By NEIL RAMOS
A LOT has been said about the continued degradation of Mother Earth, with people blaming anything and everything for the worsening blight. All that said, only a handful it seems are actually doing something about it.
Damning as it is, Lou Bonnevie would rather not join the finger pointing.
“Wala nang sisihan, aksyon na lang,” she said during the launch of this year’s Earth Day Jam, an annual musical event she founded 18 years ago in an effort to propel people to be more responsible caretakers of the environment.
“Sa akin kasi wala naman maitutulong kung maninisi o magtuturo ka pa,” she added. “Kumilos na lang tayo. ‘Yun lang ‘yun. ‘Wag tayo maghintay o umasa sa iba.”
Bonnevie prides herself on talking the talk and walking the walk, going on to continue with Earth Day Jam even as she admitted to the hardships of mounting such a gargantuan event year in and year out.
She is thankful that there are now more people eager to help her in the venture including the Department of Environment And Natural Resources (DENR).
And so far, so good.
“I’m proud of what we have achieved with Earth Day Jam. Marami akong mga nakausap na mga kabataan telling me how they’ve become more aware of environmental concerns through the movement. So, du’n pa lang, I feel like somehow our effort naman is worth it,” Bonnevie related.
She admitted, “Actually in-expect na tatagal kami ng ganito but I’m very happy na andirito pa rin kami at dumarami pa ang ‘jammers,’ Hopefully, patuloy pa itong lumaki in the coming years.”
At the heart of it, is a simple hope.
Bonnevie said, “More than just about being aware, we want people to take action.”
Bono of U2 once said, “Music can change the world because it can change people.”
Well, Lou and company are doing just that, one concert at a time.
Earth Day Jam happens April 28, 5 p.m. at Quezon City Memorial Circle.
Featured artists include Abra, Barbie Almalbis, Chicosci, Joey Ayala, Mayonnaise, Philia, Sandwich, Tanya Markova, and Wally Gonzalez, among many others.
