can use it later as a garbage bag but what very expensive garbage bag. Once I counted some of the plastic bags he kept in one of the kitchen drawers it was 150 pcs. just by 2 kr it will be around 50 US$ and that was only less than 2 months collections. Today I always put 1 or 2 bags in his cycling bag so he can use next time he shop (he does the shopping).

2. Take the Public Transport, form a car pool or much better cycle to work. I know this will not apply to most places but in Denmark where they have at least a reliable and good public transportation system yet cycling is still popular it is one of the very few cycling capitals in the world.

3. Throw the garbage in the right container. In Copenhagen where I live all housing complex are required to have separate containers for papers, cartons, ordinary garbage, bottles and batteries. The dangerous materials like paints and other chemical should be thrown out in special containers and same as the electronic and used furnitures where they have to be collected separately or throw them at a designated areas.

4. Ask friends or relatives for used baby clothes and accessories – I was lucky to surrounded by friends who gave us used baby things like baby carriage, strollers, baby books, crib, clothes, cloth diapers (yes it’s still very widely used here in Denmark but just different purposes than it’s named suggests.), shoes (they advises not to use other’s shoes but I think it will not hurt if it is for 1-2 years where they don’t walk that much), toys and etc. Just limit yourself to buy things that the baby really needs or just a few nice clothes. I know it’s hard I myself is guilty because I buy some clothes and shoes but later regret it because they grow so fast.

5. Don’t use wet napkins. It was a very good advise form my nurse because most of the wet napkins(wet ones) whatever they claim that is allergy friendly they still put some chemicals that will not be good for baby’s sensitive skin. I’m using a disposable rubber napkin and the old fashion soap and water when I’m changing diaper and a small towel (washable) to clean his face and body. My sister use to cut these rubber napkins in two so it will be cheaper. One good tip is to wet with a little soap some of the rubber napkins (disposable napkins and put it in a napkin and your ready to go .

6. Use an old fashion Baby cloth diaper – Like i said this is a very wonderful accessory it is very seldom used as a diaper in this age. I used for wiping baby mouth and butt (separate cloth of course), sunscreen (I tied it around the baby carriage to protect the baby form uv ray and wind especially when they are sleeping, baby’s bib, one of my mother group used to put the pacifier in it so it will not lost or to balance it i guess and there still a lot.

7. Turn off the electronic appliances on stand by mode- even if they are in stand by they still use electricity.7

8. Don’t buy books borrow them- If you can wait it’s better to borrow books in the library where you can borrow for minimum of 1 month and maximum of 3 months or borrow from friends. Since I live in Denmark I buy products which has the Swan ecolabel mark (this a nordic or scandivanian eco labeling ) and the Flower (european eco labeling). to be

9. Don’t subscribe to a lot of magazines or newspapers - I subscribe to a magazine for new parents but I found out later that there’s a lot of resources in the net about parenting topics, borrow books in the library or ask some friends if they have some magazines and books.

10. Cook your own food- By cooking your own food and the baby’s, it’s both cost saving and healthy and you also help conserve the environment just imagine the all plastic or the pizza carton or the bottles.

11. Buy those products that doesn’t pollutes- When I became a parent I try to read labels of the things I’m buying if they using suspected chemicals that will provoke allergies like perfume etc., in Denmark there 2 standards eco label that is the Swan (Nordic or Scandinavian) and the the Flower (EU eco label) so I’m sure that I’m buying a product which doesn’t hurt the environment.

12. Don’t use fabric softener- these products has more chemicals to damage the environment and to add it has allergy provoking chemicals even if they claim that is for sensitive. If you cant help use this use it moderately. I know a lot of Filipinos who loves use more than what is specified because it will smells good. This also applies to dish washing liquids us ethe right amount usually 5 ml to 5 liters of water is enough.

13. Don’t use shampoo and bath gel- 2 in 1 shampoo and bath usually marketed for the babies but these will harm the environment. A baby from birth doesn’t really need soap and shampoo because they still the in born fats which was away if use soap which will results to dry skin then later will become child eczema.

14. Breastfeed – It’s healthy and cheap and instant. Just imagine the tins or cartoon packaging you have to throw when you buy mother’s milk replacement.

15. Don’t use air freshener- It’s very expensive, bad for our health and pollute the environment.

16. Don’t use plastic in heating foods in the microwave- use ceramics or glass.

17. Don’t buy soft drinks bottles or cans without deposits. We have a return bottle or soft drink cans system in Denmark where you return them in a machine in a supermarket and claim your deposit back so you don’t need to throw bottles or cans out. When I arrive in 2002 there are still no soft drinks in cans most are in glass bottles or plastics but after the tins arrived you can see the thrash everywhere too bad.

OK folks that’s all I can thinks of now. I need to do my home work. Almost all I mentioned above is my own and based on the pamphlets and information from the health department i got when I was pregnant which I found out to be very useful.

This is a very good topic I wish the organizer will set another date for this issue so I can thinks of other things. I’m studying to a constructing architect so I guess now we focus more on sustainable products to us in the building we’re designing so in a way I can also contribute when I finish my studies.