{"id":1245,"date":"2018-12-30T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-12-29T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/master.k8s.p4.greenpeace.org\/philippines\/press\/1245\/statement-on-cove-manilas-largest-balloon-drop-record-attempt-on-new-years-eve\/"},"modified":"2019-11-06T17:04:48","modified_gmt":"2019-11-06T09:04:48","slug":"statement-on-cove-manilas-largest-balloon-drop-record-attempt-on-new-years-eve","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/philippines\/press\/1245\/statement-on-cove-manilas-largest-balloon-drop-record-attempt-on-new-years-eve\/","title":{"rendered":"Statement on Cove Manila\u2019s \u2018largest balloon drop\u2019 record attempt on New Year\u2019s Eve"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t30 December 2018, Manila, Philippines – On the eve of the scheduled balloon drop by Cove Manila and Okada Manila, petitioner Climate Reality Project Philippines, joined by Greenpeace Southeast Asia – Philippines, Ecowaste Coalition, and Save Philippine Seas said:\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cCove Manila and Okada Manila can be part of history by setting a record for being a prime nightlife destination by having an environmentally-sound New Year\u2019s Eve celebration. But instead, these establishments will start theirs with the worst possible violation to the environment by setting the record of being one of the biggest plastic polluter in one event. Indoor or outdoor, this activity is a travesty and injurious to our already suffering environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe plan to set a Guinness World Record for the world\u2019s largest balloon drop is an event and a record nobody wants to have nor asked for. As a Filipino, there is nothing to be proud of from this so-called \u2018biggest balloon drop\u2019 event. Since Friday night, social media is burning with the posts and comments of angry netizens asking Cove Manila to halt this inexcusable environmental transgression disguised as a party. Right now, more than 63,000 people signed our petition on Bataris.org.ph, urging Cove Manila to stop this event [1].<\/p>\n

\u201cAs of now, Cove Manila has not heeded the call of more than 63,000 people, and in an online statement said they will still push thru with their plans. Unfortunately, recycling has become an excuse for polluters like Cove Manila and Okada Manila to stage irresponsible activities such as this. Cove Manila and Okada Manila are adding 130,000 pieces of solid wastes to our already full landfills. How Cove Manila and Okada Manila can ensure that no single balloon will pollute our waterways and our oceans, no one will ever know. Even the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) already expressed their concern and joined our call in urging Cove Manila and Okada Manila to stop the balloon drop, but it seems like the DENR\u2019s order has fallen on deaf ears. [2]<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we have seen in the past few days, netizens are very much aware of the environmental damage this activity will do. They are no longer buying the myth of recycling that establishments like Cove Manila and Okada Manila are perpetuating as an excuse. Recycling and ecobricking are not solutions and should not be used as an excuse to conduct environmentally damaging activities. In this day and age of extreme weather conditions due to climate change, when we we are waking up to realities of a polluted world on a daily basis, refusal and reduction of wastes should be our primary course of action.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt this point, we are still urging these two establishments to drop their plan and halt this activity. We are calling everyone who loves our country to start the New Year right with a renewed commitment to protect and love the environment by NOT patronizing this event. Lastly, Cove Manila and Okada Manila should realize that the real responsible thing to do is to #dropballoondrop.\u201d<\/p>\n

Notes to the editors:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

[1] Stop Cove Manila\u2019s Balloon Drop. https:\/\/www.bataris.org.ph\/petitions\/stop-cove-manila-s-balloon-drop<\/a><\/p>\n

[2] DENR orders Cove Manila to stop balloon drop event. http:\/\/cnnphilippines.com\/news\/2018\/12\/30\/DENR-Cove-Manila-balloon-drop-event.html
<\/a>
<\/a>Media contacts:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Rodne Galicha
Country Manager, Climate Reality Project Philippines
+63 927 151 5908 | rodne.galicha.ph@climatereality.com<\/a>