Burning Años Viejos is a cultural practice held in Ecuador as part of end-of-year celebrations. Although it may be a fun tradition full of good omens for some people, you should know that it is not. It is a negative tradition that contributes to air pollution. By burning materials such as plastic, cardboard and other items used in the construction of old buildings, toxic substances are released that contribute to air pollution.

“The path of the great is 27 puppets, but only 16 correspond to the association of craftsmen who receive a municipal incentive”

Increases the risk of uncontrolled fires: if burning is not carried out in a safe and controlled manner, there is a risk of unwanted fires that can endanger people, property and the surrounding environment. Inhaling the smoke produced by burning the material can have negative effects on the respiratory health of people, especially those with pre-existing conditions such as asthma or other lung diseases.

The noise and light created by fireworks and the practice of setting things on fire can cause extreme stress and anxiety in animals, both pets and wild animals. In addition, burning items creates waste that, if not disposed of properly, can contribute to the accumulation of garbage and affect the environment.

(…) we can contribute to building a more aware, committed and respectful community.

Because I think it is important to treat these practices as negative, some communities have decided to regulate or discourage the burning of “old years”, encouraging safer and more environmentally friendly alternatives to celebrate the arrival of the new year. It is important to raise awareness of the negative impacts of these practices and find ways to celebrate the holidays in a responsible and sustainable way. For example, instead of focusing on burning objects, you can organize community activities that encourage people to participate. These can be sporting events, concerts, plays, fairs or even charitable activities that benefit the community.

Instead of burning polluting materials, let’s promote a different celebration, it can be ecological, inviting the community to participate in cleaning up local areas, planting trees or environmental beautification projects.

With a multicolored sky, thousands of people welcomed 2024 in Salinas

From the House of Culture, the core of Guayas, in 2023 we organize events where people share their achievements, learnings and aspirations for the future. Although we have promoted cultural and artistic events that highlight the diversity and creativity of the community, there is still a lack of more dedicated projects and institutions that support our initiatives to change positive practices.

I invite you to remember that the goal is to create a celebration that promotes unity, responsibility, respect for the environment and people sensitive to loud noise. Only by changing traditions towards more sustainable and meaningful practices can we contribute to building a more aware, engaged and respectful community. (OR)