Members of the Missionary Childhood Association (MCA), Lagos Archdiocese marked the first anniversary of their Media Mass recently at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos. The MCA Children’s Day which was celebrated at the parish level was also celebrated at the Archdiocesan level.

Laudato si: MCA, Lagos Archdiocese proffer ways to reduce pollution

The Holy Father, Pope Francis has been emphasising on the need to stop environmental pollution. What can we do in our own little way to prevent more pollution? Children of the Missionary Childhood Association (MCA), Lagos Archdiocese put forward their suggestions.

‘The gutters, drainages and soak away should be kept clean and refuse should not be emptied inside’

How to prevent environmental pollution in my own little way:

• Our waste bins should be kept in places where one can easily dispose things both at home and on the streets.

• The waste bins should be emptied frequently

• The gutters, drainages and soak away should be kept clean and refuse should not be emptied inside.

• There should be provision of clean water around the environment but the water should not be wasted.

• People should be compelled to clean their surroundings

• Chinaza Stellamaris Okoh, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Gowon Estate (Ipaja Deanery).

‘Picking up litters on the ground in church and at school even when it is not mine’

in my own little way by doing the following:-

• Proper use of waste bin by making sure that waste are placed where they are suppose to be in our homes , classes as well as the church and they are disposed properly when filled.

• Avoid littering the floor with biscuits, candy wrappers, empty plastic bottles and cans of drinks, as this will prevent land and water pollution. When the water ways are not blocked by litters the rain water drains properly, hence there will be no over flooding and we will have clean environment.

• Avoiding unnecessary burning of things as this will prevent air pollution.

• Recycling of waste like plastic bottles and cans of drinks, tins and carton; this items when recycled will not only prevent pollution but also provide employment and increase revenue generation.

• Picking up litters on the ground in church and at school even when it is not mine, in this way I encourage other children emulate me. I also encourage them not to litter the environment and make proper usage of the waste bin by words of mouth. 6) Avoid noise making and encourage other children to do the same in our homes, classes and in the Church. This is very important especially in the Mass or classes during readings, homily or when teaching is going on, in order to avoid distraction and enhance concentration. I believe that the prevention of environmental prevention is not beyond us.

• Okoye Chioma Jennifer, Catholic Church of the Annunciation, Ori-Oke, Ejigbo (Isolo Deanery)

‘We have to tell our parents to stop burning refuse as the smoke most times causes respiratory problems’

Our environment today is being contaminated by many agents of pollution and this contamination in our environment has posed a threat to the wellbeing of humans, animals and plants of different species. This contamination is known as environmental pollution. The forms of pollution that have become part of people’s daily experience are: exposure to atmospheric pollutants that produce a broad spectrum of health hazards, breathing high levels of smoke from fuels used in cooking or heating, pollution caused by transport and industrial fumes, substances which contribute to the acidification of soil and water. The Pope said that account must also be taken of the pollution produced by residue, including dangerous waste present in different areas. A popular adage says a drop of water makes a mighty ocean. Our little contributions as MCA Children can go a long way in preventing more environmental pollution. We have to stop disposing waste or refuse by the road side, we have to tell our parents to stop the burning of refuse as the smoke most times causes respiratory problems. We often dispose refuse on the roadside because of non availability of a refuse bin but this is not right, we can keep the refuse in our bags or pockets, then dispose it properly when we see a waste bin or at home. I believe that if we share this tips with our friends, we will live in a world free of environmental pollution.

• Okorie Judith, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Isawo (Ikorodu Deanery)

‘We should reduce the use of loud devices in our environment’

In my own little way, I will avoid littering the environment in order to prevent flooding due to the blockage of the drainage system caused by littering the environment. I will advise anyone found burning waste bin to stop and call the waste management agency to help dispose their dirt and waste bin rather than burning. I will help in environmental sanitation by cleaning dirt blocking the drainage, cutting the grasses and warn against disposing of waste bin in water bodies such as streams, rivers, lakes etc Noise as well is an environmental pollution so we should reduce the use of loud devices in our environment. We can put an end to pollution in our environment together.

• Okafor Treasure Maryrose, St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Aboru (Ipaja Deanery)

‘I will tell my parents to let us use commercial buses more and the Lagos State Government should reduce the bus fares of the BRT’

As an MCA child, I have decided in my own little way to do the following in preventing environmental pollution:

• I will try to advocate for the use of renewable energy like the solar but the amount of getting it is expensive and I will like the government to make it easy to get at lower rate.

• I will tell my parents to let us use commercial buses more and the Lagos State Government should reduce the bus fares of the BRT because my mummy do pay a lot to work when not using her car.

• I will like people reduce or eliminate fireplace, wood stove use and the government should reduce the price of cooking gas so everybody can afford it.

• I will like to campaign against people cutting the trees.

• I will like to plant more trees so that we can increase the amount of oxygen in our planet.

• I will like the government to make a law that will make it compulsory for house owners to plant trees within the compound where they have property.

• Also, companies flaring gas should do more of it at night time.

• People should stop using nylon bags and use more of paper bags.

• People should be advised against burning refuse.

• Eyinade Gideon, St. Patrick Catholic Church, Igbogila (Ipaja Deanery)