Environment Updates
By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) The Philippine Star, Opinion, November 6, 2018
Climate
change has caused a 60-fold increase in purple sea
urchins, which eat kelp forests. The kelp forests are as
important to the ocean as trees are to the land. Like
trees, they absorb carbon emissions and provide critical
habitats and food for a wide range of species.
Without kelp, red urchins die. Without kelp,
the oceans’ food chain is affected. Otters and starfish
used to feed on the purple urchins, but their number has
dwindled, multiplying the urchins’ population. This was
reported by the Financial Times in its October 2018
issue.
The marine heat wave is warmer than what humans
have ever recorded. Over 90 percent of the heat trapped
on earth is caused by greenhouse emissions produced by
humans, and is absorbed by the oceans, increasing its
temperature.
As
I write this, a super typhoon is hitting Luzon. We have
received many typhoons this year, and we have been
victims of the war against climate change. Japan has
also been a victim of the worst typhoons in its history.
We are running out of food and our dying
natural resource capital cannot support our increasing
population. Already, we are running out of rice and
fish, and soon our water resources will dwindle.
We cannot survive anymore the rise in
temperature and the effects of climate change.
The US has had its share of hurricanes while
Europe its share of droughts as the rivers dry out. The
world temperature continues to rise, while the seas are
heating up.
Climate change, the acknowledged biggest threat
of our time, goes on unabated.
First-world countries continue their
infrastructure mitigation to keep the waters away, but
nothing truly concrete has been done to mitigate climate
change. Our people and planet continue to suffer and,
yes, we are reaching the tipping point. The polar bears
are out of ice as the Arctic continues to melt.
How many more Super Typhoon Hai- yans/Yolandas
do we need? How many more people must die? Are we
waiting for the day that our soil can no longer be
planted or our oceans no longer have life? How hot do we
want the earth to get? How high do we want our oceans to
reach before we stop the cancer that is killing us all?
The Philippine Environment: Epicenter of Wealth, Beauty & Destruction
By: Enrique Quezon Avanceña – Communications Director of ESP, Asia Pacific Perspective (https://www.usfca.edu/center-asia-p…/perspectives/…/avancena)
The
Philippines has been truly blessed. Surrounding its
7500+ islands are the oceans and seas where the richest
most biodiverse marine environments thrive, creating
virtual factories of fish and aquatic resources. “The
Philippines is located within the coral triangle, at the
center of the highest marine diversity. Its vast, rich
and diverse coastal and marine resources are composed of
coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove and beach forests,
fisheries, invertebrates, seaweeds, marine mammals and
many others.” Carpenter and Springer (2005) noted, “that
there is a higher concentration of species per unit area
in the Philippines than anywhere in Indonesia and
Wallacea, that the Philippines is the center of marine
shore fish diversity in the world, and that there should
be special focus on marine conservation efforts due to
its being an epicenter of biodiversity and evolution.”
Our land has fertile plains embraced by
majestic mountain ranges with tropical forests teeming
with all sorts of unbelievable life forms. The diverse
flora includes 8,000 species of flowering plants, 1,000
kinds of ferns, and 800 species of orchids. Common
mammals include the wild hog, deer, wild carabao,
monkey, civet cat, and various rodents.” If you weren’t
a believer in a divine being, a Creator, master planner
or whatever you wish to call God, seeing the beauty and
bounty of the natural resources in the Philippines would
make a convert of anyone. But that was then. Today the
state of the environment both marine and forest would
not make one believe in God but in the devil, because it
sure is like hell. Easily 70% of first growth forest is
gone, and whatever is left is going fast. Reforestation
efforts of invasive single species can never recreate
the fragile co-dependent ecosystems that exist in virgin
forests. The Philippines is facing environmental issues
that must be addressed in order to prevent its
destruction for future generations.
The Philippines’ coral colonies are being
destroyed and if not addressed, the planet will feel the
ecological impact. Antonio M. Claparols, President of
the Ecological Society of the Philippines, reported on
the destruction of the South China Seas coral colonies
by China in 2016. In his organization’s Facebook page on
July 11, 2018, he described the wanton destruction of a
marine environment which produces fish not only for
Southeast Asia but for the entire world. As a result of
the Philippines’ early awareness of the beauty and
wealth of our marine resources, we have managed to
preserve some of our inter-island coral colonies. Some
60% were destroyed by the dynamite and cyanide used by
small fishermen to catch fish; these fishermen were
unaware that that as they destroyed the coral they were
destroying the breeding ground and home of the fish.
They had to go farther and farther out to sea to catch
fish, and with the unscrupulous trawling and massive
overfishing operations of big fishery canning and
manufacturing enterprises, fish once plentiful and
abundant have become scarce. A country surrounded on all
sides by oceans and seas, the Philippines is
experiencing one of the highest rates of hunger and
malnutrition not only in Asia but in the world. That is
the interdependence between man and the environment.
However it is not enough to say, we will take care of
the marine environment. Because massive deforestation in
the mountains and hills cause erosion, and with the rain
causes siltation, and where does the silt end up? The
ocean where it is a deadly killer of corals. There lies
the environmental linkage and interdependency.
Our oceans are also facing environmental
destruction as a result of the disgusting amount of
waste that ends up there. Experts say that as soon as
2025 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean.
And where does all this plastic waste come from? The
Philippines is one of the top five contributors of
plastic waste in the ocean, most of it coming from its
rivers which flow through the urban cities into the sea,
into the sea into the oceans of the world. The Pasig
River, which runs through all the major towns and cities
of Metropolitan Manila before ending up in Manila Bay,
is one of the ten rivers in the world that contribute
the most waste. These five countries contribute 60% of
total plastic waste in the world. The other countries
like China and Indonesia are huge countries with massive
populations. For a small country like ours, it is just
plain sick how irresponsible we are.
Ironically, on paper the Philippines has the
best environmental protection laws in the world. Sadly,
these laws are often not enforced. As a 2013 policy
paper on Philippine solid waste practices1 states,
“Human activities contribute significantly in waste
management. Recognizing the effects of improper
management, garbage crisis can be prevented by
practicing waste characterization and segregation at
source, proper collection and transfer, recycling, and
composting as mandated by the law.” For our forests
there is a total ban on logging, and open pit and strip
mining is not allowed by executive order. For marine
resources our Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998
expressly bans aquatic pollution. On climate change,
President Duterte, despite initially opposing the Paris
Agreement, has reversed his position and in doing so,
recognized of the many dangers posed to the Philippines,
and many other vulnerable nations, from the impacts of
climate change. Many of the countries which have emitted
the least carbon are going to bear the brunt of climate
change impacts. That is why the Philippines and other
nations formed the Climate Vulnerable Forum for
“cooperation on tackling climate change and
transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy.”2
While not always readily apparent, we cannot
ignore that climate change is happening in the
Philippines. As Alexandra Gamboa, former Deputy Legal
Counsel of the CCC and current Manager of Government
Initiatives in the Philippines for RARE, wrote on her FB
page:
The thing about climate change awareness is
that we often don’t think it would ever happen to us, or
affect us directly, especially for slow onset events
like salinization or, in this case, sea level rise. . .
What is alarming to realize is that the effects of slow
onset events are here and now, felt by us. Slow onset
events have always been harder to justify and quantify
compared to typhoons, heat waves or floods as the
effects are cumulative and not readily seen or felt.
That is until now. What’s worse is that slow onset
events, by reason of the word slow, are effects that are
results of action from decades ago. If we see this sea
level rise as a result of actions from years that
weren’t even as record breaking as those we have now,
with behaviors that weren’t as destructive as what we
have now, what are we in for for the future?
Gamboa calls for Filipinos to step up their
carbon footprint reduction game now. Her call for action
includes concrete steps we can all take to lessen the
destruction of our environment: lessen consumption, buy
second hand, ride a bike, divest your fossil fuel
shares, invest in renewable energy, jog outside instead
of using the treadmill, eat less meat, etc.
Two enlightened leaders of major institutional
religions practiced worldwide accept this reality. In
2015, Pope Francis I issued a papal encyclical entitled
Laudato Si: On the Care of our Common Home. While there
are many world leaders – including President Trump of
the U.S. who has pulled America out of the Paris Climate
agreement3 – and scientists (usually on the payroll of
big coal plants) who still deny the existence of climate
change, the Pope was ahead of many not only to
acknowledge the reality, but to call for urgent action.
He truly lives up to his chosen name Francis, in memory
of St. Francis of Assisi, today known as the Father of
Ecology. The second figure is the Dalai Lama, who
tweeted on June 5 (2018) that: The world belongs to its
seven billion inhabitants. In the past communities could
flourish in isolation but know we can’t. This World
Environment Day let’s remember that we depend on each
other and that to meet the challenge of climate change,
we have to work together.
In an earlier tweet, he said: “Because of our
intelligence, we human beings are uniquely capable of
not only creating problems, but of doing so in a large
scale…” (June 1, 2018.)
In response to the challenges posed by
environmental destruction resulting in climate change in
the Philippines, ESP (The Ecological Society of the
Philippines) has initiated the planting of mangroves in
two areas in the Negros islands. This has been quite the
fad lately and one often reads about companies
sponsoring massive mangrove planting activities as part
of what they call Corporate Social Responsibility – the
catchphrase corporations use to show that they exist for
more than just profit. In the past, when mangrove
forests were plentiful, they protected the islands from
erosion due to waves and tides, and provided breeding
grounds and homes to fish and other aquatic life. These
groves have been depleted due to their being cleared to
create tourist-friendly beaches or developed as
residential or commercial areas. But the main reason for
the rapid disappearance of mangrove forests has been
their being the most accessible source of cooking fuel.
Due to the density of its wood and exposure to seawater,
dried mangrove wood burns longer and generates intense
heat. Bakers nationwide have long sworn by the use of
mangrove to bake the Philippine staple bread ‘pan de
sal,’ arguing that aside from the attributes mentioned,
it adds a distinctive smokey flavor to the bread.
However, ESP is careful to replant mangroves
only in places where forests had existed before but were
depleted. Recent studies have shown that planting them
where they did not exist affects biodiversity in the
seas. By the same token, ESP is about to embark on the
reforestation of an area that belongs to the
Northeastern Sierra Madre Mountain ranges. This area
comprises the Aurora Memorial National Park and belongs
to what was once till the 1970s first growth tropical
rainforest. The planting of invasive or single-species
trees has also affected biodiversity in the forests.
Before planting begins, however, a handbook is being
created by foresters, based on studies and interviews
with the indigenous people who have lived off the
forests for hundreds if not thousands of years to
catalogue what tree and plant life actually are endemic
to the area.
A novel approach is being employed by RARE, an
international NGO that emphasizes coastal restoration
and resource conservation. Working with local people to
find a balance between use and preserving natural
resources, RARE encourages people to take pride in their
natural environment and to feel a sense of
accountability for how they use natural resources. When
local attitudes flow from having pride in what has been
given by nature, it follows logically that one must
preserve it and be responsible.
We must all do what we can as the Dalai Lama
has urged and help get the Creator out of the fix he has
found himself in.
By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) The Philippine Star, Opinion, September 14, 2018
I
write this article with a heavy heart and mixed emotions
as it seems that everything we have advocated and done
in conserving the environment seems to ebb.
For one our coral reefs were reported in
today’s Business Mirror paper on a biodiversity meeting
last week that we no longer have excellent coral reefs.
Most of them are dying or dead and we are at the center
of the coral triangle.
Don’t they know by now that coral reefs and
mangrove swamps are the breeding grounds of marine
species.?
Is that why we have a fish catch shortage? And
have to import our fish.
In the 1970’s we have worked with BFAR-Bureau
of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, PAWB – Parks and
Wildlife Bureau now the Biodiversity Management Center
and the DENR – Department of Environment and Natural
Resources. As well as the UP Marine Science Center then
and now an Institute. We had a lot of things done
including the ban of Philippine Coral exports to the
United States and having marine protected areas.
During that time our forest were pristine
protecting our mountains, rivers and streams. And yes we
had marine and terrestrial biodiversity until we became
known as a mega-biodiversity Country in danger and words
like conservation and sustainable development were owned
by the extractive industries and private sectors.
It saddens me to know as we still dive to
document and photograph our coral colonies that the
state is that bad. What gets me mad is that what have
they done?
At
the same token we are suffering from a food shortage and
high inflation. A country so rich in agriculture and
natural resources and we have no rice? Where have all
the flowers gone? Are these priorities of the government
and private sector to concrete every development with
cement?
I ask where is the DENR and the government in
all this? Are we waiting for the perfect storm? I am
frightened and we all should be and take action if no
one else does.
What makes it worse is that we have been
victims of to many typhoon Yolanda’s and have suffered
enough and yet another super typhoon is threatening to
wrought damage to our beautiful country and people in
the wake of all that is happening. What happened to the
climate talks are they just trading carbon?
To quote a good friend Sunita Narain “but have
we learnt anything from the hell that overtook God’s own
country?
Why all the Fuss about Boracay?
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) The Philippine Star, Opinion, August 21, 2018
Why
all the fuss about Boracay? Why not Tondo, Payatas, or
Samar? Is it because there are no dollars to twinkle the
eyes? Absolutely, and that is sad. Are our values that
distorted?
The closure of Boracay had
become necessary after years of uncontrolled development
marred by the unabated greed of owners, developers,
local government officials as well as the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Environmental
Management Bureau (EMB) and all connected agencies.
Development upon development
sprawled until tourism and earnings rose exponentially
but at a cost.
The closure was a must.
Today, they talk about its opening in October; after
all, it is one of the best beaches in the world.
Boracay is a small island and
its sustainability is suspect. The number of visitors
that go to the island must be monitored and they must
follow strict environmental rules. I have not seen big
structures being demolished? They should have done so to
limit the influx of people, lest its degradation go on
uncontrolled and become polluted once again.
As I write this, Metro Manila
and Luzon are underwater and so are different places in
India and China. Meanwhile, European countries,
Australia, and California have all experienced record
high temperatures.
Metro Manila is a dying city,
yet malls and developers are carpeting the metropolis
with a building spree to benefit tourists and foreigners
but NOT the people.
Look
at Panglao, Bohol and Puerto Princesa City, Palawan,
too. These were once pristine environments and now
nothing but jellyfish abound, which is a sign of severe
lack of oxygen in the water. Look at the Pasig River
after all the hullabaloo of cleaning it up.
While I was a council member
in the International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN), we waged battle against oil and gas industries,
big pharmaceuticals, companies that are into genetically
modified organisms (GMOs), and mining. Shell, Rio Tinto,
BHP Billiton, Anglo-American, Monsanto and Syngenta, to
name a few. They were coddling the union with funds.
During the 2002 World Summit
for Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg, South
Africa, our director-general announced a partnership
between Shell and IUCN – without the approval of the
council. A big fuss followed as we invoked our rights
and the statutes, and he nearly lost his job.
Today, he is the head of
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). Corruption
has invaded and permeated the United Nations.
Look at the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change and what it has
done for climate change. Nothing. Heat waves, droughts,
floods, famine, food shortages, and climatic events are
getting stronger and CO2 emissions continue to rise
despite planting mangrove forests and terrestrial
reforestation by a few good groups.
Our oceans are the new
battleground as they give us over 70 percent of our
oxygen and absorb over 50 percent of atmospheric carbon
dioxide. Yet, the number of gyres filled with garbage
and dead zones continues to rise.
And all the fuss about
Boracay? It’s a small insignificant islet.
We ask: What now? How do we
save our planet? Do we need a sea change? Yes, we do,
and we need to change the leaders’ mindset. Frankly, I
don’t know why we have not put environmental education
in the curriculum. If we had, we would have had an army
of eco-warriors protecting our dying planet by now.
Antonio M. Claparols is the
president of the Ecological Society of the Philippines
and a member of the International Union for Conservation
of Nature and the IUCN Commission on Environmental,
Economic and Social Policy.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Philippine Daily Inquirer, Monday May 7, 2018
A
heat wave is threatening Asia with scorching
temperatures that will be detrimental for all.
The spring in Shanghai has
been cut short while the winter still engulfs the
eastern seaboard of the United States. I fear that this
trend will continue to get worse and climate change will
devastate the planet. Water resources will dwindle and
food security will be threatened raising fears of more
Arab Springs.
It has been a long while
since the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change has had their Conference of Parties and nothing
has happened except increasing carbon dioxide emissions
in the atmosphere.
I
write this in Shanghai where the spring has turned into
summer and yet they are one of the leaders in electric
bikes. As the silent army moves along, US President
Donald Trump refuses to acknowledge the existence of
this climate change battle.
With so many Earth Day
celebrations, I am not happy celebrating and feel
happier just planting trees and protecting our oceans.
I really worry for our people
and planet.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION IS KEY
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Philippine Daily Inquirer, Friday March 16, 2018
To
many people, including those in the government, the seas
and oceans don’t really matter ecologically.
In their mind, the seas and
global commons only involve the right to navigate and
explore resources, be it oil or gas, and to expand their
territorial reach and power, as what China is doing in
the South China Sea. This has been the practice since
time immemorial, when Portugal ruled the oceans and
Spain followed with its mighty armada, followed in turn
by the Dutch, the English, and the French, and then the
superpower America, and now China.
They all fail to realize that
the oceans are alive, and supply food and livelihood for
billions of people. To them, the prospect of an
impending ecological marine disaster makes no sense.
What is worrisome is that
with the damage to and continued pollution of the seas
and oceans, an ecological marine meltdown is shaping up
faster than they think.
Fish catch has decreased
dramatically as populations increase exponentially. The
number of gyres and dead zones has increased.
Yet despite the many findings
on the sad state of the oceans, they still think in
terms of narrow economics.
During
a recent dive in Anilao, Batangas, we were happy to note
the good state of the coral colonies. After all, this is
the heart of the Coral Triangle.
We have been diving in Anilao
since the early 1970s, and still she is good. The key is
environmental conservation.
During the early years,
Agriculture Minister Bong Tanco helped us make this area
a sanctuary. Then came President Fidel V. Ramos, a diver
who sealed Anilao’s ecological health.
We are worried that the
continued destruction of coral colonies in the South
China Sea will destroy the entire Pacific Ocean. It is
just a matter of time before the coral colonies are
totally destroyed if China’s reclamation and
island-building activities continue unabated.
We have, along with many
others, advocated the establishment of a marine peace
park in the South China Sea, where the coral colonies
are far richer than any in the world, and serve to
replenish the Pacific Ocean day in and day out, per the
findings of the East-West Center as presented in a
conference in July 2016.
It
would be ideal if an international marine conference on
the matter is held, attended by the brightest marine
experts as well as representatives of the fisheries
industry. The world should be made aware that the seas
and oceans are in grave danger and that the fish are
disappearing.
Perhaps the government will
listen to the experts and keep the politics of
destruction away.
Remember Boracay and the
uncontrolled development on that once-pristine island.
Its sustainability has been destroyed and now she is
dying.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Philippine Daily Inquirer, Wednesday January 24, 2018
At
this writing, San Francisco was welcoming us with
sunshine although we were told that rain had gripped the
city. Sadly, weather reports were indicating that the
United States was bracing for yet another snowstorm.
From the north, to affect states from California to New
York with an estimated 16 million people exposed to its
fury. This storm was looming after the winter bomb that
had humbled the great New York and caused other
northeast states to come to a halt, with temperatures
plunging to as low as -30 degrees Centigrade.
It’s apocalyptic: the roaring
fires that burned the enclave of the rich in Montecito,
California; the deep freeze and the fires in Australia;
the storms and floods in the Philippines and other parts
of Asia; snow in desert lands…
And the ash fall and lava
coming from Mayon volcano in Albay. What more do we need
as Nature takes charge? After the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change’s COP23, it seems
the state of the world will only worsen. What is there
to discuss in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 23-26 for the
Economic Summit?
Surely a new agenda of food
security, a call for global attention to the oceans,
forests and general state of the planet, as well as a
new development model that puts the importance of
climate change front and center. It must be formulated.
Already,
records are being broken, yet 2018 has just begun. I can
only imagine the climatic events in store for this year.
Then there was the false
nuclear alert in Hawaii that pushed residents to panic.
Imagine if nuclear attacks were made to avert the
alleged threat. A nuclear holocaust in the making?
All this makes you wonder
what the most powerful country on earth can do if it’s
so ill-prepared for a false alarm. What more in the
battle against the very real threat of climate change?
Yes, we have many things to fear and much more to do to
avert these disasters.
There is the Arab Spring in
Iran and Tunisia, and a possible war in Jerusalem due to
its being pronounced the capital of Israel despite its
being the home of multiple faiths. What is worse is the
state of the world’s values and the morals of people
everywhere. Money and greed seem to rule, and a downturn
system has produced even more poverty, homelessness and
racism.
San Francisco, which I have
grown to love, is so filled with destitute people, as if
the plague had descended on this beautiful city of peace
and love. I have never seen it this way.
Ironically,
today (Jan. 16), Martin Luther King Jr. Day is being
celebrated in the United States, remembering what he
fought for and accomplished for civil rights and
equality and the very sad fact that he was assassinated
for speaking his heart and mind in the name of the
greater good. It is time to ponder on one’s priorities
in life as we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King
Jr. Perhaps we can win the fight against ourselves and
beat climate change.
It’s time we understood that
our ecology is deteriorating at a rate faster than ever
before. Our planet, our only home, is in danger, yet the
ones responsible for its destruction are the people who
lack the proper use of their intentions and resources to
do good. Noblesse oblige. It all begins with us.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, October 09, 2016
There
is no way attention will be directed at the crying
urgency of protecting the coral reefs unless we belabor
the issue and repeat ourselves. At the rate coral reefs
are being destroyed by human activity or damaged by
bleaching due to global warming, it won’t be long before
these “colorful gardens under the sea where marine life
thrives” die off, never to be appreciated by future
generations.
Indeed, though the
Philippines is “the richest place on earth” in terms of
biodiversity, according to scientist Wilfredo Licuanan,
he has warned that because of climate change, “we can
lose our corals in a matter of weeks, not years.”
There is, thus, not a moment
to lose. Inquirer correspondent Yolanda Sotelo reports
that at the Hundred Islands National Park in Pangasinan,
divers search for fragments of live coral in the waters
for nurturing in the coral nursery or planting in the
sea bed. The coral regeneration program is financed by
the Department of Science and Technology and the
Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural
Resources Research and Development, and implemented by
Pangasinan State University and the city government of
Alaminos. The intention is clear: “We do not introduce
anything that can’t be found in the sea, such as
artificial reefs; we are replanting dislodged corals,”
said Virna Salac, coral reef restoration national
coordinator.
Pollution
is also wreaking havoc on coral reefs: Plastic waste,
for example, “smothers corals,” according to World Wide
Fund for Nature Philippines head Joel Palma.
(Additionally, the Philippines will lose at least 59
fish species endemic to the reefs in the coming 25 years
because of overharvesting and illegal fishing, said the
environmental group Haribon. “The belief we once had
that the sea is of unlimited resource is not true. The
alarming loss of fishes is telling us that there’s not
much time left for action,” Haribon project manager
Margarita N. Lavides said in a statement. “We are slowly
losing once-common, wide-ranging, yet inherently large
vulnerable reef fishes [that] have very important
ecological roles.”)
At the International Coral
Reef Symposium held at the East West Center in Hawaii
last June, marine scientists John McManus and Ed Gomez
reported that much of the rich coral colonies in the
South China Sea had been destroyed by China’s
construction of artificial islands in the area. McManus
pointed out that a “Scarborough peace park” could be
established in the disputed area, and “could be the foot
in the door for the entire situation” involving maritime
territorial disputes. He suggested that China and the
Philippines resolve their disagreement in order to save
the reef that the Philippines calls Panatag, and which
it considers among its traditional fishing grounds. Said
McManus: “Scarborough reef is in a critical stage. If
China builds [an island] there, it’s going to be a
horrible waste. This is probably the most beautiful reef
in the world.”
Environmentalist
Antonio Claparols, president of the Ecological Society
of the Philippines, is part of a broad, continuing
effort to establish that marine peace park in the South
China Sea. Last month, he and his colleagues presented
an emergency motion to that effect, titled “Conservation
in the South China Sea,” at the 6th World Conservation
Congress held in Hawaii. The motion reads in part:
“[T]he coral colonies in the [South China Sea] are five
times more diverse than anywhere in the world, and they
serve to protect, replenish and rehabilitate the
fisheries and natural resources of the Pacific Ocean.”
“But to our dismay,”
Claparols said, the International Union for the
Conservation of Nature rejected it.
The continuing deterioration
of coral reefs is a distressing phenomenon that is
happening worldwide. In the Philippines, where coral
reefs help sustain the livelihoods of millions and
continue to draw tourists because of their beauty, it
behooves everyone to add voice and effort to the cause.
Once the reefs are gone, there is no replacing them.
It’s crunch time.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Philippine Daily Inquirer, Monday November 27, 2017
The
23rd annual climate change conference, or COP23, was
held in Bonn, Germany, on Nov. 6-17.
There is no doubt that this
year will be another record-breaking year to showcase
the disastrous effects of climate change. We’ve already
seen the hurricanes and storms that affected the United
States and the droughts and heat waves that plagued many
other countries, as well as the floods that took their
toll in Asia and South America.
We must remember that our
oceans absorb almost 90 percent of all carbon dioxide
emissions and are dying because of pollution. Already
gyres have sprouted in all our oceans and seas. This is
our last bastion of nature and it is being destroyed.
It
is hoped that with the United States accepting the Paris
Accord, the planet has a better chance of mitigating and
withstanding the ill effects of climate change.
We recently travelled to
Jerusalem and marvelled at its beauty—in Hebron, where
Abraham and Sarah are buried; and in Bethlehem, site of
the Church of the Nativity which houses the cave and the
manger where Jesus was born — but we were dogged by the
unpleasant weather. Though the humidity was low it was
extremely warm in September and October!
We
do not have the luxury of time to combat climate change.
Its effects will surely be stronger and fiercer. It is
hoped that if everyone will take a stand, maybe, just
maybe, there will be a little more time for the planet
to survive.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) OpinYon Mindanao, November 16 to 30, 2016
It
has been awhile since our lakes have given us cause to
be concerned. Laguna Lake is our biggest fresh water
lake and it is a mess and in a sad and deteriorating
state. The entire lake which covers the Provinces of
Rizal, Laguna and Batangas are all beneficiaries of the
lake.
Yet, no one seems to be doing
anything about it. The entire lake has been filled by
fishponds that only benefit the rich fish pen operators.
The silt from the mountain ranges has filled the lake
that the entire lake is so shallow.
There was news earlier this year
that the DENR under Ms. Gina Lopez would take action on
the survival of the lake. There was a move to remove all
the fish pens that crowded the lake so that it can
finally live and become a bastion of abundant fish stock
for all the people living around this body of water.
The lake can also serve us a trans
boundary navigational lake. People could use it as a
highway of movement. They could travel from the Pasig
River all the way to towns around the lake making it
easier for them to travel home, possibly at the same
time easing traffic around EDSA.
The
ferry boats could travel from the Pasig to Binangonan in
Rizal to Paete in Laguna, to other parts of Rizal. By
using the lake they can make travel time faster and at
the same time avail of the accessible rich fishing
bounty thereby contributing to the alleviation of
poverty in the dependent areas.
If the lake is revived then poverty
in these areas can be significantly reduced. It is hoped
that it is revived and cleansed out of all its fish pens
and that factories would stop polluting the water. A
massive reforestation to mitigate the siltation that
flows to the lake would also certainly help.
Another lake to take into
consideration is Lake Marawi in Lanao, known as the home
of the Maranaos and used by them for centuries. This
particular body of water has been used by the National
Power Corporation to produce energy in the dams of the
Agus River.
The NAPORCOR has been using Lake
Lanao as one of the largest hydro
dams in the island of Mindanao. The famed Maria
Christina falls in that province is an exceptional site
for all to see.
But
there are problems in Lake Lanao and that is hoped that
the DENR will take action to preserve it. I was told
that a task force would be formed to proceed with the
management and conservation of this historic lake.
We are running out of freshwater
and it is important for all of us to preserve and
conserve, as well manage sustainably our God-given
lakes.
An ecological disaster in the making
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) OpinYon Mindanao, September 1 to 15, 2016
THE
SPRATLY Islands and the South China Sea is not just
another matter of the right to protect our own territory
or a case for China to follow the ruling of the World
Arbitration courts. It is a matter of life and death as
an ecological disaster of big proportions is in the
making.
For one, the Spratly Islands and the South
China Sea is part of the coral triangle. It has been
studied and recorded to be five times richer than any
coral colony in the Pacific Ocean. It in fact
replenishes the Pacific Ocean day in and out.
Most of the countries that surround these
islands rely on the seas for their food and livelihood.
The Kalayaan Island Group as it is known in the
Philippines was discovered and claimed by Thomas Coloma
in 1956 and was made into a municipality.
The Kalayaan Island Group supplies more than
25% percent of all the fish catch of Manila. It has more
than 500 species of coral and the most diverse in the
world.
The
coral triangle is the richest part of our oceans and
must be protected. China must realize this and must stop
destroying our coral colonies and atolls and converting
them into artificial islands. This will kill the entire
coral triangle and will make an ecological disaster that
will have adverse affects on the entire world.
The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean and
covers a third of the planet. Our planet is made up of
water. More than 70% percent of the planet is covered by
the seas and oceans. The oceans are the richest and most
diverse ecosystem in the planet. It is also home of over
75% percent of all life forms. The oceans sequester 50%
percent of all atmospheric carbon dioxide.
And yes the ocean is alive.
We have been treating the seas as a giant waste
basket and our seas are victims of ocean acidification.
The issue in the Spratly Islands is more than
occupation and exploitation. It must be saved and
protected. China and all the other claimants must
understand this and the value of conserving her.
The
Spratly islands must be made into a marine peace park
and we must allow the rich marine biodiversity to heal
itself.
This is from the last research of a good
friend, Dr. John McManus, who made many studies of the
Spratly Islands. He mentioned that over 80% percent of
the coral reefs have been damaged and that if this
continues an ecological disaster of dire consequences
will be coming and we cannot replace nor turn the
situation back.
We must act now to make it into a marine peace
park or suffer the consequences. It is our hope that the
world and China see the light and conserve the Spratly
Islands and the South China Sea.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Philippine Daily Inquirer, Monday September 19, 2016
These
are sad times for the conservation movement, with the
International Union for the Conservation of Nature
(IUCN) rejecting our proposal to study the possibility
of setting up a marine peace park in the disputed South
China Sea.
We presented our motion,
titled “Conservation in the South China Sea” and
supported by 11 cosponsors, during the 6th World
Conservation Congress held in Hawaii last Sept. 1-10.
But to our dismay, the biggest environmental union in
the world rejected it.
We had cited a study made by
Dr. John McManus and Dr. Ed Gomez, which was presented
during the International Coral Reef Symposium held at
the East West Center in Hawaii last June 16-26, and
which stated that an ecological study in the South China
Sea and the Pacific Ocean is in the making.
The study of McManus and
Gomez reported that the coral colonies in the South
China Sea are five times more diverse than any other on
the planet, and that 80 percent of the coral colonies in
the Spratly Islands have been damaged and destroyed by
China’s continued dredging and island-building
activities.
The
Philippines gets over 25 percent of the fish catch from
the Spratlys using sustainable fishing methods.
Last July the Permanent Court
or Arbitration based in The Hague ruled that China’s
claim over almost the entire South China Sea is without
basis. It was in view of this development, and in regard
for all the studies presented at the International Coral
Reef Symposium, that we decided to file a motion to set
up a marine peace park in the disputed waters.
With the motion’s rejection,
and in accordance with the rule of law and IUCN
procedure, we filed a 7-page appeal. But the secretariat
rejected it for reasons we do not know. So we decided to
take it to the full plenary for a vote.
Before then, we were told by
the director-general to withdraw the motion on grounds
that the Chinese government had approached her and other
officials, and that the motion would supposedly destroy
the IUCN. We told her that the motion’s text is purely
about conservation and there is nothing political in it.
Pressure was brought to bear
on the motion’s principal sponsor, the Center for
Environmental Legal Studies at Pace Law School in New
York. It was forced to withdraw the motion in plenary,
much to the objection of its young lawyers who had
helped us during the process.
We
had argued: How can one save the whales and make a
marine sanctuary for whales—a proposal that was
approved—and other marine areas if one does not protect
the richest coral colonies, the beginning of the food
chain of the marine environment from where all the
phytoplankton and zooplankton emanate?
We had also pointed out: The
oceans are dying from continued acidification, and gyres
and dead zones have increased more than marine protected
areas.
But sadly, it seems the Union
knows so little of the marine environment. And sadly, it
seems to be controlled by China in terms of continued
funding (in whatever capacity, it is not mentioned in
the Union’s financial plan and audit reports).
We were able to read our
statement in plenary, and it earned a thundering ovation
from the members. But sadly, it seems that politics and
economics now rule the world’s biggest environmental
union. It has had its baptism of fire.
And these are indeed sad
times for the conservation movement.
Our delegation has prepared a brief statement
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President Ecological Soceity of the Philippines
We
belong to the International Union for the Conservation
of Nature (IUCN) family since
1978.
The UN
Convention on the Law of Sea mandates protection of the
oceans and encourages regional cooperation in managing
the marine environment. Furthermore, the Rio
Declaration on Environment and Development declares that
“peace, development and environmental protection are
inter-dependent and indivisible.”
UNCLOS has a
dispute resolution procedure for environmental harm in
the ocean, and the Permanent Court of Arbitration took
up the case of the South China Sea.
After an
independent environmental impact assessment, the Court
found that the impact of any environmental harm
occurring in the reefs may not be limited to the
immediate area, but can affect the health and viability
of ecosystems elsewhere.
We are not here
to opine on the conduct between nations, but to fight
for conservation.
There
is a long-recognized system of using peace parks and
protected areas to achieve conservation and resolve
inter-state conflict. The South China Sea presents
exactly the situation for which the concept of peace
parks was created.
Coral reefs in
the South China Sea are among the most bio diverse
marine environments in the world and continued damage
will cause irreparable harm to the environmental health
of the region, threatens the food security of millions,
and may lead to biodiversity loss and ecological
disaster in all our oceans.
Measures to
achieve peace and measures to ensure conservation are
not mutually exclusive. Rather they are both
indispensable to achieving the goal of IUCN: to “create
a just world that values and conserves nature.”
They replenish
the pacific ocean day in and day out.
The oceans are
global concern and rest assured we all will be affected.
Conservation is
more important than conflict, and at the end of the day,
this is not about politics or procedure. This is about
preserving the ecosystems that replenish the Pacific,
and protecting them for the benefit of present and
future generations.
We implore all
Members of IUCN. Do not delay. Vote to open this motion
for debate. This is the largest conservation
organization in the world and we ask for your support.
Motion submitted to the IUCN World Conservation Congress
September 4,
2016
UNDER THE
AUTHORITY OF RULE 52(c), OF THE IUCN WCC RULES OF
PROCEDURE, AS A “NEW” AND “URGENT” MATTER, ON MATTERS
ARISING SUBSEAUENT TO THE UNION’S NORMAL MOTIONS PROCESS
Submitted by
the Australian Rainforest Conservation Society (NG/1103), the Ecological Society of the Philippines (NG/621), the Center for Environmental Legal Studies (NG/826),
CONSERVATION IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA
Conscious
of the linkages between the marine environment and
all life on Earth,
Observing the dynamic
role of coral reefs in protecting terrestrial and
coastal ecosystems, providing ecosystem services to
coastal communities, and maintaining the ecological
health of all oceans;
Aware that when
transboundary environments are at risk there is a
tradition of establishing “peace parks” as protected
areas [See Sandwith, et al., IUCN WCPA 2001);
Recognizing that the UN
Convention on the Law of Sea mandates protection of
the oceans and encourages regional cooperation
(Article 197) and scientific studies of the marine
environment (Article 200);
Troubled that coral
reefs face multiple risks and that the 13th
International Coral Reef Symposium (Hawaii, June
2016) assessed the threats and damage to the “Coral
Triangle,” in the seas of South East Asia;
Noting the decision of
the Permanent Court of International Arbitration
delivered its decision under Annex VII of the UN
Convention on the Law of the Sea, in the matter of
The Republic of the Philippines vs. The People’s
Republic of China, on 12 July 2016, and the
Court’s findings of damage to the environment in the
South China Sea;
Concerned
that coral reefs in the South China Sea are among
the most biodiverse marine environments in the world
and continued damage will cause irreparable damage
to the environmental health of the region, threatens
the food security of millions, and may lead to
biodiversity loss and ecological disaster;
Conscious
that Agenda 21 recommended preservation of
“habitats and other ecologically sensitive areas” in
Chapter 17 (17.46(f) and 17.74(f), and that the UN
Sustainable Development Goals 14 and 15 mandate the
protection of nature; and
Recalling the 1992
Declaration of Rio de Janeiro on Environment and
Development declares that “peace, development and
environmental protection are interdependent and
indivisible” and that threats to the peace shall be
peacefully resolved (Principles 24, 25, 26),
Now therefore The World
Conservation Congress in Hawaii:
1.
Urges all stakeholders to
consult together and cooperate to study the
establishment of marine protected areas in the South
China Sea and Coral Triangle;
2.
Recommends
that all States and authorities in this region
suspend exploitation of natural resources,
prospecting, or other activities, pending the study
of how to establish marine protected areas in the
South China Sea and Coral Triangle; and
3.
Requests the World
Commission on Environmental Law in collaboration
with the World Commission on Protected Areas to
study the prospects for establishing extensive
marine protected areas in the South China Sea.
THIS DRAFT IS FOR CONSULTATON
WITH MEMBERS OF IUCN, TO BE REFINED AND ENDORSED BY
A MINUMUM OF 5 ORGANIZATIONS. PLEASE ADVISE ANTONIO
CLAPAROLS (jamc@mozcom.com)
OR JOSEPH MORAVEC (jmoravec@law.pace.edu)
OF REVISIONS AND DECISIONS TO CO-SPONSOR
Envi Groups: Declares 'marine peace park' in South China Sea
The
motion filed with the International Union for
Conservation of Nature recommends the suspension of the
'exploitation of natural resources' in the disputed sea
MANILA, Philippines – A motion
to create a "marine peace park" in the West Philippine
Sea (South China Sea) has been filed with the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Antonio Claparols, president of the Ecological
Society of the Philippines, confirmed this to Rappler on
Wednesday, September 7. His group was among those who
co-sponsored the motion, filed Monday, September 5,
during the ongoing IUCN World Conservation Congress in
Hawaii.
The motion was filed by Joseph Moravec of the
Center for Environmental Legal Studies in New York with
11 co-sponsors, including the Ecological Society of the
Philippines, and the Sierra Club.
"It is one of 6 [motions] that will be opened in
the plenary...It is an emergency motion," Claparols said
in an email message.
Entitled
"Conservation in the South China Sea," the motion
recommends that "all States and authorities in this
region suspend exploitation of natural resources,
prospecting, or other activities, pending the study of
how to establish marine protected areas in the South
China Sea and Coral Triangle."
It also called on institutes like the World
Commission on Environmental Law and World Commission on
Protected Areas to "study the prospects for establishing
extensive marine protected areas in the South China
Sea."
If accepted for deliberation, the motion is set to
be taken up by IUCN member organizations on Friday,
September 9.
Noting the Hague ruling
Amid tensions between the Philippines and China
over the disputed sea, the motion "notes" the historic
ruling of
the Permanent Court of International Arbitration "in the
matter of The Republic of the Philippines vs. The
People's Republic of China, on 12 July 2016, and the
Court's findings of damage to the environment in the
South China Sea."
It also recognizes the UN Convention on the Law of
Sea and its call for the "protection of the oceans" and
"regional cooperation."
Rather than ignite tensions over the disputed sea,
Claparols believes the motion would bring a peaceful
resolution to the conflict.
"The
creation of a marine peace park and sanctuary is the
ideal solution to the hotbed that the South China Sea
has become, and is the peaceful solution for all
countries claiming the territory," he said.
Claparols, involved in crafting the motion, said
the motion is necessary to save the rich marine
resources in the West Philippine Sea.
"Our reason for doing this is to save our coral
colonies in the South China Sea. The coral colonies
there replenish the entire Pacific Ocean," he told
Rappler.
Studies by scientists from the University of the
Philippines Marine Science Institute and Dr John McManus
found that "our coral reefs are 5 times richer than any
coral colonies," said Claparols.
The dispute over the West Philippine Sea and the
tensions there that hinder conservationist efforts mean
that "a marine peace park is the only way" to protect
the sea's biodiversity, he added.
China has been undertaking massive reclamation
activities in the West Philippine Sea, activities that
have damaged
hundreds of acres of coral reef.
But Claparols thinks the creation of a marine
peace park will be to China's benefit.
"This will actually benefit China and all of us as
we are saving the marine environment and the fish
stock," he said.
'Strong signal'
The motion is expected to be controversial since
the current president of the IUCN, Zhang Xinsheng, is
Chinese.
"If it is adopted, then a strong signal will be
sent to the world and China," said Claparols.
It is uncertain if China will recognize the motion
even if it is adopted by the IUCN. Beijing refused to
recognize the Hague ruling.
"Should
China agree, we are saving the world as all oceans are
connected. Conservation is a solution to conflicts,"
said Claparols.
The idea of creating a "marine peace park" to ease
tensions among countries claiming the West Philippine
Sea is not new.
In the Philippines, it has been suggested by
personalities like Supreme Court Senior Associate
Justice Antonio
Carpio and
environmentalist Antonio
Oposa Jr.
The IUCN is the world's largest and among the most
prestigious networks of environmental groups and
experts.
With its 1,300 members, it is a recognized global
authority on the status of the environment and measures
needed to protect it. The IUCN is most known for its Red
List of Threatened Species.
The IUCN World Conservation Congress, a gathering
of its member organizations, meets only once every 4
years.
Motions adopted by the members become the IUCN's
global conservation agenda. –
Rappler.com
HOPE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND OUR PEOPLE
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) OpinYon Mindanao, August 16 to 30, 2016
For
the first time in my life I write an article on the
environment with high hopes for our people and
environment and that means a lot after fighting for the
environment for more than 40 years.
Fighting the extractive industries and known polluters.
From saving our coral reefs to educating our people on
the value of a healthy ecology, we have always
maintained that a healthy ecology is the best economics.
As I write this the DENR imposed audit on mining
companies is on-going. Many have voluntary stopped
operations and others have been suspended for
lack of safeguards in protecting our environment. Their
failure to comply with environmental and social
safeguards. The extraction of minerals from our soil and
mountains as well as logging our forest is almost
irreparable.
I
write this with the highest hopes for our people and
environment with the pronouncements of President
Rodrigo Duterte on protecting our soil and environment.
His calling and love for the country’s
indigenous peoples and environment has been exemplified
by the appointment of
Secretary Gina Lopez as the chief of the DENR.
This appointment speaks a lot and Gina has done the
right things since she took her oath. An audit of mining
companies, to stop illegal loggers, to go on a massive
reforestation program, to have a DENR hotline, to have a
civil society desk, to clean Laguna Lake of all
fish pens and make it a living lake for the benefit of
all.
It may even be used as a navigational lake from the
Pasig River, helping congest the traffic and lower the
carbon footprint. The mountains need to be reforested
and we can use the help of the 25 million students to
teach them ecology and plant trees at the same
time. In the end you have an army of over 25 million
eco-warriors.
This
week she banned Zambales miners to stop shipping nickel
to China.
If they only knew the value of the coral triangle in the
Spratly Islands which is five times richer than any
Pacific reef. If only they knew that it replenishes us
and the Pacific every high and low tide.
Yes we are very hopeful that real change is here
for our people and environment.
The June 20 issue of the
Financial Times reported the 2016 El Niño to be the
hottest ever recorded. Well, what can I say? The
scourging heat has born down upon us. The drought has
affected all of us, our lives and our agriculture. The
farmers have nothing to till as the fields were dry.
In
Mindanao the temperatures breached close to 40 degrees
Centigrade. Fires broke out everywhere. Mt. Apo our
tallest peak was on fire as well as Mt. Kanlaon. In
Kidapawan, the farmers expressed their disgust and
concern for the drought effects of El Niño. When the
population is hungry and thirsty we will act for our
lives are at stake.
We really have to learn to
control and balance development. The polluters are doing
the same old development model without signs of
changing. If we can address the issues and change our
destructive ways, we may yet prevail despite climate
change. We must act and make our voices heard. Let us
walk our talk.
ESP GREEN CRUSADE FOR EARTHDAY: Mini Mangrove Nursery
(By: Malu E. Gacuma - Project Organizer and Climate Reality Leader, Saturday, June 11, 2016
Finally,a
mini-Mangrove Nursery for Ecological Society of the
Philippines in partnership with TFAMDA (Tuburan
Fisherfolks & Mangroves Dev't. Assn.) in E.B.Magalona
(formerly Saravia), Negros Occidental! ESP aims to raise
5,000 propagules ( 'Bakauan','Bungalon' & 'Pagatpat'
varieties) in and for this area that fights vs. the
encroachment of illegal trawlers from another
town.(TFAMDA claims that their Barangay Captain does not
support their environmental effort & allegedly allows
residents to throw their garbage near the coastline.) We
agreed to help them in the reforestation & re-education
aspects for a positive influence to the community.
Thanks to ESP President /JRS Express CEO Antonio
M. Claparols & Javier
M. Claparolss (ESP Director/JRS Vice-Pres.) for
their support to the struggle of Tuburan eco-warriors
led by Hen
Ry Astillado
& TFAMDA president, Glenda Garcia. Thanks to my 2nd
daughter,
Christienne Marie Gancayco for
documenting our turn-over on June 11,2016,So happy to
have worn my Green Enclosure commitment ring again!
ESP GREEN CRUSADE FOR EARTHDAY: Mangrove - Growing - Outreach - Feeding & Dental Hygiene Awareness
(By: Malu E. Gacuma - Project Organizer and Climate Reality Leader, Saturday, April 23, 2016
*50
Poorest of the Poor barangay children,aged between 3 -8
yrs old were made recipients for the blessings .*
---------------@----------------
Spearheaded by the ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF THE
PHILIPPINES ,led by its founding President & JRS Express
CEO, Antonio M. Claparols and his brother, ESP founding
Director Javier M. Claparols with the following project
partners & youth volunteers:
TFAMDA (Tuburan Fisherfolks & Mangrove
Dev't.Assn.) led by its pres.Glenda Garcia thru Hen Ry
Astodillo and local residents,esp.some mothers and
teen-age girls who helped serving food to the children.
Dr.Lourdes
Javellana Paras,president of Philippine Dental
Assn.-Negros Occidental Chapter - for the dental Hygiene
awareness campaign and for giving away sachets of
toothpaste and toothbrushes to the children,volunteers
and some local residents.
She came with her 2 children, Daryl and Alejandro,who
were equally enthusiastic!
Architect Joey Manalang of Japan - for giving
one (1) sack of rice,Jolly biscuits and am sandwiches to
the children
Saravia / EB Magalona PNP (Phil.Nat'l. Police)
led by Chief Inspector Bonifacio Aral., who lent us a
PNP vehicle to reach Tuburan w/c our hired vehicle
cannot maneuver.
Int'l
Order of deMolay-Serafin V.Aguilar Chapter - led by
Advisor,Eng'r. Noi Dacudao Mendoza thru Chapter Senior
Councior Patrick Edward Jonelas
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
thru Bacolod 1st Ward led by Bishop Rollin Pioquinto
Kanlaon Lodge No.64 thru Dr.Gil Joseph
Octaviano III for the morale support
& youth volunteers,John Chua ,Slevin Chua,Jovy
de la Vega and his friend Rosenie May Leong, LDS members
Lara Louise Pahamotang Cobing, Cromwell Barredo, Zineff
Piamonte and Mae Ann delos Reyes.
Also to my 2 daughters Christienne Marie
Gancayco (who also did not sleep the night
before,helping me prepare) & Chickie Gancayco (despite
her fever!)
500
hale and healthy mangrove propagules('Bakhaw' variety)
were initially planted as a ceremonial gesture for the
targetted 5,000 by the end of the year on the same area.
TFAMDA also allotted a portion of their
planting site and mangrove nursery for ESP's future
planting projects.
Meanwnile,all recipients & volunteers enjoyed
the treats : spaghetti (with pepperoni & hotdog) I
prepared overnight, ham and mayo sandwiches, 2 big
cauldrons of native Chicken Arroz Caldo , Jolly biscuits
and ice-cold Tang orange juice and water.
The weather was its best and the spirit of
volunteerism was intense! The event ended with everyone,
children and volunteers alike,all happy and looking
forward to next event!
We thank Thee, Heavenly Father.
---------@---------
Action,not only words. When everything said will be
forgotten, these mangroves will remain, quietly doing
what they must do,for the good of our common home.🌱
Every day is Earth
Day! Be a Volunteer! Think ENVIRONMENT!
IMAGINE A WORLD WITHOUT WATER!
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Imagine
the Sahara, Kalahari and Gobi deserts expanding and
covering the earth with its dryness. Already the Gobi
desert lays siege to China as the Sahara expands her
borders.
Well the 5 year drought that
has affected California, its agriculture and way of life
has taken a breather.
The water rationing law that
was imposed last year may be lifted as the rains
strangely gave California especially San Francisco much
needed water. But I doubt the rationing will be lifted
as I am sure that the rains won’t last long and the
drought and climate change manifestations will continue.
Strangely enough during an EL
NINO year that is scourging Asia, with heat and already
experiencing water shortages as well as power failures
aside from warming up the Pacific Ocean is giving rains
like a La Nina year. That is how strange the weather has
been.
The people of San Francisco,
not used to these rains and floods have to adapt. While
the rains hit the West Coast of America, the East Coast
is having warm weather that changes unannounced. It is
final that the winter of 2015 has been the warmest in
the United States.
Hence,
we have EL Niño with temperatures scourging our land and
people. Water rationing is a way of life. Our dams
will dry up as the rivers have no water. Our forest has
been felled and our watersheds empty yet the logging
business goes on as usual. We must protect our
environment.
It is a fact that we are a
water planet and that 71% percent of the planet is
water. The Oceans life is in danger as ocean
acidification has intensified.
Fresh water has its limits.
Only 1.5% percent of our water is drinkable and fresh.
68 % percent of the fresh water is found in ice caps and
glaciers forever melting. And just 30% percent is found
in ground water. Only .003% percent of our fresh water
is found in the surface water of lakes, rivers and
swamps.
Our aquifers and ground
waters are being depleted and our only source to
replenish this most valuable resource is through the
rains.
Water
is running out, like an ecological disaster in the
making. We cannot survive without water, the source of
all life. When it rains, the roots of the forest store
the water in its roots to the ground water tables.
Today without ample forest
cover, the rain water comes in the form of flash
flooding and destruction of the soil. Nothing is stored
but wasted.
Let’s face it. We are running
out of fresh water and the consequences will be
terrible. One can survive without food for a few weeks
but cannot survive a day without water, and yet, we are
wasting this finite resource like we have plenty to
spare.
Fresh water is an important
natural resource necessary for the survival of all
ecosystems. The use of water by humans for activities
such as irrigation and industrial applications can have
adverse impacts on downstream ecosystems.
Chemical
contamination of fresh water can destroy our ground
water and aquifers. Pollution from oil spills also
present problems for fresh water resource.
People we cannot take this
lightly. Water is life and without it, we will perish
ahead of the climatic effects of climate change which is
considered the biggest threat to our civilization.
Imagine a world without water!
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, March 16, 2016
THE
oceans comprise nearly seventy one percent of our
planet. They harbour more biodiversity and species than
any ecosystem in the planet. They are the source of life
and no one really knows its value. They just treat it
like a giant waste basket.
In the past, we had to deal with
antiquated fishing methods like Moro-Ami and Kayakas, as
well as dynamite fishing. These methods would not only
kill the fish but destroy their habitat, the coral
reefs. Then came massive trawl fishing destroying
everything underwater. Now, we are acidifying the oceans
and occupying coral atolls.
Everyone is talking about the climate
effects of climate change. From Pope Francis, the APEC
summit, the Presidents of China and the United States to
Leonardo Di Caprio.
The COP 21 Paris Accord did nothing.
In
the meantime while they are talking, the Chinese
continue to claim islands and coral atolls in the South
China Sea destroying the rich and diverse waters of the
coral triangle.
China together with the other
countries surrounding the Coral Triangle are already
experiencing low fish catch. It is reported that over 3
billion people rely on the seas bounty for food and
livelihood. This is no joke. Many will go hungry.
The Coral Triangle as per the
researches done by marine scientist is five times richer
than the coral reefs of the vast Pacific Ocean. Already
the Pacific ocean is acidifying and dead zones and gyres
are expanding.
As we all know, the earth is composed
of seas and oceans. Almost three-fourths of the planet
is water from the seas. The oceans sequester atmospheric
carbon dioxide. But more than that the oceans are alive,
it breathes and needs oxygen. It harbors the greater
amount of biodiversity and species.
Coral
reefs as well as mangrove forest are the beginning of
the food chain. It is there that zooplankton and photo
plankton starts and serve as food for fishes and
species. If these ecosystems are destroyed then the
marine ecosystem will die and yield no more fish.
It has also been reported that many
species already are contaminated by mercury and other
toxic substances that are dumped into our seas.
The global commons are not owned by
anyone. Not any country, but by the world and we must
protect and conserve its biodiversity.
I am writing now on the value of the
oceans and their ecosystems. Illegal logging of our
forest continues and the silt of the land flows to the
oceans. Siltation kills coral reefs which take years for
it to grow an inch and only a second to destroy a coral
colony.
We
need to STOP treating our seas, our coral reefs like
they are a global waste basket. They are alive and they
will keep us alive as long as they are ecologically
healthy.
We urge all our global and local
leaders, the corporations and loggers to STOP the
carnage of destruction of our oceans.
We need to protect our coral triangle
or face the consequences of starvation and climatic
manifestations. Famine and poverty will increase and
more Arab springs will surface.
LET US SAVE OUR SEAS.
CONSERVATION IS NOT A BUSINESS
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Conservation
is a duty for us all to protect and conserve the
creation of the only common home we have.
This does not seem to be what
many so-called environmentalists are doing.
Many do it for the money and
worse, many do it with donor funding from known
polluters.
Polluters are people who log
our forest and corporations that mine and rape our
mountains
and pollute our oceans.
The UNFCCC has failed in
combating climate change. Yes, after years and
years of negotiating for a
binding agreement thru the Conference of Parties (COP
21), no accord
that came up ever had teeth.
All words. Nothing!
Sad, because there are many
who continue to fight climate change despite all odds.
They never give up. For them, it is a matter of LIFE and
DEATH of their tribe, people and planet. They fight
avoid what could be the end of their civilization, as we
know it.
Time
is running out fast. Carbon dioxide continues to
increase. And the Arctic ice and glaciers continue to
melt faster than expected.
For the Inuit’s and the
indigenous peoples, they are not doing it for money.
In this day and age they have
not even been recognized collectively as a people.
Imagine our Lumads and many
Muslim tribes in Mindanao. Imagine the Maranaos, the
Tausugs
and the Badjaos. They have
managed their resources well. They know their
boundaries. Their lives and lifestyle do not contradict
with nature. They may be living primitively in the eyes
of the modern-day world, yet they are at peace.
With the coming of big
businesses triggered by greed, the indigenous tribes
suffer as the greedy profiteers and polluters continue
to destroy their land.
The tribes in the Cordilleras
have managed to gain global recognition for
protecting their resources and culture. Yet, they are
being attacked as well by the new destructive ways.
I
never really believed in this 'Sustainable Development'
the name they coined to depict continual progress but
really never got off the ground. Overdevelopment has
overtaken the sustainability.
Just look at Metro Manila,
specifically EDSA and as far as Boracay, to name a few.
These are overdeveloped
beyond sustainability and there is no stopping it. The
lack of political will reigns.
How we wish that many will
learn from these sad stories and really go for
sustainable use.
To harvest only what we need.
To enhance our forest and our oceans. The time for
overfishing our oceans has come.
We are in short supply and
yes, our oceans are dying of acidification and our coral
reefs are bleaching due to climate change.
Our seas are warming and only
we can stop this carnage. Our water and our air are
polluted.
The World Health Organization
(WHO) recently reported that air pollution is killing
millions. We do not want to belong to those statistics,
do we?
We
all must combat climate change and put the polluters who
commit crimes against humanity to justice.
Incidentally, we have not
heard any pronouncements about the environment from our
candidates running for office, have we? Who will impose
the ban on logging? Who will change the destructive
development model? Who will eradicate poverty and fight
for our Spratly islands?
During the recent Academy
Awards or more known as the Oscar Awards, Best Actor
Leonardo DiCaprio gained worldwide raves not only
because he finally received the said award previously
elusive to him. What moved the world was his speech upon
receiving the award. DiCaprio spoke entirely about the
effects of climate change being real and calling on all
especially the greedy corporations to get out of fossil
fuels and combat climate change.
The world leaders must heed
this call and those of many others.
Climate change is an
'Inconvenient Truth' as termed by former US
Vice-President Al Gore (who will be arriving in the
country this March).
We must fight climate change.
If the leaders continue
fence-sitting, blabbering words in the wind, then the
people will act.
We must fight this war and
win.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, March 2, 2016
As
I write this, island of Fiji is still reeling from the
effects of a recent super typhoon. This island will take
years to recover. These super typhoons and climate
calamities that have affected the weather patterns
globally will continue their carnage.
We are among those that were gravely
affected by the effects of climate change, too. We will
experience more Yolanda and even stronger super
typhoons. Imagine the scenario affecting many other
small island-states and those living along the coast.
They will perish because nature's wrath show NO MERCY!
As I put my thoughts in writing,
those in the Northern Hemisphere are experiencing Arctic
blast and freezing weather. Worse, the variance and the
temperature changes that they are experiencing are too
far apart.
Meanwhile, in Asia, the unwanted
phenomenon called El Niño continues its destruction.
Tropical fruits and flowers are sprouting out too
prematurely way ahead of their growth cycle. Although
barely noticed, this is not a good sign. It validates an
ongoing imbalance in our ecosystem. This will eventually
destroy communities and agriculture. Unresolved, it can
destroy a civilization!
Such
destruction, once massive, can humble even developed
countries like Japan, the United States, and Europe.
While taking up my Masters in Boston
(Class of 1982), they used to say that 'if you don't
like the weather, just wait a while'. It was true, after
all. Boston was experiencing temperatures of below 28 °C
and then normalize to a pleasant 10 °C. The weather then
changed from warm to a pleasant, cool chill. All you
needed was a pullover and scarf and yes, rubber totes to
beat the freezing winter season.
Today, the temperature changes by a
big variance and big swings! It not even as pleasant as
it used to be. Much that I love Boston, I worry about it
and the rest of the world, specifically those that are
vulnerable and don’t have
the facilities to
adapt to abrupt changes.
Moreover, it is of grave concern to
consider the poor, the starving and the sick. Over 2
billion people have no access to clean water and
sanitation. Over 3 billion still rely on the resources
of the seas.
CNN
recently reported that Canada is selling 'bottled AIR’
to heavily-polluted China. If that news does not cause
an alarm to everyone, something must be wrong somewhere.
It saddens me that with all the
destruction that has happened in the past COP
21(Conference of Parties) in Paris, nothing concrete
enough was done to combat climate change. The greed and
the business-as-usual attitude continues to dwell in the
hearts and minds of many, especially the rich and the
powerful transnational corporations!
Despite the historic calls from China
and the United States, those calls for
a good and binding
accord by Pope Francis
and Presidents Obama, Holland and many
others are all in vain. They were too engrossed in just
cheering themselves, as if it were a political play by
Disney.
It is with high hopes that with the
forthcoming visit of former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore,
his presence will be more meaningful to our leaders.
Gore's presence this March 2016 is very important to all
of us.
We
hope that there will come out an accord that will make
the Philippines lead the way in the fight against
climate change. We pray that it will produce the
required greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and restore
carbon dioxide back to 350ppm needed to sustain life in
our planet.
In the meantime, we will continue
what we have always been doing, protecting our forest
and planting mangroves everywhere. We are proud of the
mangrove forest we have retained for seven (7)
generations that we fought hard to have them preserved.
We are happy to have
volunteers helping plant thousands of
mangrove propagules and fruit-bearing trees
almost every month in Negros
Occidental, so with staff and volunteers planting trees
in the barren mountains of Mindanao. More than ever, we
are proud to be able to say what we need to do, to right
what is wrong in our environment.
We call on the leaders and the
corporations that pollute to stop their abuses and
carnage! We are committed to do what we deem fit to save
our common home and protect God’s creations without fear
and hesitation.
May our numbers grow to win this war
against climate change and destruction. This we vow
until the end of our days.
Let this not only our battle cry but
yours, as well: We will never surrender!
CLIMATE CHANGE A WAR WE MUST NOT LOSE
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Climate
change is the greatest threat to our planet and
civilization.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the
freezing snow storm and Arctic blast in the US Eastern
seaboard is already taking its toll.
Former US Vice President Al Gore
will be coming to our country this March for the Climate
Reality Project that he is spearheading. Recently, we
had sat down with Gore’s staff led by Director Mario
Molina for the success of this forthcoming prestigious
event.
A selected group of 700 delegates
from around the world will be going through the said
4-day Leadership Corps Training They will be trained
about climate science, communications, etc. to enhance
their skills as volunteer community leaders.
Meanwhile, climate change has
caused droughts, typhoons, freezing weather and an
enhanced El Niño. While waters of the Pacific Ocean
continue to warm up, species are dying and the fish
stock elsewhere will be reportedly depleted.
Should
it happen, we can expect the cost of fish oil to rice
and not even able to meet the world’s demand for it.
Over 3 billion people rely on the
oceans for their food and livelihood, yet the
business-as-usual attitude continues unabated.
Our seas and oceans continue to be
polluted while the ocean acidification seems unstoppable
in its carnage. How many are aware that the oceans have
increased their dead zones and gyres?
Worse, oceans are our largest
carbon sink sequestering the life-threatening-carbon
dioxide! Turn the other and see how forests everywhere
are almost gone, making them incapable in carbon
sequestration.
In a recent environmental summit in
the Philippines, the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) confirmed that our country now
has only 6 million hectares of pristine forest left from
more than 22 million hectares we had before!
They
also reported that they planted over 1.5 billion
seedlings, However, inspite of the government’s
environmental drive, working hand-in-hand, with active
NGO’s DENR reported that it has recently identified 23
‘bigtime’ illegal loggers.
Moreover, it may have stopped more
than 200 illegal loggers isn’t it a mystery why
they cannot obey the total logging ban and arrest
those aforementioned illegal loggers? No one is above
the law, no matter how ‘bigtime’!
They may have planted over 1.5 1.5
billion seedlings, yes, but it takes years for a single
tree to grow. And mind you a plantation is
NOT a FOREST! Why? Because it does not have any
biodiversity, does it? That’s plain common sense. That
is why we have always been against palm plantations
because these cause an imbalance to our adverse effects
will surely cause more harm than expected.
The sad thing is, not everyone
understand about our ecosystem. This is where massive
re-education about the environment is a must.
In the meantime, we continue to
preserve our mangroves and our planting because these
mitigate greenhouse gases (GHG) and sequester the carbon
dioxide.
Mangroves
also adapt with the effects of storm surges. They are
reliable coastal protection from powerful typhoons.
Classic example was what happened to Molocaboc Island in
Sagay City, Negros Occidental. The said island with
stood the wrath of super typhoon Yolanda because of the
thriving mangroves around it.
The mangrove forest is akin to the
coral reefs. Both play a vital role in our planet: they
are the beginning of the food chain. They must be
protected or we will all perish.
We hope that with the forthcoming
visit of former US Vice President Al Gore, author of the
book, and Academy Award-winning documentary, ‘An
Inconvenient Truth’, our leaders will combat climate
change with persistence, integrity and an objective to
win.
With all that is at stake,
including our very own children and their future, this
is a war we cannot afford to loose
DAVOS ECONOMIC FORUM: Climate Change is biggest threat
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, February 17, 2016
FINALLY
from the Davos Economic Forum, it was stated that the
biggest threat to the world economy is the effects of
climate change. Why did it take them so long?
When the ski resorts are not
operational and the rich Swiss cannot ski away, and
banks refuse to finance their operations because there
is no snow, they cry wolf and came out with a big
statement, the biggest threat to global economics is
Climate Change.
While I was Councilor for
International Union for the Conservation of Nature and
Resources (IUCN), our treasurer, who headed a big Swiss
Bank, told us that – and that was in 1998.
I served in the IUCN Council for
eight year from 1996 when I was elected in Montreal, and
re-elected in Amman, Jordan in 2000. When we proposed
that the Spratly islands be made into an International
Peace Park, the Chinese delegation announced in the
plenary that they will cooperate and collaborate with
the Philippines in making it such.
Well,
they invaded our island. As I ended my term in 2004 in
Bangkok, we adopted a resolution, banning Genetically
Modified Organisms (GMO) until proven safe beyond
reasonable doubt. The plenary was in rowdy, happy and
festive mode. Delegates came up to us with hugs and
congratulatory statements. It was a good way to end my
term, but that did not stop our policies and issues on
conservation. It strengthened more our resolve.
Well, it took them too long because
they refused to listen and was after the bottom line –
profit and more developments.
According to report from Davos, it
is in their security interest to combat climate change.
This is big business talking after their balance sheets
have been affected, they see the light that the
environment is affecting their oligopolies and their
business empires.
Only when their economies and
personal business is affected will they ACT! Strange as
the planet continues to get battered by calamities that
affect all.
There
are over 3 billion people who rely on the ocean bounty
for protein and other marine species for food. The
numbers are growing, as well as the cost. Yet, the
problems will be the supply of species in the oceans, as
of last count, almost half are gone. Ocean acidification
is killing our planet. The ocean is alive and the
species that occupy it rely on the ocean’s healthy
ecology.
Imagine the day when the ocean is
dead? When nothing exists except plastics and waste and
the dead zones and gyres finally fill the oceans with
toxic waste? This is not a joke and can happen! From the
days of the great whales to what we have now is a sea
change of drastic proportions. From the Davos Economic
Forum, it was also reported the 2015 was the hottest
year recorded.
El Niño has affected the Pacific
with warmer seas, droughts, and storms. It has also
affected the Northern countries with the coldest
weather, freezing weather that kills everything and puts
them in suspended animation.
Well today, their market is gone.
The price of commodities are at the lowest levels. Oil
is at 28 dollars a barrel, Copper and other minerals are
down and falling.
The
supply of food is short and it will continue to affect
the people and the planet, so with the shortage of water
and droughts.
Poverty, famine and more Arab
springs will continue.
The balance sheets of the richest
corporations will continue to bleed with red ink and
losses. The road ahead is not easy , but can be
proactive only if we all take a firm stand and put all
our resources to combat climate change and win this war
to save our planet.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, February 3, 2016
AS
I write this, the Eastern seaboard in the United Sates
is struggling back to normal after the recent
weekend-long of record-breaking blizzard called
Snowstorm Jonas. At least 30 inches of snow that
affected 14 states weighed down on roofs, vehicles and
trees, among others. An estimated 12,000 flights were
cancelled in the U.S.
Sadly, 48 lives were
reportedly lost due to this recent wrath of nature.
Just as I put my thoughts in
writing, northern Japan has announced that its weather
has reached the freezing point. The island of Hokkaido
and nearby areas have been experiencing snow storms and
freezing weather of below 2 degrees Centigrade.
Contrary to that, from South
America to the Pacific island, we are still experiencing
the effects, of El Niño and the warming up of the
ocean’s temperature.
News had it that the price of
fish oil will increase while its supply will decrease.
The same is true for sardines. A fish kill is expected
to ensue due to the warming waters in Chile, where most
of the sardines are found.
We have seen many of this
scenario before. Fish kill is a consequence once there
is an acidification of our oceans. Reportedly , one-half
of the fish stocks have already been depleted.
Ironically, we are in the
center of the Coral Triangle which is the beginning of
the marine food chain. But we are affected by the
bleaching of coral reefs due to climate change.
Making
it worse are the same destructive practices everywhere
despite the blatant effects of man-made pollution.
Here in our country, even our
forests are still being felled despite an existing
logging ban. It is common sense alone that dictates even
the simplest mind of one cardinal rule; Once a forest is
depleted and left un-replenished, flash flood follow.
Disasters follow. Loss of lives and properties follow.
Ecological imbalance follows. The list of grave
consequences go on because they refuse to recognize and
follow that simple cardinal rule!
Hence, we face
water-rationing nowadays and we are at the mercy of
water station distributors, the businessmen!
What a surprise it is also
that the temperature of our lakes are rising faster than
the oceans. This means that the extinction of freshwater
fish will be faster, too.
Sea surge is one anticipated
result due to thermal expansion as the ocean water
warms. In short, there is no way to cool the waters!.
According to Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences’ Jurgen Kusche, who is
also a professor at the University of Bonn, ‘Sea level
rise was also found to vary substantially from place to
place, expanding at an estimated 1.4 mm a year, with the
rate around the Philippines “five times the global
rate.”
Why aren’t we heeding to
these warming signs from the experts?
The
oceans have hundreds of dead zones and still counting.
Each of the ocean or sea has two gyres filled with
plastics and expanding its toxicity.
We are not only sad but we
are indignant that leaders here and abroad are not doing
their share to conserve our planet and protect the
people and species! Species are going extinct before
they are discovered.
Sadly, the Conference of
Parties or COP-21 Paris Accord has done nothing for the
planet. Can that accord do anything with Volkswagen and
other carmakers lying about their emissions? How can we
expect those countries controlled by TNCs (Transnational
Corporations) to act?
During the World Economic
Forum recently held at Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, they
discussed about the dying global economy and the effects
that China has on the world economy. Why do they focus
on a single country like China to bring us all down?
Incidentally, China is
occupying the Philippines’ Spratly Island and seems
unrepentant about its territorial invasion.
Can’t those leaders see what
lies on the road ahead? It will be a war for resources
and it will be fought in the sea.
No, this is not a doomsday
rhetoric. It is as real as the title of a famous
environmental film: an ‘inconvenient truth.’
We have reached Peak oil,
Peak gold, Peak water. All commodities are down and the
same development model is being implemented.
Hey, WEF-Davos! Wake up! The
development model is not reaching the needful! Stop the
futile attempt to make the world believe that the
development model is working because it is not and never
will!
They
have reported that the poor is getting poorer and the
rich are getting fewer and richer. This is frightening!
A small group controlling the whole world?
Preposterous!
In this age of technological
progress, isn’t it a big question mark why we still
cannot save our planet from an already imminent
ecological destruction? why are the signs of the
worsening times not weighting down on everyone, only to
handful? Almost everyone download new apps everyday but
why is awareness and accessibility to the truth seem to
be at their lowest point?
It is time to show political
will and exert people power!
If they don’t act, then we
must do it ourselves. Like what Ecological Society of
the Philippines does in the countryside, many are also
planting trees, rehabilitating mangrove forests and
intensifying both undersea and coastal clean-up
projects.
Volunteerism is on the rise,
specifically among the youth, and the numbers are
growing.
ESP even recently published a
book titled’ Let’s Walk The Talk’, the third one by this
writer, to contribute to the awareness campaign and
re-education of all strata of society regarding the
necessity and urgency of collective endeavour to fight
climate change.
It is time for
self-sufficiency and comparative advantage for our
people.
We will do everything
possible to combat climate change. It is a war we must
never lose. We must speak up and against everyone
destroying our common home, this planet we call Earth!
Not later, not tomorrow. But
now!
We will not die in silence.
THE COP 21 THAT FOOLED THE WORLD
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, January 20, 2015
AS
I write this, the worse floods have engulfed the United
States, More than 18 million Americans are affected and
the people are urged to evacuate their homes.
Not even the most powerful country
is spared by climate change. Yet, there are still
skeptics. Imagine that. Perhaps this will convince them
of the veracity of global warming and its reality?
While in Northern England, the
rains and floods have devastated their land. All these
on the eve of a New Year.
In other parts of the world,
droughts, famine and diseases have spread.
The Ebola virus has plagued parts
of Africa and is spreading fast. While our country and
the Pacific rim are suffering from El Niño. Droughts and
the shortage of water is prevalent.
Worse is the fish kills as the
oceans begin to warm up and it is expected that the
Pacific fish catch will decrease drastically especially
the sardines from Chile and South America.
While
all these natural disasters are manifesting themselves,
the COP 21 and the Paris Accord has just ended. It was
hailed as historic accord? Without a date of affectivity
for the reduction of green house gases.
Frankly, I really don’t know what
they are so happy about? It was just like a Hollywood
movie were all the parties were
ecstatic and historic in the sense that after 21 years
of negotiations, an accord was signed. Even Pope Francis
said to implement it immediately.
I write this in Kyoto and here I
see the natural and simple ways that the People of Kyoto
live and work.
There is simplicity and natural
order all over. A simple city with its old ways. No tall
and massive development projects.
Speaking to a business student in
Kyoto University, she told me that big is bad and small
is the wave of the future.
I found that so enlightening and
felt a ray of hope as the young are talking and paving
the way for the future.
The old development model has
destroyed the earth. It has done damage that no one
thought possible. And yet they continue their business
the usual ways.
What
the COP 21 has done was to make the parties happy. An
accord without teeth. I was surprised when I asked when
it will be implemented and was told they don’t know.
Maybe 2018?
I found the answers so dubious and
full of frail talk. 31 pages of rubbish is what I think
of the Accord.
Paris was our last hope and nothing
was done. It is a political arena and year for many
countries.
China is blanketed by smog as well
as India. And the United States is plagued by floods,
storms and drought.
Frankly, I don’t understand what
they are so happy about?
The situation today and the
climatic changes are too much for any country to take.
The small island states will sink as the glaciers
continue to melt and the polluters continue to pollute.
I write this with
fear and anger due to the uncertainty of our
future home and anger due to the continued destruction
of our planet and the failure of the COP 21 and the
Paris Accord and the greed that exist.
Mark my words, viruses and diseases
will increase and new ones will evolve. There will be a
deluge of destruction as famine, poverty and Arab
springs spread like wildfire.
Yes,
we have seen the planet change and it will escalate for
the worse. The war for food and resources will prevail
and the world economy will continue to collapse.
The indigenous people will suffer
as their lands will be no more. The inuits will have
nothing and yes the Arctic sea will be a big war arena
like the Spratly islands. Our seas will continue to
acidify and dead zones will increase until no more life
in our vast oceans occur. No more marine food, no more
species and no more carbon sinks.
Have we not learned it has been 21
UNFCCC COP years?
We must do it on our own. People
who believe and have the political will to save
our common home will rise and just maybe, we may
have a fighting chance to save our planet, our common
home.
(The Visayan Daily Star, November 27, 2015)
The
Ecological Society of the Philippines recently conducted
an “ESP tree-growing” activity in Barangay Alangilan,
Bacolod City, as part of the ongoing massive nationwide
reforestation project called “ESP Green Crusade 2015”,
its press release said.
Project organizer Malu Gacuma said the event
was in partnership with the Philippine Dental
Association, through its Manila and Negros Occidental
chapters, the Int'l Order of deMolay-Serafin V. Aguilar
Chapter, La Salle High School Batch ‘81, and the Kanlaon
Masonic Lodge No. 64.
Other project partners were the Alangilan
Barangay Council, Department of Education District III,
volunteers Jojo and John Vincent Bonnin of the Negros
Mountaineering Club, and the Green Alert-Negros, led by
coordinator RJ Rojo.
ESP
founding president Antonio Claparols said “a forest,
with all its biodiversity, keeps the planet alive for us
all. If we lose our forests, then there is no point in
negotiating a good agreement to combat climate change.
Climate change is a global war that must be fought and
won. Let us survive in a healthy environment.”
The tree planting was followed by an outreach
program held at the nearby Alberto D. Arceo Elementary
School. Spearheaded by the PDA, hundreds of
less-privileged children were given hygiene kits, each
containing a toothbrush, sachets of toothpaste, combs
and towellettes, and taught how to brush their teeth
properly, the press release said.
Several
schoolchildren were also treated through the delousing
demonstration, using a medicinal shampoo. A dental
mission was also held, led by Dr. Gil Joseph Octaviano
III, the press release added.*
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, November 25, 2015
As
I write this the APEC summit has just ended and the cry
for climate change seems to be echoed by all.
We are happy
that they did. Now that the COP 21 is just barely two
weeks away and most have pledged to reduce emissions and
to tackle the root cause of global warming.
We hope that the
COP 21 will take action as this may be our last chance.
A new group of
leaders will rise next year due to elections and we do
not know if they will share the same opinion.
It is good to
recall the Pope’s call in his encyclical and the strong
words of President Obama as well.
Recall also the
droughts, the floods, the melting ice, the lack of
water, the fires in Indonesia, the pollution levels in
China and India as well as the many climatic disasters
expected in this EL NINO year.
We do not have
much time left.
Just
remember super typhoons Yolanda, Sandy and Katrina and
use your common sense.
There are many
solutions to combat climate change and are doable if we
have the political will.
Those who
pollute and do not mitigate should be considered
criminals against humanity.
Our seas are
dying. Our coral reefs are bleaching. Our agriculture
has lower yields.
Food and water
are in short supply.
Our people and
planet is suffering.
Temperatures are
rising exponentially.
Let’s change the
development model to a clean and sustainable one.
Lets
not male paper money and bottom line profits us
indicators.
It is not a
battle of the rich versus the poor.
The have and
have nots. The greed and lust for power must stop.
It is a battle
for survival of all. Our common home.
Paris and the
COP 21 must act.
The Pope has
spoken. President Obama has spoken. China and India has
spoken.
The entire world
has spoken.
Now it is time
to walk the talk.
I hope that
these many pronouncements will not fall on empty ears
and hearts.
APEC SUMMIT SHOULD PROTECT OUR COMMON HOME
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, November 18, 2015
IT
would be important in the APEC Summit this month that
the parties discuss peace, trade, wellness and the
environment aside from mutual defense and the respect
and integrity of each country and respect for their
culture. Whether it be culture or creed. The respect and
recognition of the regions indigenous peoples. Like our
very own Lumads, Ifugaos, Badjaos, Ibalois and the many
who stay in their mountain homes and seek only
recognition and peace.
The APEC agenda must put forth a strong push on
global warming and climate change as well as ecological
security.
Peace must be attained. It may be the most
important matter to discuss good ecological balance and
social and health issue. Food security and a balanced
ecology are primordial.
Already we are facing tensions for war, poverty
is increasing. Water is being rationed and the old
development model is still in force. We must know our
comparative advantages, protect and share them. We must
eradicate poverty and have peace. Corruption must stop.
Consider
that the coral triangle in Southeast Asia -- the
Philippines being the center and spreads to Indonesia --
is the site of richest coral reefs in the world. Over
seventy five percent of all coral reefs are found here.
The Asia Pacific Region exports over forty eight percent
of all global fish catch and yes, we are running out.
Over eighty five million tons of fish are
consumed yearly. This is a lot of fish and marine
protein. More are needed to feed the world. The illegal
trade and the destructive fishing methods like Blast
fishing and Moro-Ami and Kayayas as well as massive
trawl fishing destroy everything especially the coral
colonies, the beginning of the food chain.
Keep in mind we are a country so rich. Our
biodiversity is in danger, with a coastline longer than
the continental United States. We can support our people
with food and livelihood. Our coral reefs are the most
diverse.
It may be of concern and issue during the
upcoming APEC summit -- that we have the fish and the
forest. And we need to protect them. They not only
supply us with food and water but Life and they
sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide.
There
must be respect for the environment and illegal trade
and practices must be stopped. The Indonesian fires that
continue to burn due to the destruction of their peak
forest to make way for palm plantations must be stopped.
The fires have haze and covered the Countries of
Malaysia and Singapore and have reached our shores. This
has been happening yearly and mind you it is an El Niño
year.
The taking over by China of our Spratly islands
must cease. These are our islands and always have been.
In a resolution filed by us during the World
Conservation Congress in Amman, Jordan in 2000 we agreed
to cooperate and try to make it into an international
marine sanctuary. This would have benefited APEC and all
of Asia with the only international Peace Park. During
the study, it was recorded that the Kalayaan Island
Group supplied Manila with over twenty five percent of
our fish/protein need.
Let’s face it people. Our oceans are
acidifying. We continue to pollute. Ballast water is
emptied in our seas and dead zones and gyres are
expanding. It was stated that the oceans now contain
only half the fish they used to have. I believe it’s
more as regeneration cannot take place.
Blue
fish Tuna, Pacific cod and sole and many species are
going extinct. Fish catch is smaller and lower.
The global commons must be protected. Climate
change must be fought and won. Climate change is a
global war that we must win. Peace in the agenda is
critical as important as ecological balance. Poverty
eradication, improved education and respect for one
another can unite APEC into a sustainable region that
can save the planet.
We pray that these concerns are discussed.
There will be street manifestations and that is good as
the voices of democracy are heard.
Let us learn from history, from our
shortcomings and make this a better world.
Who cares about the glory?
APEC’s goal should be to protect our common
home and people.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, November 11, 2015
AS
I write this, it is reported that 81 US companies are
pushing hard to price carbon. What in heaven’s name are
they doing? Instead of wasting time, a lot of time, 21
years of negotiating in the COP, why don’t they just
reduce emissions to record historic lows and win the
battle against climate change?
Have they not seen enough? The
United States has had a prolonged drought that has
forced them to ration water. Sounds familiar: we in the
Philippines have rationed water despite being drowned by
too much water. Drinking water is life for man and
beast. Rationing water in California for irrigations,
washing and drinking is no joke. It will reduce
agricultural produce and food shortages will occur. Just
like back home, the price of food has gone up.
Worse still is the availability and
supply for food.
Food shortages cause poverty and
insurrection as well as civil disobedience and more Arab
springs.
The
influx of refugees from Syria has crippled Europe and
many countries have closed their borders. Sadly, this is
a human right to protect them from war and find a home.
There will be no funding for the
green fund. The war for resources is escalating. The
Syrian war, the Spratly occupation, the civil wars in
many countries.
The corruption, green and lust for
power.
I was just unformed that the
climate talks in Bonn seems to be in a mode of disarray.
For one, it is only now that human rights have been
included in the climate talks. This is primordial it
should have been there in COP 1. Not COP 21. And not the
mad rush to price carbon dioxide by TNCs and members of
the COP 21.
Let’s face it: the COP members are
being pushed by TNC and the private sector polluters.
They are the ones who call the
shots. The COP member countries are just members. They
don’t pollute. The TNC and extractive and energy
companies do. They also lie on the amount of emissions
they expel.
The scandal of VW and the
automotive industry is testament to this.
We
cannot be passive. This is our last chance at least for
the COP 21. Should they fail, then you might as well
abolish the United Nations.
The Pope said it so well to the
United Nations: Follow your charter.
And please be an activist in the
COP 21. Speak out with resolve. You are heroes if you
do. If not, then you are nothing. You are like to
polluters committing crimes against humanity
and are guilty of mass murder.
We cannot afford to breach the 2
degree centigrade that is expected to kill us all –
killing our common home.
We cannot allow this. We will not
die in silence.
THE LIES AND THE CLIMATE CHANGE TALKS
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, October 28, 2015
AS
I write this, the Chief Executive Officers and
Presidents of the oil, gas and energy companies have
gathered in Paris ahead of the COP 21 climate change
talks.
They announced their role in
mitigating emissions and not to make temperatures reach
the 2 degree centigrade rise that is the threshold limit
which will kill and destroy our civilization and destroy
our planet.
The scandal that has plagued
Volkswagen which has shaken up the auto industry gives
doubt to the private sector’s words and deeds.
They are polluting more than stated
and are affecting global warming. They are polluting
four or five times the standards.
Who are we to believe?
Whatever happens, there seems to be
no sincerity as the polluters continue to lie and be
silent on the amount of pollutions they emit.
The
lust for power and money seems to be embedded in their
heads.
And now, a new global problem has
surfaced – the matter of the influx of refugees from war
torn Syria. There is no stopping them as they seek peace
and shelter from war.
Just two days ago, a woman
politician from Germany was stabbed in the neck for
supporting refugees. I pray she will survive. This
Global problem has grown and many millions of refugees
are seeking for a new home of peace.
It is for this reason that our
common home, planet Earth, must be saved.
While the meetings are going on,
two super typhoons are heading directly to the
Philippines. The first has hit Luzon with over a meter
of rain. It is an EL NIÑO year and this is only the
beginning.
The effects of EL NIÑO are forecast
to hit hardest this December and last until April.
Theses
typhoons and the current water rationing going on in
Manila are strange. One day, our dams are empty and
another day, we are awash with water.
Our food security, our water
security, our people and country will be devastated.
At the other side of the world,
drought has affected many states in the US and the heat
has manifested itself.
Rationing of water in California
has gone from bad to worse.
In Europe, the fall weather has
turned into an early winter. Temperatures have gone down
and winter has come early.
The entire climatic cycle has been
distorted. No one can truly forecast and longer.
The COP 21 has to make an agreement
that is binding and with reduction in emission
substantially high.
We
need to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide and restore
it to 350 ppm.
It has already breached over 400
ppm and rising. The effects are devastating.
The calls for action by Pope
Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si must be enforced.
The words and pronouncements by
China and the United States must be stronger.
I pray that we will have a good and
binding agreement in Paris.
I pray that the Popes’ encyclical
will enter the hearts and minds of the COP 21 leaders.
I pray that hopes to protect our
common home will be realized.
But sadly, I know that there will
be more greed and lust for power.
More lies and lack of transparency.
And nothing substantial will come out of Paris.
We cannot afford to watch them lie
and gain nothing in Paris. The COP 21 must act and walk
their talk.
We have NO MORE TIME.
We must win this battle.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, October 14, 2015
WELL,
El Niño is coming and already the heat has been
unbearable.
Water is being rationed all over,
Our dams are drying up despite the rains that come after
the extreme heat. It pours and comes down in the form of
flash floods destroying in its wake towns and
communities.
No water is retained by the forest
as the mountains are bald and have no more forest to
hold the water.
The El Niño affects have started
early and already, the manifestations are deep.
It is said to speak by December
until April of next year.
And yes, things will get worse.
Agriculture is affected and so is
the food supply. The crops will yield less than normal
Already
we are short of rice and are importing them from other
countries.
A time will come that they will not
share their rice with us as they to need it to feed and
sustain their people.
The food shortage is no joke and
the prices of basic commodities have increased.
What is worse is the prolonged
shortage of water.
Water is the source of all life.
Without water, we cannot live.
Should this El Niño period persist,
we will have extreme poverty.
Our
people will go hungry and there may be unrest like the
many Arab springs that are mushrooming all over the
world.
With the UNFCCC COP 21 in Paris
this December and the plans of action by the COP members
and big polluters, it is evident that the mitigation
targets will not be reached.
The change of no binding agreements
is slim call of the Pope in his encyclical will go in
vain.
With the pronouncements made by
both the US and China, historic pronouncements may just
be sounds in the wind and empty words of glory.
The climate change is changing and
is burning us all like pancakes.
The development model must change.
The brakes on so called development must be stopped.
There has not been any sustainable
development that has been done.
The
millennium development goals have not been met.
Biodiversity continues to be
destroyed.
The ice caps continue to melt and
the droughts in California and everywhere are
intensifying.
Weather forecasters don’t even know
when and where the typhoons will go.
The weather has been unpredictable.
All we feel are the heat and the
lack of water.
The winds of change are here and
destruction of our world has become reality.
We must all act with resolve if we
want to survive.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Philippine Daily Inquirer, Opinion, Monday, October 12, 2015
POPE
FRANCIS has done what no other person has done. He
visited Tacloban last January, in fulfillment of a
promise he made after Supertyphoon “Yolanda” devastated
the city and other parts of Central Philippines.
Then he released his
encyclical, “Laudato Si,” calling on the world to save
the environment and God’s creation.
Just recently, he made
history and visited the United States. He spoke at the
White House, at the United Nations, at the US Congress;
he spoke to the poor, the homeless, and the
families—from Washington to New York to Philadelphia.
He
spoke in simple words that touched the hearts and souls
of many. He spoke about the war on poverty and greed. He
spoke about the war on narcotics, slavery, refugees,
child labor and the old development model.
He spoke of what is known now
as “POPE-onomics”—the new world order.
But more than that, he spoke
about the war on climate change. He spoke about saving
our common home for our common good.
Those who heard Pope Francis
speak were profoundly touched. Their conscience made
them move to a new start.
Even the Speaker of the US
House of Representatives, John Boehner, was in tears as
the Pope spoke. The day after, he announced his
resignation as Speaker of the Republican-controlled
House and from politics.
The
Pope has changed many lives. That same week, the
presidents of China and the United States announced that
they would heed his call and together combat climate
change.
Wherever he went he was the
light in a world full of darkness. He rode a small Fiat.
He walked his talk.
He had an interfaith meeting
with representatives of all religions. He has made
history as a true messenger of God.
Whenever he spoke, he always
ended up with the poor and the children, with the
refugees and immigrants.
He said the yearend COP 21 in
Paris must save our planet Earth.
He
called for action, not merely words. He spoke of world
peace and how to achieve it.
He prepared a road map for
all. During his speech at the United Nations, he spelled
out what we must all do to attain world peace and the
end of poverty and lust for money, and to protect our
common home.
Let us all heed Pope Francis’
words and continue to pray for him. Laudato Si.
CLIMATE CHANGE HAS CHANGED THE PLANET
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, October 07, 2015
WELL,
after a nice and hot morning in the island of Mactan in
Cebu the rains finally fell. It is raining cats and dogs
on the island under the sun.
All of a sudden, things go to a
stand-still. How the rain can change people’s lives.
What more the lack of water, the source of all life.
It is an El Niño year predicted to
be one of the worse on record.
It is predicted to last until April
of next year. We have not really experienced its wrath
yet as it is said to peak in October but we can feel its
manifestation. Imagine an El-Niño year and we will
be rationing water by next week. What will happen to our
farmers and people. We will not have food and water.
What will happen to the ocean’s bounty as the
temperatures rise and fish kills come?
It
is said that the West Philippine Sea, yes our Spratly
islands and the Kalayaan Island Group are said to be so
rich in marine life that over 300 million people remain
dependent on it Yet, China has stopped us and other
claimants from fishing its bounty.
Let’s declare it as an International Peace Marine Park. Part of the Global commons so we will have peace in Asia and a reservoir of the rich marine resources. It is the only thing to do to attain peace and food security in the South China Sea.
That phrase in the musical
Jesus Christ Superstar becomes so true today as it was
then.
There will be poor always
pathetically struggling look at the good things you’ve
got”.
This
is true for TNC – Transnational Corporations and
Oligopolies as well as players who are blinded by greed
and power.
I say let them eat their
deflated dollar and have raped us enough. They have
gotten more from the earth and left it in the verge of
an ecological disaster.
The economic model must
change. Frankly, the resent APEC summit will not change
the destructive development model. They will abuse it
further.
The planet has changed and we
are its victims.
As I write this California is
on fire and a state of emergency has been declared.
Well, for that matter the entire planet is on fire. And
the COP 21 is just a few weeks away.
We
must act now or forever face the consequences.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial – Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Staying in front of the sea and breathing the fresh salt
air rejuvenates anyone.
A view of the ocean and the coconut trees that line the beach can extend a life and make one stronger.
Just being there where the air, water, the trees and nature abound is wellness at its best. And the silence can be so soothing. You cannot put a value on this nor quantify it.
It is worth more than our Gross
National Product. More than our exports and balance of
trade. More than all the money printed in the Central
Bank.
The problem is once gone, they are gone forever.
This must be stopped.
I am now in such a place. So clean and so rejuvenating. Full of bliss. Far away from the maddening crowd of Manila and the traffic of EDSA and the filth of overdeveloped Metro-Manila.
There are very few places left such as these. Mostly in the islands and remote places. How long will they be there? I don’t know, perhaps not very long.
We all need to be in a place such as
this, to de-stress and recharge. To reflect and advance
with resolve.
We all need time alone. We need sanctuaries – many of them. Both marine and terrestrial. But a pristine environment with abundant seas and forest biodiversity is worth more than all the gold, copper and metals that they extract form our beautiful land. These places – beautiful places. Our home and planet – are worth dying for.
Yet, our leaders continue their ways and mine our country dead. It was reported that the government has expanded the mining area to over a million hectares from Luzon to Mindanao. Mining in Mindanao comprising four provinces will wreck havoc on what was once our last frontier.
Why we are doing this when the
gestation period of mining is so long? When the price of
all metals and commodities
are in an all time low? When
the price of oil has never been lower? When demand for
the metals have NO takers? Just look at Glencoe and
Xstrata – the largest commodity company in the world.
They are riddled with debt of over 30 billion dollars
and their stock has gone down by 70% percent.
There will be more Arab springs and
yes the war for resources has began. And it will get
bloodier as more Arab springs come to life.
And what is the COP 21 doing? Still negotiating? For
crying out loud. Just slam on the brakes on emissions
and green house gases. Sequester the carbon dioxide and
save our dying planet.
It seems that the United Nations is losing its vision and clout. It used to be more pro-active. A unifier and a solutions organization. Today it has made people unhappy for it has become a weak organization with no political will. It’s like it has been infiltrated by corporations and Transnational Corporation.
WE CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH. THE TIME FOR
SHOUTING IS OVER.
WE NEED TO ACT WITH RESOLVE.
Time alone sometimes is essential to strengthen our
resolve and move forward.
We don’t have the luxury of time. Our pristine places of wellness will soon go. Our planet and civilization will perish and for what. MONEY?
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, Sep 23, 2015
WE
have been through the trauma that happened in EDSA. The
traffic and the rains.
The billions of pesos wasted on
time, money, oil and health.
The rains just came – we did not
have a typhoon or a low pressure area.
The rains came and poured heavily due to the extreme heat, precipitation and humidity, Darkness came at the height of the day.
The climate is changing and there
are still many who do not care about the effects of
global warming and climate change.
Already, the effects have cut down
our agricultural yields. We will have a poor harvest for
all our agricultural produce.
Our people will continue to suffer
and poverty will continue to grow.
The price of food and water has
gone up and supply has declined.
What
is worse is that water – the source of all life – will
be rationed next week.
The levels of our dams have gone
very low.
Imagine: with the consisted heavy
rains, our dams and water supply continue to decline.
The heat rapidly evaporates the
water.
This also means that the little
forests we have left cannot store the rainwater and the
thus comes down in the form of a devastating flash
flood.
Flash floods destroy our
communities and kill our people.
They erode our top soil, making our
land dry and not suitable for farming as all the
nutrients are washed away.
Despite all these manifestations,
we continue to overdevelop Metro-Manila and leave no
more open spaces.
Urban planning is essential and
sadly it is not being done properly.
Every
city needs open spaces to balance the over development.
Why have government and the private
sector allowed this uncontrolled over development?
As I write this, Japan has been hit
by devastating floods and typhoons.
No one is spared – the entire
planet is being scourged by the wrath of nature.
The UNFCC COP 21 in Paris barely
two months away is being prepared and many are expecting
nothing concrete to happen.
There will be no binding agreements
to mitigate and reduce greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere.
Sadly, the old development model is
still being followed and the rape of our biodiversity is
moving faster than ever.
Despite the global economic slowdown that in many ways has reduced development and pollution the model and the private
sector continue their destructive
ways.
Carbon
dioxide has breached the 400 ppm parts per million and
continues to rise.
Our forests and oceans, both
critical to life and sequestering the carbon dioxide,
are being cut and polluted.
Our seas are victims of ocean
acidification and the number of dead zones continues to
rise.
What is the problem with our
leaders? Don’t they know that climate change must be
beaten? The Pope’s encyclical and the pronouncements of
many have not changed their attitude.
Alas, we have so many Arab springs,
conflicts and wars for resources and worse we have
refugees fleeing their countries.
We cannot continue this way.
THE TIME TO CHANGE IS RUNNING OUT.
WE ARE AT THE TIPPING POINT AND CONSERVATION IS NOT A
GAME NOR A BUSINESS.
We must do what we need to do to
win this war against climate change, at all costs.
LET US STOP THE DARKNESS OF
DESTRUCTION AND TURN IT INTO LIGHT AND LIFE.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, Sep 2, 2015
AT
IUCN Regional Conservation forum’s first day, new topics
have been brought forth.
For one: they want to introduce
offsets e.g. the developers could destroy a coral colony
or a forest and then offset it by planting and
reforesting a forest and building coral colony or
mangrove forest.
Hey: don’t they know that coral
reefs and mangrove forest are the beginning of the
marine food chain and once destroyed they are gone
forever?
An artificial reef cannot replace
an original coral colony.
We are fortunate enough to be in
the center of the Coral Triangle and there is no way we
will allow destruction of reefs.
Our people and those along the
coast rely on the seas bounty for their food and
livelihood. It takes years for coral to grow a
centimeter.
We cannot allow them to destroy
these ecosystems and offset them with new ones.
Mangrove
forests start the marine food chain. Like forests, they
serve as carbon sinks and sequester
atmospheric carbon dioxide. They also serve as
protection from typhoons due to climate change.
Our forests have been logged over
the death and almost all our pristine forest covers are
gone. Yet they continue to be destroyed. All these
habitats and ecosystems – from the oceans to terrestrial
areas – sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide which has
breached the 400 ppm threshold.
We must register our NO to offset
for if approved during next years at the World
Conservation Congress in Hawaii, such offsets will
become IUCN policy and can be used by the Union to
rubber stamp development projects.
Seven out of ten disaster areas are
in Asia where 800,000 people live below the poverty
line.
Deforestation of our forests and
the introduction of alien invasive species are the top
destroyers of our biodiversity.
Five of our countries are
mega-diverse countries and eight areas out of the
world’s 35 areas are mega-biodiversity hot spots. 95
percent of Southeast Asian coral reefs are at risk.
We must stand up against all this
destruction.
It has become more evident that the
private sector particularly the extractive industries
are the main destroyers of our biodiversity and our
planet.
Offsets
are like Carbon Development Mechanisms – they merely
pass the buck to someone else to pollute our environment
and emit greenhouse gases.
We need to combat climate change
with real action and reduce GHG as well as enhance our
ecosystems.
The EIA system is good enough and
it is a law in our country.
We have been planting mangrove
forests in Negros and in many parts of the country.
We have protected the remaining
ones.
To recover from the damage done by
super typhoon Yolanda, we have escalated the planting of
mangrove forest and will continue to do so.
The IUCN flagship project today is
planting mangroves dubbed Mangroves for the Future.
The Thailand government has a very
good mangrove program – Ms. Suprance Kamponguan made a
very good presentation on how they go about mangrove
polyculture organic farming.
We support this endeavour.
We
need to enhance our forests and marine ecosystems to
combat global warming and climate change and we need to
heed and follow Pope Francis encyclical.
If IUCN has Red list for species in
danger, we need to have a BLACK list for polluters.
We need to fight and win the war
against climate change.
We are still at the tipping point,
the turning point has yet to be realized.
With so many COPs and conference,
atmospheric carbon dioxide continues to breach the 400
plus ppm level.
WE NEED REAL ACTION.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, August 27, 2015
FLYING
out of the Philippines where monsoon rains have flooded
many parts of the country after the last typhoon that
spared us but gave us heavy monsoon rains, I was headed
for Bangkok to attend the IUCN Asian Regional Forum –
the 6th since 1998 in Kota Kinabalu, New
Delhi in 2000, Sri-Lanka in 2003, in Nepal in 2007, and
in Korea in 2011.
These Asian Regional Forums bring
in together the members of IUCN – The World Conservation
Union.
We have attended all Regional
Conservation Forums and all the World Conservation
Congresses that happen a year after. The next World
Conservation Congress will be held next year – 2016 – in
Hawaii, a place that has announced that it would be 100
percent renewable energy soon.
I have had the honor and privilege
to serve as an elected councilor from 1996 (The first
World Conservation Congress) when it was then General
Assembly and was re-elected again in the 2nd
World Conservation Congress in Amman, Jordan in 2000.
During the Amman Congress, we filed
a resolution making the Spratly islands an international
marine peace park, only to withdraw it in Plenary
session with the promise of China to communicate,
collaborate and cooperate with us on its conservation.
Sadly,
China has occupied the islands and the issue is now in
the International courts. What time and words of truth
can do!
During my last term in 2004, we at
the Ecological Society of the Philippines sponsored a
resolution calling on a Moratorium on any Further
Release of GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms) until
proven safe to Biodiversity, Human and Animal Health and
it was adopted by the Union, winning both the government
and NGO houses.
As we enter the airspace of
Thailand, we could see the siltation in the rivers, with
the brownish color of top soil all over, As I write
this, Myanmar is under a state of calamity as monsoon
rains devastated the country. This is the same in China
and all over Asia. And yes, the monsoon season has just
begun.
The weather patterns have indeed
changed for the worse. One cannot forecast the weather
as we used to. Farmers cannot plan their crops and yes
crop yields have dramatically hone down and will
continue to do so.
Food
security is at risk as food has become scarce and the
costs have been rising. Poverty continues to grow and
our biodiversity continues to get destroyed.
Back home, our banana exports have
gone down by 60 percent due to the EL Niño phenomenon
which is said to be more pronounced by October.
This El Niño phenomenon goes from
both wides of the Pacific ocean and the rest of the
world where temperatures from the sea rise and bring
forth hot and severe weather.
In California, the severe drought
has lasted more than six years and has forces the state
to ration water. This has a very big impact for the
state as it is so rich with agriculture. The water that
they use just for growing almonds consumes over 10
percent. What more their citrus and cattle industries?
We
fear that the days of a water shortage will come sooner
than expected and, mind you, it will not only be in
California but a global issue. Some friends from
Bangladesh told us that they are flooded with water
everywhere but too little potable water to drink.
Imagine that!
We cannot understand that after
Pope Francis encyclical letter on care for our common
home, Laudato Si, where be strongly calls on the rich
and the leaders to change their economic/development
models, to be less wasteful and yes, to get out of
fossil fuels to combat global warming and climate
change.
There are still many who do not
believe in climate change! There are even those who
think that we need carbon dioxide to breathe! These are
captains and leaders of industry who are supposed to be
more educated than the rest. Apparently, they are as
inutile and still moved by greed and lust for more money
and material wealth.
What
is worse is that the whole world is getting out of coal
and our own government has put up six coal fired plants.
We do not understand this move at all.
Meanwhile, Denmark uses wind power
to power 140 percent of their needs and Germany vows to
do it all with renewable energy.
No less than President Obama has
called for a significant reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions by 2030. Frankly, we find this too little and
too late.
The Dutch courts have ordered their
government for a reduction of 25 percent from 1990
levels. Which is much better. Just last
week at the Asian Development Bank Forum in Manila,
Jeffrey Sachs told the gathering of businessmen that we
have to decarbonize now in order to meet the 2 degrees
increase. Here is the link:
http://www.business-mirror.come.ph/jeffrey-sachs-to-adb-stop-funding-coal-power-projects/.
Frankly,
we should not wait for the COP 21 in Paris. We should do
the reductions today. Or face the consequences. I hope
this forum will speed up the process and make IUCN take
the lead and save our planet.
If not, then the Union will be like
the United Nations COPs. Losing out to donors and the
extractive industries and staying the course of fossil
fuels and allowing our planet and people to perish.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, July 27, 2015
WELL,
what can I say? The Financial Times Today reported that
a document will be ready for the COP 21 when it meets in
Paris in December.
The report states that diplomats
are making more progress as they make more disclosures
in public.
They do not want a repeat of what
happened at the last COP 20: A disaster.
The report states that the French
document was prepared for a two day Paris meeting of
ministers representing more than 60 countries including
the EU aimed at sharpening the UN negotiations.
We have heard this countless times
and have our misgivings and doubts.
While the imitative is good, what
we need is real action on how to cut down emissions.
That’s not very hard to do if the
political will is really there.
While the US is suffering from its
worse droughts and water shortages and effects on water,
the human population and the planet are suffering.
The
temperatures have been in record highs in many places,
destroying agricultural produce.
Even the wine and the weather and
the extreme heat have affected the brewers.
The Financial Times reported that
the State of Washington’s Yakima Valley – the top
producter of “Aroma” hops used to flavour craft beers –
experienced sustained temperatures of over 100 degrees
over the last month.
The extreme heat comes at a time
when producers are increasing the acreage of aroma hops
to satisfy demand.
Worse still are the food yields and
basis for consumption – rice and corn, wheat and just
something to put in our plates.
What kind of mindset do these
people have? How many more COPs do we need? How many
more record droughts, flash floods and super typhoons
must we have?
Let’s
face it – we are being taken for a ride by greed and
corporate polluters.
How many more people must die?
Before a simple agreement to reduce GHG is made?
With the entire world talking about
global warming and climate change, what in heaven’s name
are they negotiating for?
More money? Greece is bankrupt.
Arab springs are flourishing like mushrooms amidst the
worse climatic weather our planet has ever experienced.
We are mad and we cannot remain
silent. Our voices must be heard loudly and we demand
climate justice. We demand our right to live.
The time may be too late and yes,
we do blame the slowness of the COP parties and the UN
as a whole.
With
the Vatican encyclical and the pronouncements of many
world leaders, where are we going?
Why not just step on the brakes of
the development of the old economic model.
We need to bring atmospheric carbon
dioxide back to 350ppm.
And yes, it can be done.
It is better to have a little than
none at all.
We are at the tipping point.
Enough is enough.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, July 15, 2015
CONSERVATION
has evolved strangely since its inception. Conservation
is the act of preserving, guarding or protecting our
biodiversity natural resources. It is about protecting
the ecology.
When donors give funds to their preferred charity or project, it does not mean that the funds given are restricted and cannot be used other than what the donors want.
When funding for conservation is given, it must go directly to the protection of our environment. Even if we need to agree today that our present development model is the root cause of the state of our planet. Some still are of that mode that they cannot speak out on environmental abuse even if the funds were given by the polluter.
What happens to the polluter pays principle and the precautionary principle.
All was good in the Rio earth summit. Conservation was at its pinnacle at that time. Though TNC’s and MNC’s were already planting the roots of contempt. This became manifest during the WSSD-The World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 hosted by South Africa.
Green washing became the name of the game and money was the medium.
They
went on their usual ways especially in Nigeria.And after 20 COP -- we have not achieved anything on climate talks.
Conservation has become a business controlled word.
We have had a summer of record heat and droughts not only here in our country but all over the world.
Heat strokes that have killed thousands in India and Pakistan. Droughts that have affected the agricultural production and the water tables in California, forcing the authorities to reduce the use of water by 25 percent.
This El Niño year has wrought havoc to the planet. Not only did the heat and droughts reach record levels but they have seriously affected the food production and the water resources.
Biodiversity has not been spared. With all the climatic calamities occurring globally.
Many have spoken against the effects of global warming.
The
Norway Fund -- one of the biggest hedge funds -- has
divested in its investments on fossil fuels and moved
them to renewable green investments.Many have followed suite.
The Pope Encyclical has sent a powerful message to the faithful and to the world.
The campaign for the US elections is taking climate change as an electoral issue.
And many are doing their own to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
As far as I am concerned, the biggest victory yet is that the Dutch courts have ordered their government to reduce emissions by 25 percent from 1990 levels.
Much more than the G8 leaders and the COP have made. The G8 has called for a 40 percent to 70 percent reduction of emissions in 2050.
Too far and too late to make a difference.
As
I write this, we experienced the first typhoon code
named Egay which entered the country and was headed for
Northern Luzon. Right behind are two more typhoons which
will ravage our country.What we cannot understand is why are we still building coal power plants when the world is getting out of fossil fuel.
Why the fuss of building in Davao, Subic, Quezon and Palawan? The Secretary of Energy states that it is good to build now that the price of coal is low and cheap.
We say that’s a very shallow and antiquated premise. Hawaii has said that it will be powered by renewable energy 100 percent. Germany has said the same and is pursuing said goal.
We don’t want coal powered plants. We want renewable energy of which we have such abundant resource. Why don’t we practice what we preach.
Why don’t we speak in one voice -- a LOUD voice and practice what we preach! Surely that’s not very hard to do?
Should nothing happen in the COP 21 in Paris, we will see more Arab springs; we will see the people speak in anger; we will see unrest and a call for climate justice.
It seems that the best way to make a difference is people power and the power of the courts. We have all seen the power of the people in EDSA. We will see it again.
Kudos to the Dutch courts for their historic ruling. At least they are taking a bold stand to save the planet.
Let’s remember that conservation is not a game. It has become a matter of life and death.
THE PLANET DESERVES TO SURVIVE
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, July 1, 2015
AS
I write this, the Earth is entering a new phase of
extinction.
Simon Stewart, former head of the Species
Survival Commission of IUCN-The World conservation
Union, said over BBC that over 400 vertebrates have gone
extinct since 1900 and that the speed of extinction is
141 times faster than it was.
Frankly, I believe it is greater. We believe that
species that have not been discovered have already gone
extinct.
Many are adopting to the new climatic events of extreme
heat, shortage of food and water, floods and droughts.
The Pope’s encyclical sends a very powerful message to
the leaders of the world and for the over 1 billion
Christians.
The
Pontiff calls for the rich to change their lavish
lifestyles and for them to stop the destruction of the
planet and God’s creation.
He calls on all to combat climate change and protect
God’s creation.
As I continue to put my thoughts in writing, the
provinces up North are suffering from droughts as India
and most of the world are experiencing the heat. No
country is spared from the rise of temperatures.
The asphalted roads of India are melting. The Glaciers
and Ice caps continue their decline. Our last source of
water in the form of ice is melting into the sea.
And who is to care for the Polar bears? Their home is
melting and they are mammals like us and will drown. It
has been observed that for the first time Polar bears
are feeding on dolphins, also a mammal and are storing
their catch in the remaining ice.
The
food and home of the Polar bears are disappearing and
the eating and hunting slows as well.
In our case, our food yields have declined. The
agricultural yields will go down here and so will all
over the drought stricken areas of the world.
Water will be rationed and eventually be in short
supply.
There will be increasing poverty and more Arab springs.
There will be wars for resources. Just look at China
occupying our Spratly Islands. The Kalayaan Island group
used to supply over 20 percent of Manila’s marine food
needs. What about our fishermen?
This is our Land and we must defend it. Or are we not
brave and sovereign enough?
Making
it an International Marine sanctuary was our resolution
during the Amman World Conservation Congress in 2000.
Let’s face it -- our planet has reached the tipping
point.
We need to act now and make an impact.
Consume less. Go to renewables; get out of fossil fuels.
Stop uncontrolled development and tourism.
And for crying out loud, let us enforce the total
logging ban. Protect our oceans. Sequester carbon
dioxide and adapt for there will be more droughts,
floods and super typhoons.
There will be a rise of new diseases such as EBOLA to
MERS and many more.
So let’s make a difference. Let’s survive in a clean and
healthy environment.
THE PLANET HAS THE RIGHT TO SURVIVE AND IT IS OUR DUTY
TO PROTECT HER.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, June 24, 2015
THE
Vatican has just released Pope Francis’ message calling
on all people and leaders to listen to the cry of the
earth and protect the creation of God from climate
change and further destruction.
The encyclical contains
proposals on how to act -- with food for thought for
many.
Basically, it wants a change
of lifestyle and for the rich to stop polluting the
earth to combat climate change.
The leader of more than a
billion Christians has spoken for the first time on this
vital issue.
This shows the extent of the
dying ecology. The Pope’s last visit here last January,
2015 is testament of his concern against climate change.
I
say: rise up Christian soldiers and fight this monster
climate change! Surely many more feel the same.
The earth is crying for help.
The culprits have been humans whatever faiths they may
have. But the Vatican has made its own appeal while the
other faiths are waging war against each other.
India and the Middle East are
in extreme drought. North Korea and California are in
their worse drought ever.
As we welcome the call of the
Pope, we expect that many of the members of the COP 21
in Paris this year will do little on how to combat
effectively global warming.
The Group of Seven has
already made its plan and announced like they were the
saviors of the planet -- cut of 40% to 70% percent of
greenhouse gas emissions on 2050.
By
2050, many of the people who signed the accord would be
dead. Definitely carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere
would have breached the 5ppm-700ppm mark.
Temperatures will have passed
the 2°C that will bring to the earth climatic conditions
that will bring extreme poverty, drought, floods, heat,
new diseases like Ebola and MERS.
There will be nothing left in
2050. This announcement is premature and will have NO
BEARING. We are all suffering today and no one is being
spared.
It is the hope of many that
the message of Pope Francis would reach the hearts and
minds of the good and the faithful.
We
pray that it does. If they have not slowed down GHG
emissions by now, they never will until Arab springs
bring Industry and the economy to a halt.
Then we can have a new
beginning. A simple life with pristine forest and
healthy and clean oceans.
We pray that the message of the Pope is taken seriously!
For if NOT, THEN THERE WILL
BE NO TURNING BACK.
May God bless the courage of
the Pope and those who protect Mother Earth.
After all, the Canticle of
all creatures says it all.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, June 03, 2015
AS
I write this, the scourging heat is sparing no one and
it is spreading its tentacles far and wide.
In India, hundreds have died due to the heat.
In many parts of the world, the droughts seem to spread
like the Sahara.
Most deserts continue to expand like a growing tree
powered by carbon dioxide and greenhouse gasses. There
are climate changes and weather that cannot be predicted
by forecast and atmospheric institutions.
In the United States, the spring month of May has caused
early storms and powerful record breaking hurricanes in
the central states.
In California the prolonged drought
has made the State take drastic action to conserve
water.
Should this drought continue California is said to run
out of water in two years. For a state so productive and
rich, she will succumb to climate change and global
warming.
At home, the heat is taking its toll. People are
suffering from heat strokes and our agricultural produce
will decline as the land turns into dryness.
Like a checkered piece of dry land, once a fertile jewel
with moisture and nutrient rich.
Today
the soil and the land are feeling the scourge of the
heat and the people are not spared.
The entire planet is in heat. She is dying and it is our
fault.
The Financial Times issue of 27th of May, 2015 featured
a report entitled “Climate Campaign wins over more
senior executives”.
The article by Pelita Clark mentions that many CEO’s and
corporate executives agree that carbon dioxide is the
enemy number one.
Gerald Mestrallet, CEO of France’s sprawling Engie
(formerly known as GDF Suez), one of the worlds largest
energy companies, show how much change has evolved in
the business world since the last-fruitless effort made
to seal a meaningful global climate change agreement, in
Copenhagen in 2009.
Although there has been a change in thinking by a few
corporate executives. Many are combating climate change
in their own way.
The UNFCCC and the COP 21 in Paris will face pressure
not only from citizens and NGOs but from the people who
themselves have polluted the planet in the last 50
years.
Yet in our country and in many others there is still the
thinking that the old model will work.
Unattainable
development and infrastructure projects continue to rise
vertically all over, leaving no green spaces in urban
cities.
Greed has to be curtailed by regulation and conscience
with action.
What the COP failed to do, the people will achieve as
many corporations will be present in the COP 21 in Paris
this year.
Frankly, we are wondering why the CEO,s and corporate
executives have taken so long to realize that carbon
dioxide is the enemy which must be beaten.
Some developments are encouraging. The rise of renewable
energy and the search for carbon sequestration in our
forest and oceans.
The day is nearing when oil and coal will be fossil
fuels of the past as many are getting tired of the
dominance of oil and the dirtiness of coal.
They
are tired of carbon dioxide.
It has affected their bottom-line profits and they have
realized this.
Sadly while all this talk is occurring the world is
suffering from food and water shortages.
Like California, our country’s watersheds and dams are
drying up. The water levels are receding rapidly as
temperatures breach record highs.
The enemy is carbon dioxide, as well as and those who
continue to spew carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Let us not be fooled by pronouncements but continue our
collective struggle to win the war against climate
change.
THE END OF THE LINE IS NEARING
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, May 27, 2015
THIS
journey begins in Manila where our country and people
are victims of the extreme heat that the summer has
scourged upon us.
The temperatures reached
as high as 42 degrees Celsius. Too high for this time of
the year.
Our crops and rivers are drying up and yes water
is a concern that everyone needs to address. The
shortage of water and food will affect our people and
our biodiversity.
Despite all the climatic manifestations that we
have suffered -- Specifically super typhoon Yolanda --
there seems to be no real action to protect the
environment.
Still the UNFCCC COP 21 this year in Paris and the
delegations attending are still bent on CDM: Carbon
Development Mechanisms and REDD. Trading carbon has us
all worrying as there appears more concern in funding
rather than mitigation and reducing greenhouse gases.
Already,
atmospheric carbon dioxide has breached the 400 pppm
level and is rising exponentially.
Our carbon sinks that sequester the carbon dioxide
in the forests and the oceans are being cut and
polluted.
Our oceans are victims of acidification and the
number of dead zones has increased. Gyres have increased
as well holding all the plastic and waste in almost all
our oceans from the Pacific ocean to the Atlantic and
the Indian ocean to the many others.
Mind you, these are dead zones and are spreading
fast.
Leaving Manila for San Francisco, California, we
were welcomed by a prolonged drought. It is said the
California may run out of water in two years.
Already
a State Law has been passed to reduce the consumption of
water by 25 percent in a State that produces most of the
agricultural produce in the world.
From Citrus to Almonds and cattle. California
feeds America. If it were a country, it would have a
GDP-Gross Domestic Product higher than most developed
countries in the world. She will be the 4th largest
economy and yes, this is only one state.
We were surprised when we were not served water in
a restaurant! If you don’t ask for water, you will not
be served.
Ten percent of California’s water is used for the
production of Almonds. Imagine that?
Moving on, we went to Denver, Colorado -- that
mile high city and home of the rocky mountains. Even
there, strange weather was occurring. Heat one day and
snow the next. It snowed in Denver for three days and
then stopped. The flight was to my surprise fully booked
as the snow delayed and cancelled many flights.
Typhoon Ana was slamming the Carolinas at the same
time. Storms have been coming early this year. May is a
spring month and not a period of storms?
Flying
to Boston was the same story. The weather was fickle
with the swings of heat and cold the variances are
bigger and more pronounced.
The war for climate change has been waged 21 COP
years ago and more voices have added to the fight to win
the war on climate change. Recall: The million people
march in New York and most cities. The pronouncements by
President Obama and the Chinese. Pope Francis visit to
Manila and Tacloban sent a strong message to the world.
French President Holland visited Manila as well sent the
message to the COP in Paris this year.
But uncontrolled development goes on unabated.
California suffers from a drought and an oil spill. The
central states have more severe hurricanes.
The planet is being destroyed by Man and the greed
of the extractive industries.
Mind you: we are in the tipping point. Time is
running out. Species still undiscovered are going
extinct and one day may be too late to even harbor
humankind.
For God’s sake, let’s stop the talking. Let’s win
the war against climate change by action and not words.
The end of the line is nearing.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Philippine Daily Inquirer, Opinion, Saturday, May 16, 2015
It
was great to go home to the ocean once again. We
couldn’t be away too long from the place that taught us
the value of the marine environment.
In school we were taught, not about the
environment and the importance of conservation, but how
to make money. Economics and finance ruled the
educational world.
We looked forward to go diving again in Anilao
in Mabini, Batangas, near the center of the Coral
Triangle. It would be like coming home, for we have been
diving there for nearly 40 years. We have gone camping
there, island-hopping, sleeping on the beach, cooking
our food, fishing only what we could consume. But we
found that it has changed into a place where ecotourism
has gone beyond the goal of sustainability.
In diving places, there must be strict
ecotourism guidelines to protect and enhance coral
growth and environmental education.
Our
dive in April was not as good as it used to be. To our
surprise, gone were the jacks and the snappers. It
seemed that they had all been caught, sold and eaten. No
coral crevice harbored any red snapper (lapu-lapu).
Gone were the cone shells and cowries, the turtles, the
schools of dolphins… Imagine our shock. The reefs looked
like they had been hit by humans, blasted and torn by
anchors and, yes, divers.
We were in an area taking photos and, all of a
sudden, all the fish swam away. We looked around and saw
a squad of scuba divers in battle formation. The fish
seemed to be on the defensive. The clown fish would
actually hit one’s mask and bite one’s gloves. The fish
had developed a fear of divers, unlike the olden days
when they would even pose for you. After all, it was
their “city” and their home.
To think that this is a protected area. Our
invitation to visitors to come to our rich and adored
land—“It’s more fun in the Philippines”—can be a boon or
a bane. Uncontrolled tourism, one without rules and
guidelines, can be disastrous.
We were saddened, but our resolve was
strengthened.
We
are a country so rich in resources. Our biodiversity is,
or once was, pristine. We are in the center of the Coral
Triangle. We can feed our people with our richness. We
have a coastline longer than that of the continental
United States.
In January Pope Francis came and visited
Tacloban and Palo in Leyte, where the issue was
Supertyphoon “Yolanda.” The message was climate change
and in focus were the people who destroy God’s creation.
His Holiness was greeted with love and affection by
millions of people in Manila and Leyte. His message went
out loud and clear to the largest Catholic country in
Asia.
In February French President François Hollande
came to visit and to drum up commitment for the climate
change conference in Paris this December. The goal is to
make the 195 members of the Conference of the Parties to
reduce greenhouse gases and to restore carbon dioxide
emissions to the 350 ppm needed to sustain life.
Oceans
and forests are carbon sinks. They sequester the carbon
dioxide that has breached 402 ppm. Global warming and
climate change are the threats to Planet Earth.
We have advocated conservation for the last 40
years, to no avail. Today the world has awakened and we
want climate justice. Let’s face it: The development
model has failed us all.
We want a world where we can live in peace and
with sufficient food, water, shelter and good air for
all. We want an end to poverty, corruption—and
environmental destruction. And we want it now.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, May 13, 2015
AS
I write this, the summer heat is bearing down on the
country like a furnace cooking all that is in its path.
As of this writing, 54 provinces are affected by EL
NIÑO, the childlike phenomenon that brings unbearable
heat to our land and the heating of the oceans.
From Luzon to Mindanao, the drought and heat are taking
their toll.
Our rivers and dams are drying up and our land is
turning into a dessert. Our crop yields will go down and
yes, water will become a big issue.
Our fear is that water may be rationed again like what
the state of California has done. They have rationed
water consumption and reduced the usage by 25 percent.
California
is one of the world’s largest economies. Its agriculture
is massive and irrigation implements are of a massive
scale. Mechanized farming and big plantations rule the
farming world in the United States. Unlike small organic
farms in Europe that use smaller doses of water.
Did you know that it takes more gallons of water to
produce an almond? California consumes 1.1 trillion
gallons of water each year to produce almonds.
Enough for us to take a 10 minute shower each day for 86
million years.
Let’s face it: people are running out of this finite
resource.
A
resource that gives us life.
We must conserve our water resources or face the
consequences of a Saharan type environment.
This El Niño year will bear down hard on us and affected
countries.
Let us replenish this resource. Let us reforest. Let us
not waste water.
SUSTAINABLE AND RESPONSIBLE TOURISM IS A MUST
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial, Wednesday, April 22, 2015
AS
I write this, the summer heat has manifested itself in
full force.
And it is only the beginning.
In Mt. Apo, tourists are not allowed to enter the park
due to the drought and the possibility of a forest fire.
In Boracay, the water has turned green due to Algae
Bloom caused by the organic waste of the tourist.
In Anilao, Batangas, the diving center of the country
and partly the center of the Coral Triangle, the reefs
are bleaching due to climate change and are being
destroyed by the many tourist divers who do not follow
the proper care of coral reefs.
What good is all our natural resources if we are
promoting the tourists to come and investors to enter
our country without proper guidelines on how to protect
and conserve our environment.
Who would want to swim in the world’s most popular beach
-- Boracay -- when the waters are green and polluted?
Already,
the tourists have spread a lot of havoc on the marine
ecosystem; this must be controlled and guided
accordingly.
What good are the millions of tourists and their dollars
if they just destroy our natural environment?
The summer heat will get worse.
We need to stop illegal logging once and for all.
We need to reforest in a massive scale.
We need proper guidelines in going scuba diving to
protect our coral reefs.
We need to protect our mountains and forest.
Imagine
Mount Apo, our tallest mountain, under siege and in the
brink of fire due to the drought.
We will eventually lose tourists as all our natural
sites will be gone and destroyed.
We have warned against the over-development of Boracay
and Palawan and yet our calls go unheeded as more and
more development goes on.
The sustainability of an island resort or a scuba diving
site is limited.
We have to have controlled, responsible and sustainable
tourism, or none at all.
Last month, our group in Mindanao had to call off the
activity in Mt. Apo due to the drought and so we decided
to reforest the area instead.
This
is the job and responsibility of government as we cannot
do it alone.
Let us protect our environment. It is worth more than
the destructive tourists dollar.
It is time to review our strategy and learn from the
past and the present so our future will be secured.
SAVE DYING SEAS
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Opinion, Saturday, March 25th, 2015
We
had the opportunity to go diving again after a long
time. It seems like a life time as we used to go
regularly home to the oceans where over forty years ago,
we would document coral growth and measure their growth.
It was here in the seas that we really learned about the
value of the environment, particularly the marine
environment.
It was here that we realized the importance of the
terrestrial forest and the reaction that logging and
pollution would have in the marine environment.
It was here that our resolve and commitment to protect
and conserve our environment began.
Our most effective classroom.
We
have gone a long way since and yet the planet continues
to face destruction as logging, extraction and pollution
of our land and seas continue with a more rapid pace.
We were saddened to see what we saw during our dive.
Gone were the schools of jack fish, gone to our surprise
were the snappers that used to hide in every coral reef,
gone were the lobsters that used to live in the reefs;
gone were the cowries, cone and other shells that used
to proliferate the seas.
We dove in several sites along Maricaban island and
Sombrero in Anilao, Mabini in Batangas.
This area has become the center of diving as it is part
of the coral triangle.
There
were no resorts then like they have today. It was better
and richer then as we just camped on the beaches and
caught the fish that we would eat.
Last week, what we saw was a proliferation of resorts
and foreign divers who show very little respect for our
coral reefs.
One resort owner mentioned that competition was stiffer
as many resorts have proliferated in the place.
In our mind, the area will eventually die a natural
death as the tourists and divers will stop going there
if the coral reefs are destroyed and their pristine form
will no longer shine.
Many people do not know that the seas and oceans are
alive. They harbor species that provide us with food.
They sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide and serve as a
carbon sink.
More
than that, they cover two-thirds of the planet --
supplying the 7 billion inhabitants with food and
livelihood.
We need to put strict guidelines on scuba diving and how
to protect our coral reefs -- the beginning of the food
chain in the marine environment.
If we cannot even do this, what more the war to combat
climate change?
It is all in our hands and our leaders must act
accordingly.
It’s simple: dead ocean and we will have no more fish
and shells for food and no more carbon sinks.
Let us not underestimate the value of our seas.
Save our seas or we will all perish.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE LAND OF PROMISE
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Philippine Daily Inquirer, Saturday, February 28th, 2015
All
this talk about reducing carbon dioxide emissions is
something that we hear time and time again.
We heard it during the
totally disappointing Conference of the Parties on
Climate Change last year in Lima, at the climate march
held in many cities in the world, after Pope Francis’
visit last month to typhoon-ravaged Tacloban, and in US
President Barack Obama’s call to reduce greenhouse-gas
emissions.
We are hearing it again.
I have just returned from the
big island of Mindanao. I visited six provinces—Davao
del Norte and del Sur, North Cotabato, Bukidnon, Misamis
Oriental and Lanao—and saw the richness and bounty of
the Land of Promise.
We
went to Mount Apo and visited Lake Agco in North
Cotabato, a lake so rich with thermal energy. The forest
is still lush but there are signs of logging and
development of the wrong kind.
In Davao City I was amazed at
how orderly things were. The speed limit is 30
kilometers per hour and it is a no-smoking city. There
is a night market, and establishments and bars are
closed by 1 a.m. Everywhere, peace reigns.
We took the Buda road from
Davao City and crossed to Bukidnon. Passing the cities
of Maramag, Valencia and Malaybalay, we saw the richness
and biodiversity of the land and the simplicity of its
people. The road ends in the city of Cagayan de Oro and
the sea.
The
Land of Promise is still the Land of Plenty. We went to
Lanao and met with my Muslim friends. It was great to
see Christians and Muslims living alongside each other
in peace.
Mindanao used to be a
typhoon-free island—thus the vast banana and pineapple
plantations. But of late it has been visited by storms
such as “Sendong.” Due to the torrential rainfall it
brought as well as the unabated logging, new rivers were
formed and devastated parts of Iligan and Cagayan de
Oro.
The Philippines is ground
zero in the climate change catastrophe. And the world
and the COP must reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and
restore carbon dioxide to the 350 ppm needed to sustain
life.
We
are already at the tipping point and there is no more
time to waste. Let the Land of Promise become once again
the Land of Plenty and Peace.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial – Wednesday, February 25, 2015
AS
I write this, the worse drought is plaguing Brazil and
is destroying her agriculture and biodiversity.
Home of the great Amazon forest the richest and most
diverse forest in the planet and one of the biggest
carbon sinks the planet has.
It seems that climate change has reached her shores and
more.
I remember the time when Chico Mendez, the environmental
activist, was killed for
his efforts to save
thegreat Amazon forest.
Since then, so many environmentalists have suffered from
the same fate. Many have been killed for
advocating and protecting our environment.
The Philippines is no exception. We rank high in the
list of
slain environmentalist.
Where is the justice and where is the protection?
As
I continue to write this, the United States is still
suffering from subzero temperatures as winter storms
continue to batter her.
There is no stopping this. It will happen every year and will
get worse.
The only way to stop this carnage is to mitigate
atmospheric carbon dioxide and combat climate change the
real way. Just STOP emissions and go renewable.
Our oceans are the next to be destroyed. The Financial
lime reported that our oceans are soiled by over eight
million tons of plastics every year.
This is no joke as the oceans not only sequester carbon
dioxide but harbor a multitude of species of marine
life.
They produce food and supply livelihood to billions of
our people.
The
destruction of our oceans have reduced species in the
wild and have made them culture salmon and other species
of prawns and shrimp.
Yes, we are against the culture of species in the oceans
especially as they feed them with artificial feeds.
This has caused more damage to the oceans and the
reduction of fish catch in the wild has increased the
cost of this free resource.
We used to culture black tiger prawns in the 1980s during
the boom and demand for the exotic species until we
realized that amount of bacteria and poison that this
culture was doing.
The waste and bacteria would not only destroy the ponds
but the waste water would destroy the seas and the
mangrove forest when the ponds are drained.
The PH had to be over seven, meaning the water is alive and
contained oxygen.
Today,
our oceans have countless dead zones and gyres that have
a PH of less than seven meaning they are
dead. The amount of dead
zones are expanding and the number of gyres are
increasing as wall.
In one of our dives, we noticed the proliferation of
jelly fishes and no sign of fish. This meant that the
sea water was dead and the PH was below seven with zero
oxygen.
We reported this to the authorities and they replied by
sending a crew to check the area out.
I do hope they have resolved the pollution.
The fact is, we have only two massive ecosystems that
feed and give this planet life as well as sequester the
carbon dioxide.
It is not enough to reduce
GHG only we need to sequester the carbon and stop adding more.
Let us save our
ecosystems and we can save our planet.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial – Wednesday, February 18, 2015
EACH time
I travel
the Buda mountain road
from Davao City to Cagayan de Oro, I can feel the
wilderness and its biodiversity.
It may not be as diverse as it used to be but just
travelling to the center of the island
of Mindanao
is always a marvel -- traversing Maramag, Valencia and
Malaybalay all in Bukidnon then passing
throughthe last mountain views
until you see the sea that fronts Cagayan de Oro.
Davao is such a big
city, it used to be the
largest in the world in area but has been overtaken by Puerto
Princesa in
Palawan a few years ago due to expanding boundary.
Leaving the flat lands of Davao City and moving on to
the hinterlands and mountain ranges
that take about seven to eight hours is no easy ride.
Yet the journey is such a thrill as one can see endless
peaks and mountain covered
clouds.
This trip was wet and foggy and what entered my mind was
the time that typhoon Sendong devastated Cagayan de Oro
and Iligan. Due to massive deforestation, the rains
formed new rivers that formed their own path.
The
rain waters did not follow the rivers but just made new
ones as the lack of forest cover could not hold the
heavy downpour.
I remember the many times I took this route -- it was
filled with pristine forest and rivers and ravines with
clear water.
What has happened to the land of promise?
It has been a victim of rampant deforestation and
mining. Logging was the name of the game and mining was
to kill the rest of the earth.
Most of the big plantations are here in Mindanao. From
Pineapple to Bananas. Big farmers were here in abundance
as NO typhoon would hit the island.
It was a typhoon-free island until global warming and climate
change altered
the weather patterns and their route today always hit
Mindanao.
What
a pity -- our land of promise has become a land of war
and extraction, a land of bald mountains and poverty. A
land of promise that has been destroyed by the greed of
the people who logged and mined the island dry.
It is not too late to save her as she still has forest
resources that can be restored and rehabilitated.
It still has resources so much so that big business is
mining and logging here. Coal power plants are being
built and that is sad. While the rest of the world is
going renewable, we are still building the dirty fossil
fuel plants of coal.
And for what and for who?
Why can’t they leave the island alone. Stop damming the
great Maria Cristina Falls. It’s been dammed enough.
Don’t destroy the great lake of Marawi and the land
of the Maranaos,
the people of the lake.
Since
the beginning of time, the people of Mindanao have been
managing the island sustainably. The Lumads, The
Maranaos, The Tausugs and the many tribes that took care
of the island; the island took care of them.
Then the colonization period came and with it came the
many others who raped the island
of its richness and
made it a
basket for
the taking.
Leave the island alone so it can have lasting peace and
become the Land of Real Promise.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial – Wednesday, February 11, 2015
IT
has been close to three years since I have been back to
Davao City in the big island of Mindanao and mind you it
is a great feeling.
New things have happened here; for one, the city has a
30 kilometer speed limit imposed, aside from being it a
smoke-free city, with a night market every night.
The people are happy
On our schedule is
a visit to Digos and Kidapawan and then Mt. Apo, the
tallest peak in our beloved country.
Mt. Apo which stands about 10,311 feet above sea level
is still a marvel to visit. We went to Lake Agco and
viewed the thermal water and the power of thermal energy
that the mountain has. People bath in pools and
cover themselves
with the mud to cleanse their bodies.
I had looked forward to
this journey as I have never seen the lake up in the
mountain.
Also on tab are swimming the placid lake and breathing
the clean mountain air. Likewise, seeing a real jungle,
a forest and a mountain filled with trees.
Naturally
they are nature’s bounty, without the need for a
single centavo to build. They have grown naturally,
blessed with the gentle rain and the richness of the
soil and the biodiversity of the mountain.
People get revitalized and that to me is the wellness of
the mountains. The wellness of nature and the
medicine nature can provide.
Aside from fresh food and abundance of
fruits, clean water and fresh air. Nature at its best
gives us species and biodiversity.
This to us is the real development. The
development and
richness of nature and its natural capital.
You don’t see this anymore in Manila and the ever
expanding metropolis -- there, you don’t have the basic
needs for a healthy life.
Already shortage of food, water and an abundance of
polluted air and horrendous traffic jams are symptoms of
a way of life that is anti-development.
It destroys lives and kills people. In urban locations,
diseases are more pronounced as poverty continues to
increase while the scarcity of the clean things that
nature provides are no more.
And
yet there are those who still believe in passing the
buck and the right to pollute our environment.
Those who believe in money and -- Carbon Development
Mechanisms.
We will never understand this narrow thinking of
quantifying life and trading carbon.
It is not like barter or trading goods. It is trading
lives and peoples.
We have faced the wrath and destruction brought forth by
super typhoon Yolanda,
a typhoon that has the honor to hold the world
record as the most powerful typhoon to hit
the planet -- a super typhoon that has made
meteorologists and scientists think twice about climate
change.
Twice about climate change; a typhoon that
brought Pope Francis to visit Tacloban and our climate
change -- impacted country. Our Pearl of the Orient
Seas.
We will continue to do what we need to do to
survive. We will mitigate and adapt.
We will increase our carbon sinks, our seas and forest.
We
will enhance them. We will plant in the billions. But we
will not trade the carbon we absorb for others to
pollute so we can be victims of more Yolandas.
We will prevail and we demand climate justice from the
world’s polluters.
We demand that the COP 21 in Paris next year come up
with a binding and courageous agreement that will make
us win the war against global warming and climate
change.
We will march and occupy. We will make the winds of
change.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT?
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial – Wednesday, January 28, 2015
I
REALLY don’t know why they still say
sustainabledevelopment is good when it is not being
practiced.
Everywhere I go I see nothing but over-development and
there seems to be no stopping it.
Buildings and new cities are rising everywhere despite
the glut and the oversupply of condominium units.
What makes it worse is that they seem not to factor in
the lack of water that needs to be used to construct
this so called development.
Already there are signs of a water shortage as our
mountains and forests continue to go bald and logging
continues unabated.
Already our faucets are running dry and our aquifers are
being depleted.
Water
is the source of all life -- without it there is nothing
to talk about not even climate change.
Our rivers continue to dry up and when it rains new
rivers are formed and flash floods wreck havoc on our
communities and peoples.
There is a shortage of water for agriculture and the
food that we eat.
Even the yields of our agricultural produce have gone
down as the top soil has lost all its nutrients.
The world is focusing all its efforts and rhetoric on
climate change due to what super typhoon Yolanda’s
devastation of Tacloban and everything in its path.
Pope Francis’ visit to Tacloban and our beautiful
country was basically for the victims and survivors of
Yolanda not to mention that we are the largest Christian
country in Asia.
Pope Francis’ message has reached far and wide and is a
clear signal to all world leaders especially those
entrusted to combat climate change in the COP 21 this
year in Paris.
With
nothing accomplished last year in Lima, Peru and with
record droughts and the warmest year on record in 2014,
the war against climate change is by far the most
dangerous catastrophe we have to tackle and win.
We need to reduce GHG and we need to reduce and restore
atmospheric carbon dioxide back to the 350ppm needed to
sustain life.
This is not difficult to do. Frankly the oil issue and
the economic crisis have accomplished more to mitigate
climate change than the COP.
The cost of renewable energy has prospered and is now
affordable and we must pursue this to save our planet.
But what we need to do is get our act together and
change our thinking on development.
We need to really bite the bullet and make it
sustainable. We need to develop the wellness of the
people and the planet and not build and build until we
are out of water, food and clean air.
With
over two billion people without access to water and
sanitation. And the Philippines in ground ZERO.
For what good is all the development if there is no
Life.
The world’s people are suffering as well as our
biodiversity and ecosystems.
It is time to have a binding agreement to reduce GHG in
the COP 21 in Paris.
Let us heed the message of Pope Francis.
Let’s go back to the basics.
POPE FRANCIS' MESSAGE OF HOPE, LOVE AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial – Wednesday, January 21, 2015
WHEN
super typhoon Yolanda devastated the Philippines in
November 2013, His Holiness Pope Francis at the Holy
Mass held in Tacloban said that he had wanted and vowed
to visit the devastation in Tacloban and the
Philippines.
That super typhoon, the strongest on record had
mystified the world’s scientists as its strength and
devastation were like an atom bomb.
There are many more climatic records to be broken.
Last year -- 2014 -- was recorded as the hottest year on
record globally.
Scientists said the most remarkable thing about the 2014
record was that it occurred in a year that did not
feature El Niño, a large-scale weather pattern in which
the ocean dumps an enormous amount of heat into the
atmosphere.
Even as more than 2 billion people live below the
poverty line and have no access to water and sanitation.
The millennium development goals have never been
achieved as our biodiversity continues to be destroyed.
Extraction
and logging continue with the business-as-usual attitude
of greed and power prevail for the rich few.
Pope Francis’ vow was fulfilled in Tacloban. Wherever he
went, he spoke of the issues affecting the poor and the
sick. The Pontiff did not hesitate to warn leaders in
government to stop corruption.
And then, he spoke about global warming and climate
change and how such would destroy the environment and
God’s creation.
Saying in Tacloban that most of them had lost
everything, he added that “I don’t know what to say to
you. But the Lord knows what to say to you.”
He spoke of the Lord who cries and the Holy Mother who
will take care of the people and children in these most
difficult times.
In addressing the victims and survivors of Yolanda, he
spoke from his heart, giving them the strength, faith
and hope that they are not alone, that they need to move
forward and the Holy Mother will be with us all.
No
amount of rain and even an incoming typhoon could stop
the crowd from meeting the Pope in Tacloban. He made
history and strengthened the resolve and faith of our
people.
After his election to Papacy, he selected the name Pope
Francis after Saint Francis, a rich and wealthy man who
gave up all material wealth to help the poor and the
environment.
Pope Francis was welcomed by hundreds of thousands of
devotees in Asia's largest Catholic country.
The leader of the Christianity of over 1.3 billion
people wasted no time to speak about the poor and the
gap of inequality existing.
More than ever he spoke of hope and love and that there
is nothing to be afraid of: “Jesus is here with us
always.”
His messages will echo throughout the civilized world --
strengthening our faith and cleansing our soul for we
are all one people under God.
Francis is the first Pope who spoke very strongly
against global warming and climate change.
Visiting Tacloban and Palo was very important for him
and sends a powerful message to every leader in the
world as well as the people impacted by pollution and
destruction of our environment.
It
is expected that the Pope will issue a very strong
statement prior to the COP 21 in Paris as he was very
disappointed with what happened in Lima, Peru.
He prays and hopes that the COP leaders will have the
courage to mitigate and win the war against climate
change.
Pope Francis has touched our lives -- all of us. Whether
Jew or Gentile, Muslim or Hindu, Buddhist or agnostics.
His very presence and his words coming from the heart
are words that Jesus has told him to deliver.
There is only one God and we must all be his messengers.
With his visit and statement, it is hoped that we will
win the war against climate change, that we will win the
war against poverty and inequality.
Last Sunday, the 18th of January, the feast of the Santo
Niño, all roads led to the Luneta Park where the Pope
celebrated his last mass in our country. Millions braved
the rains and the incoming typhoon to see him and feel
his blessings.
It was a scene not to be forgotten. People from all
classes of life, religion and age, converged in every
artery leading to Luneta.
His messages echo: “Learn to Live and Love. Be surprised
to receive blessings from God. To help the poor and the
sick and the environment.
“To
have the courage to cry and weep and have hope for we
are the missionaries of God.”
Thank you, Pope Francis, for moving us forward and
blessing us all.
Let the world know of your love and compassion.
That the world will live in peace and harmony and that a
better world is expected.
God bless you, Pope Francis.
VIVA IL PAPA!
I GRIEVE FOR THE DEATH OF OUR PLANET
(By: Antonio M. Claparols – President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial – Wednesday, January 14, 2015
AS
I write this, I can only grieve for the victims of the
recent Air Asia Flight 8501 that crashed
flying over a storm during a period when storms are not
supposed to be affecting us. I grieve for the missing
Malaysian airlines MH370 which as of today has not even
been found.
I grieve for the thousands of people who died during
super typhoon Yolanda. I grieve for the many who have
died uselessly in ferry and navigational accidents. I
grieve for the many who have died due to the effects of
climate change and the many who will continue to die
uselessly.
Life was created to be lived and man was supposed to
make life a better place to live for all. The private
sector and government were supposed to go on sustainable
development and reach the Millennium Development Goals
-- to supply the over 2 billion people without access to
water and sanitation, to eradicate poverty and stop the
destruction of our biodiversity.
Sadly, nothing has been done and planet Earth continues
to be treated like a giant waste basket. Filled with
dirty air and water. A point in time will come when we
will not have water to drink as well as clean air to
breathe.
We
are not alone in this struggle. We are all victims of
climatic changes and new diseases. Even the polluters
and the extractive industries and those that are still
in the fossil fuel mode. A time when oil has reached its
lowest price and producing it at a loss. I am amazed how
the planet has changed. Most of our forests have been
felled and our mountains are balding. Our rivers have
gone dry and our oceans are dying of acidification.
We are aghast at what is happening and blame world
leaders who have failed us as well as the polluters who
continue their carnage.
They must face justice. We know there is a process but
the process has just legitimized the destruction of our
beloved planet.
The rise of Ebola and now the H7A9 virus and many more
diseases to follow is no joke nor laughing matter.
The
poor are getting poorer and yes food from the wild is
almost extinct.
We have warned against farming our seas and oceans in as
much as the bacteria is killing the ecosystems that give
us life, that give us food and sequester the carbon
dioxide that we emit. The ecosystems in our forests and
oceans are in danger yet the carnage goes on.
We have warned of peak oil, peak food and water -- yet
nothing happens; We have marched on the streets; yes,
the climate change marches have been magnified by the
echoes of the dead and the living.
We demand climate justice and the pursuit of a better
life. A life ecologically balanced. We are not in favor
of geo-engineering nor looking for new colonies in space
to live in.
We love our planet and want to save her as well as our
civilization.
The
development model must change and we are demanding
change for a better Life.
I grieve for all those who will continue to die
uselessly and frankly we really don’t care if new
species are discovered as we know that many species that
have not been discovered have already gone extinct.
The planet is reaching the turning point. The threshold
is close at hand. We the citizens of the Earth demand a
good and safe life.
We cannot blame every crash on bad weather in this day
and age. With GPS and smart phones, we cannot even save
our ecosystems.
Its been a bad year for the environment with Lima
stamping the death warrant.
The next COP 21 in Paris will do nothing as the
threshold of 400ppm of carbon dioxide has been breached.
Frankly I grieve for them as well as I grieve for our
planet.
It is time to stop the politics of destruction and
narrow economics and reclaim the global commons from the
rich TNC.
It’s time to go renewable and walk our talk.
Let the New Year bring out a new way of thinking.
And yes, I will continue to grieve and do our part to
help the poor and the sick.
May our numbers grow.
AND THE GLACIERS CONTINUE TO MELT
(By: Antonio M. Claparols –
President ESP) Philippine Daily Inquirer, Saturday December
27th, 2014
The
recent United Nations conference on climate change in
Lima, Peru, produced a discouraging agreement described
as “definitely watered-down from what we expected” and
“very weak indeed.”
The agreement states, among other things, that all
pledges of countries on how they intend to meet their
emissions targets would be reviewed—and not compared
against one another—a month ahead of the scheduled
signing of a global climate deal at the 21st UN climate
change conference in Paris next year.
Wire reports say that by requiring action from each
country, the Lima agreement will “fundamentally change
the old world order that stymied earlier climate change
talks.” But it’s not guaranteed to achieve its stated
goal: “to slow the rate of global emissions enough to
prevent the atmosphere from warming more than 2 degrees
Celsius over the preindustrial average.”
Meanwhile, climate change continues to melt the glaciers
and ice everywhere.
I was a member of the International Union for
Conservation of Nature Council in 1996-2004, the time
when Swiss banks stopped lending money to ski resorts
found not to have reliable snowfall.
According
to economic geographer Rolf Buerk of the University of
Zurich, as a result of global warming, ski resorts must
be at an altitude of at least 4,265 feet to have
reliable snowfall. “In the future, however, global
warming is going to push the regular snowfall altitude
to between 4,900 feet and 6,000 feet,” Buerk said,
adding: “In Switzerland, several low-lying resorts are
already having problems getting bank loans.”
This only shows how the planet is fast being destroyed
by the present development model.
Months ago we traveled to Portugal and noted its healthy
environment—the air was so clean and the water so
abundant! Portugal uses hydro power and wind power, the
second accounting for over 4 percent of its energy
production.
The Portuguese use trams and electric buses for
transportation. Electric buses ply the streets of the
capital and largest city, Lisbon, and the municipality
of Sintra, a Unesco Heritage Site known for its
19th-century architectural monuments.
One would be awed at how nature has merged strength and
beauty in Portugal. The rivers north of Lisbon are so
beautiful, and they power the hydro plants. The Tagus is
known as the longest river in the Iberian peninsula.
Portugal
has a suspension bridge similar to San Francisco’s
Golden Gate Bridge, although longer. It was called Ponte
Salazar, but after the Carnation Revolution in 1974, it
was renamed the 25 de Abril Bridge, the day the 48-year
dictatorship was ended in 1974.
Also etched in Portugal’s history is the 9.9 magnitude
earthquake in 1755 that devastated the entire country
and affected other neighboring countries, including
Finland, Spain and Morocco. Yet, through the years,
Portugal has risen, but perhaps with caution. It has few
high-rise buildings and its people have maintained the
old ways in their daily living. And their heritage and
history have been preserved.
Portugal’s population is only 11 million, but the number
of tourist arrivals is burgeoning. The top drawers are
not only the spectacular sights but also Fatima, where
the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd
children on the 13th day of six consecutive months in
1917, starting on May 13 until Oct. 13.
Fatima is now one of the world’s most famous Marian
shrines. It has become a place of pilgrimage, worship,
peace and hope.
It is this same hope that we must never lose in these
challenging times.
Since
the advent of the Industrial Revolution and the Age of
Globalization, the world economies have been in a steady
decline while stagflation—when “high inflation is
combined with high unemployment and stagnant
demand”—looms. War is being waged everywhere, and more
Arab springs are in the making. Our natural resources
are being depleted for the benefit of a few, and greed
is constant in many.
Sadly, today we are still hesitant to accept that
climate change is killing us all. This must stop. We
must have faith that change can happen once we act
collectively to save our planet. Our world leaders must
act now or face the consequences. With the sorry state
of our environment in the hands of global polluters and
abusers, we are slowly reaching the point of no return.
We must get involved in volunteer activities to
reforest, rehabilitate, conserve and preserve our
fragile environment. While our faith in divine
intervention remains, these activities all lead to the
healing of our planet, our only home.
THE DAY THE PLANET DIED IN LIMA
(By: Antonio M. Claparols –
President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial –
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Killed by the power of
corporate-polluters and the governments they control.
Sadly but expectedly by there were no binding agreements
to mitigate climate change.
No goals and targets -- just more paper to affix a
signature for the COP process to continue its game and
rhetoric.
Sadly, even the peoples of the world are looking down on
the United Nations.
A sad day indeed.
This negated the historic climate march by the millions
in New York -- attended by all classes in our society.
Both rich and poor, young and old, -- peacefully to
demand climate justice, demanding our right to life, not
only in the constitution and the laws made by man both
natural and religious laws. The right to a healthy and
clean environment, the right to life.
During
the conference typhoon Ruby was ravaging the country.
The typhoon drew headlines and the limelight was on the
Philippines once again.
Yolanda devastated us and
put us to the ground. Thousands died and lives changed
forever.
That was on our minds during the COP talks in Lima,
Peru.
Perhaps it was also in the minds of the COP members --
sadly and without a conscience of guilt.
We dare say the agreement signed was a declaration of
death. A death warrant for the planet and for all
species that inhabit the planet earth.
The Lima participants were aware of the stories of the
typhoons, the droughts, even the freak storm in San
Francisco.
Yes,
they knew the ice and glaciers have been melting. In
fact they are melting faster than ever before.
Yes, they also know that more than two billion people
have no access to water and sanitation.
Yes they know that water and food are getting scarce.
Yes they know that the war for resources is accelerating
and Arab springs are in every continent.
Yes they know that islands will be sinking and people
displaced.
Yes they know that atmospheric carbon dioxide has
breached the 400ppm mark and that to get back to 350ppm
needed to sustain life will never come.
The
death warrant signed in Lima was to be sealed by vicious
climatic changes.
We cannot wait for them; nor for COP 21 in Paris.
We don’t have the luxury of time.
We have passed the tipping point.
We need to protect our country and people.
We need to add more forest rangers and plant a billion
trees and more.
We need to go renewable and show the world that we can
lead the way.
Just like after typhoon Yolanda we rose from the dead.
We showed the world how resilient we are.
Let’s do it now.
TYPHOON RUBY AND THE CLIMATE CHANGE CORPORATE SPLIT
(By: Antonio M. Claparols –
President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial –
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
AS
I write this, climate talks are winding up in Lima,
Peru. Twelve long days of how to abate and address the
climate change debacle that is threatening to destroy
our planet and civilization.
Perhaps it may mean nothing to others especially the
leaders of governments that control the UNFCCC-COP 20
talks. Whatever happens in Lima will be a signal as to
what will happen in the COP 21 in Paris next year.
We fear that nothing will change. Already, people who
speak loudly against the issue especially to mitigate
and reduce Greenhouse gases have been silenced and
forced not to attend the climate change conference.
Furthermore, it appears the massive climate change march
held in New York City, Paris and many other cities in
the world will be ignored.
Frankly, the people and the citizens of the world are
fed up in disappointment. And it will get worse as the
threshold of a 2 degree Centigrade will be breached; the
atmospheric carbon dioxide has breached the 400 ppm
mark.
There
will definitely be more super typhoons, more freak
storms, flash floods, severe droughts, a drop in
agricultural yields and increased poverty.
Is it not enough for all these calamities to knock some
sense to our leaders? Perhaps, a few but not those who
do not believe and are engrossed only with greed and
power.
Don’t they know that all the riches in the world will go
into a deflation of printed worthless paper; and that
there will be nothing to buy, eat nor drink?
After the historical announcement made by President
Obama and the Chinese leaders, nothing concrete has been
achieved.
What has happened is a divide between the poor and the
rich, the affected and those in their comfort zones.
In the most recent Financial Times, Barney Jopson and Ed
Crooks wrote about the Climate Change corporate split
widening in the United States.
The
Obama administration environmental policy is deepening
divisions between big businesses on climate change,
mirroring polarization among US states over an issue
that will drive more legal and political conflict next.
A White House plan to curb greenhouse gas emissions from
power stations has exposed the growing rift between
consumer businesses that support the proposal and
industrial groups that are vehemently against it.
President Barack Obama is seeking to make action on
climate change a central part of his legacy, but the
plan from his environmental regulator is already
threatened by lawsuits and Republican opponents in the
US Congress.
A group of 220 companies, including well known US names
such as Kellogg’s, Levi-Strauss, Mars, Nike and
Starbucks have signed a letter in support of President
Obama’s plan. European groups including Adidas, IKEA and
Nestle and companies agree that climate change
poses “real financial risk” and tackling it is one of
the greatest economic opportunities of the 21st century.
While
the corporate divide grows and the threat of an
economic, social and environmental collapse is imminent,
climate change talks in Lima as of this writing show
nothing concrete.
We must act with resolve now. Perhaps, a boycott of the
industrial polluters is in order. Perhaps, more marches
and Arab springs are upcoming and the war for resources
continues.
Perhaps, we are in the wrong forum and the United
Nations has become irrelevant in tackling global issues.
Perhaps, the polluters must face crimes against humanity
and be jailed.
We cannot go on like this and wait until we are
destroyed by the likes of super typhoon Yolanda and
Ruby.
We must act with resolve -- we do not have the luxury of
time.
THE HISTORIC CLIMATE CHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT
(By: Antonio M. Claparols –
President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial –
Wednesday, December 03, 2014
AS
I write this, the United States is experiencing below
freezing temperatures in all 50 states. Some counties
were declared in a state of calamity.
The Financial Times reported that Stanford University
and the family foundation of John D. Rockefeller had
announced plans to cut their hydrocarbon investments.
This is no longer a joke as corporations and peoples are
doing their own to cut greenhouse gas emissions to abate
climate change.
I pray that this historical climate change announcement
by the United States and China to lower GHG-Greenhouse
gasses by 2030 and 2025, respectively, is more than just
words.
The United States said it would reduce by a third GHG by
2025 and China countered that it would cap its GHG by
2030.
The announcement was made during the APEC summit in
China at a time when the EBOLA virus is spreading
rapidly, with a no cure scenario.
As for China expanding its new silk road to Germany and
Portugal, to Africa and India -- this in itself tells a
story. While we were in Portugal last September, we were
told of the many Chinese nationals caught laundering
money and getting special Investors visa as a second
home -- just in case the mainland blows.
I don’t know how much action they will put in the battle
against climate change.
For
one thing, 2025 and 2030 are too far away to even shout
victory that we have made it, or that we have reduced
GHG emissions.
In this day and age where EBOLA, cancer and many new
diseases are sprouting up more than flowers, where
poverty is on an upswing, where greed and the lack of
empathy are present, where materialism and corruption
are prevalent -- we will NOT give up. We will never
surrender.
The UNFCCC panel of experts repeatedly said that a
2-degree Centigrade increase in temperature would be bad
enough to cause more devastation on climatic calamities.
They have warned that we have already passed the
2-degree Centigrade and are heading upwards. They have
warned that a 4-degree Centigrade increase will cause
loss of water and biodiversity, will bring unprecedented
typhoons, storms, flash floods and the loss of food,
shelter and water. Poverty will rise to high levels.
The so-called Millennium Development Goals are useless
as we have passed the dates of the goals set forth that
the loss of biodiversity will stop. That was yesterdays
ago and nothing concrete has happened except the rapid
and speedy loss of our forests and marine biodiversity.
Over two billion people have no access to water and
sanitation and that was 10 years ago. Today, perhaps it
could be three billion people.
With
the World Parks Congress being held in Sydney this week,
we would probably hear all the bad news on our so-called
protected areas and NO GO areas marked for protection.
Nothing much has been done since the last two World
Parks Congress in Durban in 2003; we were only told of
the partnerships with Shell, ICMM-International Chamber
of Mining and Minerals and other corporations that
disregarded the NO GO protected areas.
Extraction and logging continue at an accelerated pace.
Even the Great Barrier Reef is under attack.
Our oceans which make up more than 75 percent of our
planet are under acidification and Marine Protected
Areas make up less than 2 percent.
There were plans and promises to increase marine
protected areas; sadly, nothing has been done.
What is being done is to find a shorter sea navigational
route via the Arctic due to the melting ice and
glaciers.
What in heaven’s name are they doing?
The crimes and criminals against nature are getting away
with murder.
The
Financial Times mentioned that the China- United States
announcement lacks details, and for good reason.
Governments come and go.
In 2016,
elections will be held; the United States Democratic
party has lost control of the US Senate to a party that
does not believe in Climate Change.
Sometimes, we wonder if both parties lack the political
will to pursue the reduction of carbon dioxide
emissions.
From what we have seen since the Inconvenient Truth
presented by Al Gore and the last 19 Conference of
Parties (COP) of the United Nations, nothing has been
done. Emissions continue to increase and the ice
continues to melt as the temperature continues to rise
and get hotter.
Let’s see what happens in Paris next year in COP 20.
How hot do they want, our planet to get? Already, one
can cook an egg in the blistering heat, at the same time
get blown away by the likes of super typhoon Yolanda.
Many more Yolandas will come. Mark my words. Brace up
and plant trees and mangrove forests. Brace up and
protect your own communities.
At the home front, the Visayan Daily Star has reported
that the North Negros forest reserve -- the last in the
island -- will be lost as the Mayors voted not to
demolish the many structures that eco-tourist companies
have built.
This is so sad and must be opposed and stopped.
We have been fortunate enough to have planted trees and
stopped agriculture in our small 41 hectares mountain
forest farm.
Its biodiversity is blooming and its natural
regeneration continues unabated.
We are happy for we began this over 40 years ago. Today,
it has become symbol of a true protected area, a real NO
GO zone and we are proud of it.
Let us all unite and win the battle against climate
change and show the world what we can do.
Let us walk our talk.
THE ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN: BOOM OR BANE
(By: Antonio M. Claparols –
President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial –
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
The
entire world now is talking about climate change and how
to mitigate Greenhouse gas. The threshold
of a 2 degrees centigrade will be surpassed, causing
many more and disastrous effects.
The 4 degrees centigrade that seems to be near will
definitely bring more massive devastation to our land
and planet.
It may even put an end to our civilization as we know it
and all for what?
Development and growth? Certainly not the people and the
planet.
After over a year since the super-typhoon Yolanda
devastated Tacloban and many parts of the Philippines,
it seems that everyone now is talking about mitigation.
The mitigation goals are form 40%-70% of existing levels
by 2050. Frankly, we find this too long.
Mitigation
of GHG must take effect immediately and not wait until
2050. With the COP 20 scheduled next year in Peru, it is
imperative that mitigation Goals be set up to take
effect as soon as the conference is over.
The UNFCCC has indicated finally that should nothing be
done, then there will be more poverty, more homeless
people, more damage to communities, agriculture and
people.
The planet is the on the tipping point and many know
this; thus the 350ppm carbon dioxide need to sustain
life must be achieved and it must be fast tracked.
As of day, CO2 has already breached the 400 ppm mark and
is increasing rapidly.
If
not for the economic slowdown, it would have already
gone up much faster.
And the planet will be faced with many more Yolandas.
The very fact that the economic slowdown has occurred
has slowed down GHG and lowered the consumption and cost
of oil and coal, the dirtiest fossil fuels.
Sometimes we think that the economic slowdown has come
as a boom, and not a bane, as it has in its own way
mitigated carbon dioxide emissions.
Now it is time to go full throttle on renewable energy
as well as increase the carbon sinks that will reduce
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
It is time to rehabilitate and reforest our mountains.
To plant billions of trees and mangrove forests to help
sequester the carbon dioxide and at the same time help
in protecting our coastline communities form
devastation.
Sadly,
we are still building coal-fired power plants. We wonder
why our leaders are filled with the narrow economics and
politics of destruction.
It is
time to think about the air, water and food that will be
damaged due to climate events and what will happen if
all these basics are lost.
The solutions are all there and we just need the
political will to implement them or face more Yolanda’s.
In my mind, the economic slowdown has achieved what the
UNFCCC cop has failed to do.
TIME TO CHANGE DEVELOPMENT MODEL
(By: Antonio M. Claparols –
President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial –
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
AS
I write this, it seems that the EBOLA virus has
spread far and wide and there seems to be no cure to
this disease.
This may continue to plague the world; more than that,
the EBOLA virus has become a political issue for the
Obama administration and for political exercise by
parties.
Worse, whoever wins the next election will do nothing to
mitigate climate change. Despite the low prices of oil
and coal, the main energy fossil fuels, the development
model has not changed. It just has been slowed down by
its own making. In many ways, the economic woes have
slowed down the destruction of nature and our
environment.
Europe faces another recession and is showing no signs
of progress. The emerging markets are experiencing
currency wars, trade problems and capital flight. The
United States has registered a not so good showing
despite the influx of capital due to the presumed
increase in interest rates. China’s growth has slowed
down. The global economy has done more bad than good.
Our economic managers have failed in their duty.
Frankly, the IMF and World Bank have failed in their
mandates. The development model they created is
destroying us all.
The fact remains that poverty is on the rise and the
poor are getting poorer. Crime is on the rise as well as
human right abuses. The many wars and Arab springs are
accelerating. The ISIS and EBOLA threats are considered
national security threats. We would think that CLIMATE
CHANGE would be as well.
The
fact remains that the pollution of our environment
continues as our oceans are victims of ocean
acidification, given the amount of plastics and toxins
that are dumped. Not to mention the many oil spills that
have damaged our seas and coastlines. More and more
species are going extinct.
Dead zones and gyres have increased. And the weather
continues to devastate the planet.
Our biodiversity is being lost at a rate that even we
don’t know. The scale of massive urban development is
rising like a vertical city.
The number of people who are sick with cancer and other
diseases has gone up. To make matters worse, the
healthcare system set up by most countries are broke and
bankrupted that they cannot even attend to the people
who have invested a lot of their earnings into taxes for
healthcare and Medicare benefits.
On another matter, it seems that even western medicine
seems to be losing its luster for an all cure
medication.
People
and the medical profession seem to be going on the
organic and alternative route. People want to be healthy
eating vegetables and fruits and staying away from meats
and unhealthy foods.
There is a lack of food and water left to sustain our
ever growing environment.
We must go back to the basics. Farm our own land. Grow
our own food. Grow them organically.
It is the opportune time to get out of fossil fuels as
the price is at rock bottom. It is the best time to get
to renewables.
I worry about the next UNFCCC COP 20 as we anticipate
that nothing will happen again. We worry about the fate
of our people and planet.
The United Nations World Health Organization has failed
in its duty to detect EBOLA; what more of climate change
which has been ravaging the planet for decades and after
20 COP-Conference of Parties.
It
is time to change the people who are not making the
correct decisions.
It is time to make a change.
There will be more Arab springs and there will be
greater climate calamities.
It is time to change the development model.
It is time to replenish nature.
THE EBOLA VIRUS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(By: Antonio M. Claparols –
President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial –
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
AS
I write this, the EBOLA virus is spreading faster than
ever imagined. Unlike SARS and Bird Flu,
this virus is moving very fast to almost every continent
-- and there is no cure.
The United States and Canada are making fortress America
safe by putting machines that will detect any fever and
making travel ever harder to the states.
Africa is very close to Europe and may spread faster
there while in Asia mitigating steps are being taken to
safeguard its spread.
Looking back, we did mention countless times that new
diseases would likely arise aside from natural
calamities that would likely strengthen. We did mention
that, increase in poverty, the loss of biodiversity, and
shortage of food and water are likely too.
It has been reported that over 14 million Filipinos live
below the poverty line. We believe the realistic figure
is higher as the wealth does not filter down.
The culprit behind these many viruses and new diseases
is pollution -- with all the filth it leaves in our
oceans and our planet.
We
would not like a repeat of the Irish Potato Famine. Or
the great American Dust Bowl that kept the land dry for
years causing famine and poverty. All these and more
have manifested themselves in our life time and yet
nothing but rhetoric has been our lot.
Have we not learned from the past? From Katrina, Yolanda
and Ondoy?
Don’t we know that the earth is dying and climate change
needs to be beaten. Mitigation is the key.
Did you know that in Louisianna, more than anyplace on
earth, the seas are rising that the size of a football
field goes under every day. The small island states know
as they are impacted as well.
Two powerful typhoons have headed towards Japan and
missed us. They would have brought heavy rains and winds
that could cripple an economy.
With the UN COP 20 getting ready to meet in Paris next
year, the recently held United Nations General Assembly
meeting in New York on Climate Change did not achieve
anything. It was the Climate March from all sectors of
society that echoed what was needed to be addressed.
Mitigate and change the development model.
Win
the war against climate change. Say these LOUD and
CLEAR: ACT NOW.
This
is NO JOKE -- we are running out of food and water.
Poverty is on the rise as well as our population.
The economic debacle seems to be doing more good to the
environment as growth has collapsed and with it mining
and extraction have gone down after they have destroyed
the forest.
Oil is at its all time low due to NO growth and yet we
still use this fossil fuel.
It is but logical that we shift today into renewable
source of energy that will secure the future of our
children’s children and our civilization as we know it.
It is time to STOP the dirt and step on the brakes on
pollution.
Call it changing the destructive present development
model. Call us crazy like you did to many scientists and
activists such as Jeffrey Rowland who singlehandedly
fought the wrath of the chemical industry against
CFC-Chlorofluorocarbons and won when the British agency
saw the size of the OZONE layer and as a result CFCs
were banned.
What
would the world be today without Jeffrey Rowland and
many others who fought the good fight and told the truth
on the effects of fossil fuels and pollution.
Many Arab springs have broken and there seems to be no
end to them. The ISIS war seems to be escalating, the
Ukrainian conflict and the Chinese are pushing their
weight as they choke with polluted dioxins. Believe me,
the Chinese people will have their own Arab spring. Just
look at Hong Kong.
The COP20 must not trade carbon dioxide but mitigate it
and bring her back to 350ppm. The solutions are all in
front of their eyes. Let’s do what we can in our own way
and push our leaders to follow suit.
WE MUST PROTECT OUR OWN HOUSE AND COUNTRY.
As I finish this article, the World Health Association
warns of the widespread areas for EBOLA and East Asia
will likely be one of the victims.
Let’s take the lead from Germany and the rest will
follow.
JUST DO IT.
If not, then expect more EBOLA viruses and more
devastation. We will have famine and food and water
shortages.
For us and our children, let’s act.
THE MARCH FOR CLIMATE CHANGE JUSTICE
(By: Antonio M. Claparols –
President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial –
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
IT
was the biggest climate march in history -- rich and
poor, celebrities and the unemployed, the old and the
young.
They were all in New York
City -- the venue of the United Nations General Assembly
on Climate Change. The purpose of the summit was to talk
and tackle the biggest threat to humankind.
Sadly, it was another
occasion wasted.
For nothing on Mitigation and Reduction of Greenhouse
Gases was talked about. With the COP 20 coming next year
in Paris and carbon dioxide breaching 400 ppm and our
planet dying. A waste of time.
What was not a waste -- the many voices of people who
marched the streets of New York, Paris and many cities
of the world. The message was clear: Win the war against
climate change.
As I write this, the world seems to be heading toward
the same old development model. The United States has
overtaken Saudi Arabia in oil, methane and propane
extraction and supply.
This
means that the old development model is here to stay.
Sadly, after the United Nations Climate Change meeting
last week, nothing has been done. After all the talk and
rhetoric, it seems that nothing concrete will ever be
done in COP 20 in Paris next year.
Even our delegation spoke of the many effects that
climate change has had on our people and country. The
mention of building a coal power plant was mentioned.
Despite being so rich in wind, solar and hydro power.
Some sectors of government are pushing for coal and even
oil power plants. These are the dirtiest forms of fossil
fuels and are responsible for climate change and the
destruction of our planet.
The development model has not changed despite the
downward effects of globalization and the increase of
poverty. The collapse of the world economies and the
shortage of food and water has not put climate change
the Real Agenda For Survival. Despite many
calamities, floods, typhoons and storms.
Despite the melting arctic and polar ice.
Despite the shrinking and sinking of many countries such
as Greenland and small nation states. Despite the worse
droughts and floods.
Nothing
seems to make our leaders change the development model.
What will it finally take? Do we have to wait for
another Yolanda?
To this day, Tacloban is far from normal. People are
still living in tents and LIFE is far from normal.
Why did they all meet in New York in the UN General
Assembly?
Why did they all talk about the problems and the
destruction?
Why did they not talk about solutions?
We are saddened by this and so was born the
largest climate change march ever held in New York,
Paris and many other cities.
The people are speaking and marching. Their voices
must be heard.
Recently,
we traveled to Fatima in Portugal and could not believe
how clean their country is. With a population of about
ten million powered by mainly hydro power and about five
percent of wind and one small nuclear plant. They have
forest and clean rivers. They have electric cars, buses
and trains as public transportation.
They are expanding more on wind and solar.
Following the lead of Germany to go full blast on solar
and wind.
A few countries are leading the way and we must
follow suit. If not, then the people will march and do
it on their own.
Climate change is real and will be worse. It is
time to act with resolve and vigilance.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols –
President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial –
Wednesday,September 3, 2014
IN
the 1970’s, we went scuba diving so often. To ensure our
safety during our diving escapades, we used equipment
called ‘buoyancy compensators’, also often called ‘stab
jackets’. These establish neutral buoyancy underwater
and positive buoyancy on the surface, thus the need to
inflate them. They look like simpler versions of those
life vests used in airplanes these days.
Who wouldn’t love the seas?
There is nothing more soothing than the sound of
the waves and the way each wave replenishes itself as it
caresses the shore during high tide. The gentle sea
breeze has its therapeutic effect on us, as it not only
cleanses our lungs but it also clears our mind and heals
our souls.
While diving, it was a real treat to measure coral
growth and document the bounty of our reefs! We would
marvel at marine snails called ‘golden cowries’ as well
as cone shells and Nautilus shells, among others.
Cone shells are undeniably popular among shell
collectors. Golden cowries live under the rocks and at
night, they feed on algae. These are usually used in
arts, jewels and as religious symbols.
The Nautilus shells even inspired famed poet
Oliver Wendell Holmes to write a poem titled “The
Chambered Nautilus”. These are actually sea animals
whose shells are sources of the Osmeña pearl (which is
actually not a genuine pearl but a jewelry product
sourced from the innermost, pearlescent blue-gray part
of the Nautilus shells). Over-fishing of these shells
stems from the fact that they are used as pearl
substitutes.
We
had witnessed how these sea animals were killed and
sold. Biologist Peter Ward, from the University of
Washington, expressed the same appalled reaction when he
wrote that “there is a horrendous slaughter going on out
there.”
Being in the center of the Coral Triangle, our
country’s marine environment then was much richer. Our
coral reefs covered over 22,000 sq. kms. -- larger than
the coastline of continental USA.
Yes, in terms of coral reefs, we were even richer
than the famed Great Barrier Reef in Australia!
The Philippine coral reefs is Asia’s 2nd largest.
However, today it is no longer the same.
During the recent State of the Nature Address
(SONA) at Miriam College, Biodiversity Management
Bureau’s Director, Dr. Mundita Lim, presented figures
that confirmed a disappointing news: only one percent of
our country’s coral reefs now remain in excellent
condition. (This is a fast decline compared to a 2007
data of Reef Check, the world’s largest reef
conservation organization, stating five percent).
All these damages occurred in less than 50 years!
This must stop, or else we can expect a threatened
future of our natural resources in the next 50 years.
Strangely
enough, so little is known about the seas and their
bounty. They make up over 70 percent of the earth’s
surface and absorb more than 50 percent of atmospheric
carbon dioxide.
For more than forty years now, we have strongly
advocated for sea protection alongside other
environmental concerns. The marine environment is our
home, where the marine food chain starts. It is the
beginning of life.
The gyres and dead zones have expanded. Therefore,
expanding marine protected areas is a must.
In Washington D.C. in early 1980s, we had strongly
lobbied for the banning of the importation of Philippine
corals. It was the height of a 20-year international
trade when there was a demand for coral skeletons used
for decorative purposes. Half of the trade originated
from our country. Imagine the resistance we met as we
called for the ban! Yet, we were undaunted.
We used the President Ferdinand E. Marcos’
Presidential Decree 1219, (banning the harvesting of
coral) and with the help of Tom Garrett of the Animal
Welfare Institute and Senator Warren Magnuson, it was
amended into the U.S. Black Bass and Lacey Acts.
We were ecstatic! However, with the recent data
presented to us by Dr. Lim, I am saddened that our
efforts seem to be in vain now.
After Typhoon Glenda, we expected nature to have
taken its toll on the reefs as it did on land. In our
recent dive, we were delighted to see the corals intact!
The reefs stood their ground! After all, they are coral
colonies made to take nature’s wrath.
What reefs could not withstand are the damages
done by acidification and unregulated eco-tourism.
Lim
added that our forests as well had taken a beating. From
over 22 million hectares of pristine virgin forests
around our country, these had decreased to less than
500,000 hectares. Our river systems and mangrove also
suffered the same fate.
With the Conference of Parties (COP 20) nearing,
we expect nothing binding on its agenda, as usual. For
one, how can their aimless talks help us against
unpredictable typhoons more ferocious than super typhoon
Yolanda? How come carbon dioxide continues
breaching over the 400ppm threshold?
We whole heardly oppose all
their talks about carbon trading and about (Carbon)
Clean Development Mechanisms (CDMs)! Why? Because
instead of talking about global pollution and who must
be held accountable, CDMs tend to justify the present
(economic) development model by passing the buck to
‘fallguys’ rather than the culprits themselves.
We must restore our biodiversity, our habitats and
ecosystems. WE MUST BE SELF-SUFFICIENT. WE MUST PROTECT
OUR CARBON SINKS AND STEP ON THE BRAKES ON EMISSIONS.
As an island-archipelago we must have our islands
self-sufficient with clean and renewable energy. This is
a doable answer that will mitigate greenhouse gases
(GHG) and combat climate change, without a doubt. Once
achieved, then we can rest our minds that we had done
our share.
The seas are our LAST FRONTIER. Their destruction
will lead to eventual demise of civilization.
DISHEARTENING STATE OF THE NATURE
(By: Antonio M. Claparols –
President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial –
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
DURING
the State of the Nature Address (SONA) recently held by
Green Convergence, a coalition of non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), so many facts were presented, of
which most were either disheartening or tragic.
Among the speakers were
Energy Secretary Carlos Petilla, Director Mundita Lim of
then Parks and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) now called
Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), Executive
Director Godof Villapando of the Foundation for the
Philippine Environment (FPE) and Climate Change
Commissioner member Yeb Sano.
Director Mundita Lim said
that our forest cover had been decreasing rapidly. She
cited that from more than 22 million hectares of
pristine forests, 93 percent of these are gone today.
This was heartbreaking.
Why? Because forests are
supposed to be ‘the carbon sinks’ of our country. These
are the ‘lifeline’ of our terrestrial food chain.
Forests and mountains are part of any country’s jewels,
so to speak.
Ms. Lim mentioned that our
coral reefs of over 22,000 kilometers were, once upon a
time, larger than the coastline of continental USA!
Now, the same coral reefs are practically destroyed.
Only one percent remains in excellent condition.
This really took me by
surprise since our country is at the center of the Coral
Triangle. It is geographically strategic to be located
at the center of the marine area where 30 percent of the
world’s reefs are. However, it is an irony that most of
our sheer efforts to save our coral reefs were in vain.
In
1979, in Washington D.C., we had painstakingly lobbied,
using Presidential Decree 1219, for the total banning,
harvesting and extraction of Philippine coral from entry
to the United States. Finally, the said decree was
amended into the Black Bass and Lacey Acts and signed
into law in 1980 by then US President Ronald Reagan.
We were jubilant then,
thinking we had achieved a great victory for saving our
coral reefs from being exported and sold as dried decors
in every city in the world.
Lo and behold! Despite the
said ban and even the inclusion of coral reefs
into the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the
condition of our coral reefs remains miserable!
This must be considered a
crime, since we rely on the bounty of the seas for our
food and livelihood. The coral reefs are the beginning
of the marine food chain along with mangrove swamps and
estuaries. Once we destroy this marine food chain, then
we will be in danger of recurring food shortages.
For so many years, we expected more hopeful consequences
for the improvement of our natural marine resources
(underwater structures). However, in all these years, we
have witnessed nothing but the continuing degradation of
our natural resources!
Our country is a
mega-biodiversity country in danger. The number of
hot spots and dead zones have increased. Another threat
is ocean acidification that has taken its toll in our
marine environment.
During
the recent SONA discussion, I informed Ms.
Lim about a diving experience my brother and I had
in Honda Bay, Palawan where the waters were polluted and
coral reefs were dead! It was acidic and only
jelly fishes were present, which was understandable
since these species do not necessarily need oxygen.
We immediately made a report
about it directly to the Environmental Management Bureau
(EMB). Director Mitch Cuna assured that action would be
taken to find out what caused the acidification.
Meanwhile, the SONA had some
good news mentioned by Ms. Lim, such as the new species
that have been discovered recently, notably the Agusan
Marsh now holding over 27 million tons of carbon
dioxide and the massive mangrove reforestation done
around the country.
A good sign but not enough
for us to sustain our people and planet. Yes, we have
seen the planet worsen, as our forest and mountains go
bald, as our coral reefs become destroyed by dynamites,
muru-ami and kayakas fishing, as poverty rises and
quality food becomes scarce.
Secretary Petilla, he spoke
of the incoming energy crisis and the need to put light
and power in place, specially coal and old fossil fuel
plants. He even spoke of the government's plan to
revive the Bataan Nuclear Power plant (BNPP).
We
countered this by citing the experience of Germany which
is taking the lead in getting out of nuclear power in
the wake of the Fukushima disaster. We also emphasized
on how cheap and affordable solar and wind power is
becoming now. We urged Sec. Petilla to follow suit.
(We also put forward the prohibitive cost of nuclear
plants. Not one single nuclear plant is privately
owned largely due to the costs).
We strongly advocated against
the present (economic) development model and the need to
change it. He agreed but we need to walk our talk. It's
sad to see the planet change for the worse. Who cares if
our economic growth rate is over 7 percent when none of
it is filtered down to the people? The ecology,
alongside its natural capital, is declining fast.
FPE Director Villapando
mentioned about the projects they had with government
and civil society groups. Sadly, he confirmed that there
are indeed many cases of corruption and delays in actual
project implementation of the National Greening Program
(NGP). Most often, he said, those projects involve
planting exotic and invasive species instead of endemic
species. (He also mentioned the delays caused by
delayed funding by the government counterpart.)
By the way, invasive species
are one of the biggest destroyers of our biodiversity. I
guess, ignorance of how our ecosystem works is
another. (Education in school curriculum must include
Ecology.)
Commissioner Sano ended the forum with his experience in
the climate change commission. He urged everyone to make
a difference by doing our share.
With over 40 years in the
conservation movement, we had fought many battles and
had won a few. We're happy that more and more
like-minded people now speak with conviction. This
is a good example we can all show our youth. In so
doing, we allow them to have an unparalleled opportunity
to be unwavering environmental leaders someday.
Their own perspective will be
strongly influenced by the environment they grew up
with. Let it be a good one then.
If there's one war we must not
lose, it is this war against climate change!
With foresight, vigilance and resolve, it can be done.
We have really seen the planet
change and we don’t like it.
For our children and theirs,
there is no reason why it cannot be ecologically
balanced.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols –
President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial –
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
DURING
our childhood days, I remember how we loved to catch
dragonflies by their tails, only to set them free again.
They were so many of them. At nights, we were fascinated
by fireflies adorning the trees around us like little
fairies with their lighted lamps.
We marveled at how pristine
the creek waters were, so crystal clear we could even
see guppies swimming. We loved to run around and play
near that backyard creek!
I also remember how we used
to trek cogon fields and rice paddies nearby. We brought
our sling shots, in an imaginary pursuit of
adventure inspired by the magnificence of nature around
us. The air was so clean. There were so many birds,
mostly the ‘maya costa’ species, flying by.
As years pass, I remember the
mountains we went to, including Mt. Apo, Mt. Pulag and
Mt. Kitanlad. These were sites beckoning to mountaineers
and trekkers, too.
We also visited Mt. Arayat
and the San Juan Baño trail at its foot. It was teeming
with clear water and surrounded by pristine forests. It
was the same marvelous sight to behold when we had
vacation in Talisay City, Negros Occidental. As for
Baguio City, we really enjoyed the fresh air then which
always smelled of fresh pine trees.
I had a grandmother who owned
a barn or ‘kamalig’ in Arayat, Pampanga. It was full of
palay! As a child, I was thrilled by the sight of it! It
gave me a sense of security that our family will never
go hungry! I always believed all Filipino households
enjoyed the same blessing.
Yes,
our country had abundant supply of rice during those
days. The local market then used to sell rice by the
‘ganta’ (approximately 2.25 kilos) and not by ‘kilo’ as
they do today. Fresh fruits and vegetables were sold in
bunches or bundles, while fish, shrimps and shells were
mostly sold by clusters, called ‘ tumpok’.
Those were the good old days,
the age of nature when healthy ecology was at its peak.
However, as globalization and the development boom
slowly moved in, our natural resources became some kind
of a collateral damage.
Today, our garden thrives
without dragonflies anymore. We see no more guppies in
the creek that has turned so muddy. We seldom see birds
in the sky. No fireflies adorn the evening anymore.
Elsewhere, water sources either dried up, or become
polluted.
In return to all the brouhaha
of an economic development model the global leaders
adopted decades ago, where is now that genuine ‘
progress’ and real ‘development’ that they assured the
world of?
We have buildings and
infrastructure all over, yes, but aren’t we running out
of water and power? We have power failures and rotating
brown outs in the Visayas and Mindanao and parts of
Luzon. The water and electricity bills burden our
consumers who are already struggling to make ends meet.
As
I write this, the government has just issued a warning
about an expected power shortage in Luzon next year. We
have just been hit by recent typhoons Glenda and Henry.
The affected areas, including Metro Manila, are still
being restored back to normal. Being in the typhoon
season now, we expect more typhoons to arrive in our
country with more ferocity and strength.
Meanwhile, in the global
scene, we hear war looming everywhere. There are reports
about Russian missiles downing Ukrainian aircrafts.
There were news about ‘drones’ (unmanned aerial military
vehicle) killing people! As the Gaza and Palestine
problems deepen, there are reports about the jihadist
ISIS ( Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) actively fueling
the inter-rebel conflict in the Middle East.
We hear news about successive
commercial airline accidents taking lives of their
passengers and crew. All these heartbreaking news as
progress and development continue.
We hear of many Arab springs,
as the war for water and resources worsens. We are
running out of water -- the source of all life -- and
yet they continue to embrace that old economic
development model that never worked since the onset!
We have increased poverty.
The world’s life style have become more
materialistic, commercialized, stressful and poorer in
quality. What has become of us and our planet?
What is to become of us with
all these conflicts arising all in the name of oil and
greed? What are our leaders doing? Who really cares
about the Conference of Parties (COP 20) in Paris and
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) if these do not help in mitigating and
combating climate change?
While global leaders are
lacking in foresight and action, the environmental
culprits are having their heyday! They want to build
more coal power plants. What a disgrace!
The miners are still
extracting at an accelerated pace. BPH Billiton vows to
lead the iron ore race.
These
culprits, abusers and polluters try to outdo each other
for the sake of a deflated piece of paper they call
‘money’! In return to catering to their insatiable
greed, they leave us with a destroyed planet!
And our planet and people are dying. We have over two
billion people living below the poverty line. Most are
without access to water and sanitation. What is to
become of them?
In drought-stricken
California alone, their State Water Quality Control
Board led by Felicia Marcus, confirmed in a report
that everyone is expected not to waste water or else
will be fined up to $500 a day for residents ‘who waste
water on lawns, landscaping and car washing’.
How much longer will we survive as a people before the
planet seizes to sustain LIFE?
We need to think of ourselves and the future generation.
We all must plant trees, protect our forest and seas.
Our daily lifestyle must always adhere to the ‘recycle,
reuse and reduce’ principle. This must be cultivated in
every Filipino household and in every learning
institution.
We must go out of our way to encourage others to plant
mangroves and tree seedlings. We must compel ourselves
to have food security and be self-sufficient,
resourceful and never lose the initiative. We must
heighten the environmental campaign not only in the
grassroots but in the higher strata of society and among
our government leaders, who all must ‘walk-the-talk’!
Personally, how I miss the good old days when things
were simpler, cleaner, more abundant. The quality of
life was so high and people then were happier and
healthier. Those were days when birds of various species
would fly in the skies. Butterflies and dragonflies were
everywhere, and the air was cooler.
It’s time to get what we
deserve: a better home in a healthier planet. We need to
do it all on our own and together we can make a BIG
difference! I do believe in getting small acts together
to overcome a bigger challenge. There are no options
that work better than that.
What will become of us will
be the signature of all our efforts today.
THE CLIMATE CHANGE REPORT: FINAL WARNING
(By: Antonio M. Claparols –
President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial –
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
FINALLY,
the third part of the United Nations’
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
trilogy report on global warming was released
recently. IPCC issued the first part, on climate
science, in September 2013. The second report, on
impacts of climate change, came out this March.
However, there is nothing new in the voluminous
‘assessment’ report. That’s the impression of those who
have been continuously advocating that mitigation is the
only way to win the battle against climate change and
global warming.
Based on the report of Clive
Cookson, the UN’s IPCC report focuses on mitigation,
specifically on how to fight rising temperatures and
that is by limiting the build-up of carbon dioxide and
other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The objective
is to keep the average temperature rise below 2 degrees
Centigrade.
“This is a message of hope,”
says Ottmar Edenhofer, an energy expert at the Potsdam
Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany, who
was a co-chair of the roughly 500-page report. He said
that the most immediate need is to end the renaissance
of fossil fuels particularly coal for power generation
in China, India and elsewhere.
“To avoid dangerous
interference with the climate system, we need to move
away from business-as-usual,” Edenhofer underscored.
The report cited the lack of
action by the concerned parties for the last 20 years
despite all the manifestations on the effects of global
warming.
Consider also the extreme
weather conditions and climate shifts, the
record-breaking heat and cold, the devastating winter
storms, the floods and super typhoons like Yolanda, etc.
What
future awaits the world as population and poverty
continue to increase while crop yields and fish catch
continue to decline?
Water, the source of all
life, is becoming depleted. This is where we all must be
alarmed.
The future is painted grim as
more Arab springs arise these days and war for natural
resources begins to escalate. But why doesn’t anybody
notice?
The IPCC report called on
governments to use political will and to use funds
for renewable energy if only to mitigate the greenhouse
gases released in the atmosphere.
Already breaching over 400
ppm (parts-per-million), carbon dioxide must be reduced
to at least 350ppm needed to sustain life.
Incidentally, London’s air
has turned into smog while air pollution in China is now
over 2.5 ppm.
While these occur, California is suffering its worst
drought ever.
The report said that ‘a
window of opportunity is present and we need to act
fast. The cost of renewable energy such as solar and
wind have gone down.’
The report could not have
come at a better time when the global economy continues
to falter and when record climatic events are taking
their toll.
So, what took the UN so long
to come out with its report? Only when they are impacted
do they act?
The facts had always been
there. The data given is, in fact, the most widely-read
chapter.
At
least a reduction of 2 percent of global GDP was
estimated to be lost by climate change.
If the economic impact was
negative due to climate change then, as I understand it,
we can only blame greed and lack of foresight. These two
factors seem to be holding back the leaders from waging
war against global warming.
Money and profits are their
priorities at the expense of loss of biodiversity and of
life.
These inept leaders put
social and ecological wealth at the bottom of their
priority list. And now IPCC calls on all governments to
act?
With this, it is hoped that
the parties to the convention take stock and drastically
reduce all emissions.
According to The Financial
Times, the disastrous effects of climate change can
still be prevented. Some leading climate scientists
believe that a concerted global effort and a heavy
investment on renewable energy sources can both
effectively cut carbon emissions.
Germany
is a role model of a country determined to get out
of nuclear power and fossil fuels. With success, it
shows the rest of the world how to expand and fast track
the switch to renewable power.
The worsening climate change itself is a final warning
and must be heeded.
Hence, whatever political
will need must be used with resolve and fast.
In effect, global polluters
who shrug off the IPCC report’s recommendations must be
held legally liable and be condemned guilty of crimes
against humanity.
Once these culprits are given
the iron fist, then we may still have time to save our
planet and people.
The IPCC reports may have been issued on time.
Nonetheless, it is still our
action that speaks louder than their words.
Ground floor modelo building
II, Narrazid cor. Bataraza poblacion brookespoint. Tel
0943-7018706
SHORTAGE OF
WATER GREATER THREAT
(By: Antonio M. Claparols –
President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Editorial –
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
HOWLING
winds and the lashing rains confirmed that the
disastrous typhoon Glenda (international code name:
‘Rammasun’) had swept all over Metro-Manila. Packed with
turbulent winds of 185 kph, it struck many parts of
Luzon and even battered the Southern Tagalog and Bicol
regions, leaving the country after 48 hours with many
dead and missing.
Trees, both young and century-old ones, were uprooted
and floods were reported. Worse, power and basic goods
ran short of supply and communication lines were badly
affected. The metropolis was in shambles.
Typhoon Glenda, the ninth officially named storm and the
third typhoon of the annual typhoon season, spared no
one -- may it be the rich or the poor, the workers or
the unemployed, the city dwellers or the indigenous
peoples in the mountains or those residing by the
coastline. Classes were suspended and most offices
closed for a day.
Compounding the situation was the fact that while
Glenda’s rains had not stopped yet, there were at least
two other typhoons expected to ensue. As of this
writing, a ’state of calamity’ has been declared in
Albay, Camarines Sur and Norte as well as Cavite.
Typhoon Glenda was weaker in strength compared to its
predecessors such as typhoons Ondoy, Milenyo or Yolanda.
However, its scope had also affected the entire Luzon
and most parts of the Visayas.
Imagine the consequences had typhoon Glenda hit Manila
directly with Yolanda’s strength! Then the country could
have been paralyzed as a ’seat of power’ and supplies
would have been devastated. Shortage of power, water and
food would not have been an impossibility. God forbid!
Before
the typhoon, I told a friend from Nueva Ecija to brace
up and harvest his rice farm while early. It was good
when he said all his rice fields had been harvested
earlier than expected as preventive measure indeed.
Another good example was shown by Albay. Earlier, Albay
Governor Joey Salceda had cancelled classes before the
typhoon came so everyone could prepare better. The
province remains without power.
A friend in the energy and power business told us that
the national grid had been badly hit. Restoring power
will take time.
On one hand, I am saddened by the fact that we all know
that our country gets an average of 20 to 25 typhoons
yearly. We had been made aware by countless typhoon
experiences that had befallen our nation. We are
vulnerable year after year.
On the other hand, I am happy, though, that there seems
to be heightened awareness and foresight for preparation
this time around.
While Tacloban still suffers from the wrath of super
typhoon Yolanda, with many of their residents still
living in tent houses, we are faced with many
unpredictable typhoons to come.
Yes, climate change is the major cause, no doubt.
However, our experience has proven that if we have our
forests intact, then we would have actually mitigated
and reduced the damages of climate change.
A recent Financial Times issue mentioned that the
shortage of water may be more of a threat than climate
change. This I believe, since our water resources are
finite and just wasted.
World
leaders must make water scarcity a bigger priority than
climate change because the problem is far more urgent
than global warming -- a warming raised by the chairman
of one of the world’s biggest food companies.
’I am not saying climate change is not important.
What I am saying is even without climate change, we are
running out of water and I think this has to become the
first priority’, Nestle Chairman Peter Bradec said,
adding that global warming got more attention because it
had ‘better ambassadors’ such as Nobel Prize-winning
scientists and Hollywood film makers.
Personally, I find it absurd that climate change issues
can only gain leaders’ attentive ears once discussed in
the presence of such ’better ambassadors’.
These are not issues where fame and popularity have a
rightful place.
This is a global issue of everyone and everything's
survival and right to live! The more convincing people
listen to are those who have been into the frontline,
who continue to experience and document the impacts of
global warming and climate change.
Add to that those who sacrifice their lives to pursue
the cause.
They are the ones who attest that water crisis is real
and need more urgent attention since water is LIFE and
we are running out of this vital finite resource.
Again,
we urge leaders to heed our call that the old and futile
economic model must be changed. Water, food, lives and
the quality of life must be factored in so they can come
up with a more sensible, appropriate and precise
economic model. They must not consider monetary paper
gains as their sole benchmark!
For what good is all the money once we reach a turning
point when there will be nothing to buy anymore?
Nowadays, the real calamity is not posed by weather
unpredictability alone. With the climate change issues
continuing, more and more are suffering from lack of
food and water.
That is the real state of calamity! Otherwise, the fury
of Yolanda will only be a pale warning for more
ferocious, killer super-typhoons to come.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Opinion - Wednesday, July 09, 2014
WE
always enjoy going for a dive and assessing the state of
the coral reefs and the species that they harbor.
The seas have become our home as we started our
environmental passion underwater -- the greatest
classroom on earth.
We drew inspiration from the Cousteau Society and our
mentor Jacques Yves Cousteau. Oh yes, we did follow the
man who invented SCUBA (Self Contained Underwater
Breathing Apparatus). Our instructor then was Col. Ellis
Gilliland part of the Underwater Demolition Team of the
US Navy. Our certification: NAUI.
How we love the ocean and all that it harbors.
How we look forward to diving.
Each dive, each site is different.
After
all, we are in the center of the coral triangle.
When we were younger, we would log our dives, measure
coral growth, document the state of the site and take
photos of what we saw.
It is amazing to see the bounty of the seas -- the rich
coral reefs.
Yet many times we are saddened to note that not many
people know the value of coral reefs.
They harbor marine life and are one of the marine
ecosystems foundation where food chain begins; the
others are mangrove swamps and estuaries.
Last week, we celebrated the World Oceans day and we
were documenting our dive. We were saddened to see that
the bounty of the reefs and sites had less fish than
usual and that the reefs were not as healthy as they
used to be.
Gone were the school of Jack fishes and turtles and many
other species we used to see. What was worse was that we
saw piles of plastic underwater and on the surface.
This
was compounded with an influx of foreign and local
divers who have no respect for the fragile coral reefs.
They just come and dive in groups of countless divers.
Like an army attacking fortress coral reefs.
Gone is the sacred rule in diving: the buddy system.
Welcome the diving army.
Sure we need eco-tourism but we must control them and
they must respect our coral reefs and dive sights.
It takes coral reefs years to grow an inch and only a
second to destroy. Many of them touch the reefs like a
pet or a toy.
It has been over forty years since we have began diving
at the islands many beautiful dive sites.
Many of those sites have been destroyed, the coral reefs
with them.
Aside from uncontrolled diving and respect for the
corals, climate change has bleached many of our pristine
coral reefs.
To our surprise, the waters were warmer than usual. A
sure sign that global warming and climate change are
real.
Should we allow tourists to dive our precious coral
richness and see the marvel that they harbor? Then, we
must put regulations that they must not touch and
destroy our natural heritage or else our center of the
coral triangle is in danger.
Sadly, not only the sites in our country have been
victims of pollution, over tourism and climate change
but the harvesting and exploitation of our corals still
continue.
In 1980, then President Ferdinand Marcos issued PD 1219
banning the harvesting and extraction of coral reefs.
Together with Tom Garrett of the Animal Welfare
Institute we went to Washington D.C. and with the help
of Senator Warren Magnusson, we had the coral ban
amended into the Black Bass and Lacey Acts of the United
States. Making Philippine coral banned from entry to the
US. That same year, the amendments were signed into law.
And we were jubilant, thinking that our coral reefs had
been saved.
I suppose they were then and more and more coral was
growing freely and healthy. The amount of divers also
increased.
However, the knowledge of the people of the value of
coral reefs has not.
Coral reefs are the beginning of the marine food chain
and without them we will have no fish in the seas.
They are fragile and take a long time to grow. Ocean
acidification is taking its toll in the destruction of
our coral reefs and marine species.
We must be more vigilant and protect and conserve our
coral reefs and make sure that the coral triangle is
protected.
For once destroyed, they are gone forever.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Philippine Daily Inquirer - Monday, June 23, 2014
As
I prepared last month to fly to Boston to attend the
graduation of my youngest son, Andres, I was flushed
with pride at being the father of this young gentleman.
Andres, 22, graduated from
Boston University with a double summa cum laude, in
mathematics and business administration. When he was in
high school, he represented his alma mater, Xavier
School, in various competitions in statistics.
Days before the graduation
ceremony, which was to be held outdoors, the weather was
unpredictable. A forecast of rain worried us. Well, when
people talk about Boston, they usually say, “If you
don’t like the weather, just wait a while. It will
change.” And so it did. On Andres’ two graduation days,
we were blessed with wonderful weather!
I had arrived in the United
States to cool spring weather, although many parts of
the country were experiencing droughts and severe heat
waves.
Apparently,
extreme heat is felt not only in our country but
elsewhere in the world. The weather swings are much
greater in variance than usual.
These days, the
unpredictability of the weather must be considered while
preparing for a journey to any part of the globe. In
fact, seasoned travelers know they must pack all sorts
of clothing when going on a trip. One never knows when
the temperature will abruptly turn to freezing cold or
scorching hot. Adaptation is now a necessity.
During Andres’ commencement
ceremony, the guest speaker, Gov. Deval Patrick of
Massachusetts, spoke candidly about his life and the
role of the graduating class of 2014. He spoke about
“the age of smartphones” in which we now live, an era of
impersonal communication, albeit fast and accessible. He
dwelled on the importance of real presence and
face-to-face conversation as against the faceless world
of social media. He elaborated on how the human touch,
devoid of words or photos, is so important in daily
communication and daily life.
Patrick was right. Technology
is supposed to make this world a better place, “a
smaller village,” so to speak. Isn’t it ironic that in
this modern world, the gadgets we use to communicate
seem to build more walls than bridges?
He
noted the importance of the good old days when letters
written with pen and paper and sent by “snail mail” had
stronger influence. He observed how someone’s real
presence always had a deeper impact on another, more
than any technological fix and amenity that the world
has succumbed to.
From Deval’s viewpoint, I can
only ask: How many times has the course of world history
changed with a mere “stroke of a pen”?
Also food for thought of
great importance is the environment, with the failure of
both the Conference Of Parties and the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change to come to any
agreement of consequence.
Carbon dioxide levels have
breached over 402 ppm from the last count. The glaciers
and the Arctic ice continue to melt faster than
expected. Water resources—the source of all life—are on
the verge of depletion.
Election fever is rife in the
United States, and climate change will be—or should be—a
focal issue in the electoral arena. But only 25 percent
of the voting population take climate change seriously.
Still, many are striving to
make climate change a No. 1 priority in the US electoral
campaign. Among them is billionaire Tom Steyer, who has
vowed to donate $100 million to make climate change a
top electoral issue.
All over the world, change is
occurring.
In
India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi brings new hope for
the subcontinent. In Thailand, a vital sign of an Arab
spring rises as martial law is imposed. In Ukraine and
in Russia, the battle for resources continues.
In the Philippines, El Niño
threatens warmer temperatures and very little rainfall,
the dire effects of which, according to the weather
bureau, will be felt starting in September.
With all these environmental
threats, one wonders: Is there anyone really speaking
for and in behalf of Nature?
At Boston University during
Andres’ graduation, the dean of the College of
Mathematics spoke of how “critical thinking” is so vital
in changing our world today. (Only 1 percent of the
university’s graduating class took up the challenging
course in mathematics, my son included. It’s a course
where critical thinking is required.)
These young graduates, like
their peers worldwide, are equipped with the knowledge
and skills to find new ways to solve the world’s
problems, specifically our dying environment. As the old
economic model falters due to lack of critical thinking
by those behind it, the youth will now have to step up.
It’s their time, and they will inherit the earth.
I keep my hope high that our
generation can still help mitigate the effects of global
warming and that we can leave our children a better
planet.
I am a proud father of Andres
and I am making no secret about it. May his achievement,
diligence and determination be an inspiration to our
youth. He did his family proud, and his country as well.
But more than my pride is my
hope that Andres’ generation will have a better
environment and a healthier ecology than what we have
now. The youth must face the world armed with critical
thinking, and do what must be done to change the
development model that has failed us.
It’s their time.
OBAMA'S ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Opinion - Wednesday, June 18, 2014
THERE
seems to be a little light at the end of the dark tunnel
ahead as US President
Barack Obama seems
to be bent in pushing for the mitigation of greenhouse
gases in the
United States and
making his administration act on global warming and climate change.
The United States is
second to China as the world’s largest emitters ofcarbon
dioxide in
the atmosphere.
Recent headlines of The
Financial Times read: “Obama in US Push onClimate Change,”
as reported by Barney Jopson in Washington and Ed Crooks
in New York.
This is music to my ears. It
gives us all hope! Saying that President Obama wants to
make action on climate change
as part of his legacy, the FT reports that the Obama
administration has launched the biggest move the US has
ever taken to combat climate change.
That move was proposing, for
the first time, to regulate greenhouse
gas emissions from
power stations which are the main source of climate pollution.
This
is a daring move that has the potential to transform the
US electricity sector. However, it is also
expected to spark a wave of legal and political battles.
The Republican Party has
reacted sharply against the plan specifically on coal
plants.
This was welcomed in the
European Union (EU) and elsewhere as a jolt that could
resurrect deadlocked climate change
talks in the global arena.
The US Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) said that targets for emission
cuts, designed to reduce dependence on coal-fired power
plants, were equivalent to cancelling out climatepollution
from two-thirds of all cars and trucks in the
United States. A good sign, indeed.
The United States’ carbon
dioxide emissions
come from transport making up 32%, electricity making up
38%, industry 14% and the balance residential and
commercial uses.
In 1990, the US emitted
6,233 million metric tons of carbon
dioxide into
the atmosphere. In 2007, it increased to 7,325 million
metric tons. The report also indicated that the US
emits 17.6 million tons per person and it is forecast to
reduce it to 14.7 million tons.
By
2030, the US administration wants to cut carbon
dioxide emissions
from power stations by 30 percent from 2005 levels.
The Natural Resources Defense
Council (NRDC), an environmental group, describes the
EPA’s proposal as “a giant leap forward”. We join the
the rest of the world in this initiative and hope that
it can be done sooner rather than later.
The natural calamities that
have swept the
United States and
the entire planet have done tremendous damage.
The extreme droughts and
ravaging floods, the freak snow storms and unpredictable
climatic changes have taken their toll in the ecology,
water, agriculture and the global economy.
These are now even compelling
us to a change of everyday lifestyle to cope with the
unpredictability of weather patterns and the climate itself.
Obama will do what no other
American presidents had done. He is combating climate change
by reducing emissions by 30 percent. I do hope that this
will translate to concrete action.
Frank
O’Donnell, president of Clean Air Watch said: “When
Obama took office, there were claims he was going to be
our greenest president,” he said. “Now people are saying
that he’s among the three most environmental US presidents
of the 21st
century!”
Should this initiative
succeed, then the time for a better change is at hand.
It is our last chance. Should it fall short of our
expectation, then our planet will be in peril.
With our prayers, we fully
support President Obama’s objective against climate change.
Of all that he had achieved
as President of a superpower nation, Obama’s legacy as a climate
change eco-warrior is what will lead us all to a more
sustainable world.
It will be his final legacy
worth resounding in future world history pages.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Opinion - Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Now,
that creek is gone, destroyed by so-called ‘
development’ that took over the area.
Such scenario --
drying up of rivers and creeks -- occurs everywhere due
to man-made development and worsening climate change.
Well, the scourging heat is
upon us once again. After a long hiatus, the
monstrous El Niño phenomenon is expected to
return this
year. Reminiscent of how it struck in the late ’90s, it
is foreseen as more intense that weather analysts calls
it ‘super’ El Niño this early. It is feared to cause
harsher droughts, above all.
El Niño is a recurring
weather pattern emanating from increased temperature
from the tropical Pacific Ocean. As climate scientist
Kevin Trenberth of the U.S. National Center for
Atmospheric Research explained:
“The trade winds at this
point usually weaken or even reverse entirely, moving
warm water eastward. As it travels, this warm water
starts emerging from deep in the ocean and heating up
the atmosphere...leading many researchers to
predict a monstrous El Niño is on its way.”
The phenomenon can disrupt
cycles of fish and other living species in the oceans.
This means more fish kills that leads to higher meat
costs and other economic imbalances that eventually
affects household lifestyles.
Super El Niño means extreme
heat and the warming of the oceans, fish kills and
shortages of
water and power compounded
with poor crop yields and worse, a water shortage.
This is nothing new to us
all. It is the same thing every year only with more
intensity. Power shortages are felt nationwide. The food
security of our country is already in danger as prices
have increased.
The economic consequences of
super El Niño will definitely have their worst impact on
those who are already in the poverty
level. The Philippines,
reportedly the 28th country with largest economy, belies
the report with poverty seen everywhere.
As heat scourges the land as
well, crop yields will be minimal with their quality
being at its lowest. Thus, prices will increase
unreasonably.
Productivity
will fall, poverty will increase and heat-related
diseases will surface. Everyone will say, ‘blame it on
El Niño.’ What I fear most is that our water
resources may be rationed by then.
As I write this, an advisory
has warned us of the critical water
levels in
almost all of the Luzon and Mindanao dams including
Angat, Ambuklao, Magat and Binga.
I cannot fathom the effects
of a water rationing scenario.
A possible depletion of our water resources is totally
unimaginable! Not in an agricultural country like ours.
Should it happen, people will
rise and fight to do anything they can to simply
survive. One can live a few weeks without food. But
never without water.
Mindanao will be impacted
badly. A good friend in Mindanao, recently told me that
Lake Lanao, Lake Dapao and major rivers that traverse
through Ramain, Lumba Bayabao, Matling, Kapai-Tagoloan
and Butig could have generated enough power to energize
Mindanao and Visayas. Both the Mandulog river and the
Bacolod river in Lanao del Norte can reportedly augment
the power grid in Maria Cristina.
Only 1% of the revenues
earned from the Agus river system goes to the National
Wealth Tax, as a form of ‘thank you’ to Lanao provinces.
La’ana tullah!
My friend surmised that other
countries would have developed these sources of energy
decades ago. Instead, our government salivates on
cutting trees for quick profit, thereby endangering the
watershed area. That is what they call ‘development’!
Biodiversity is continuously
being destroyed by unabated logging of our forest and
pollution of our seas and entire planet. Yet,
governments and corporations are going full-scale with
their so-called ‘development’ model that never serve its
purpose at all!
The war for resources have
began a long time ago and is escalating, unnoticeably.
China is pushing its weight and taking control of the
Pacific while bullying its way to a war against the
Philippines and other small countries. Russia has waged
its own war against Ukraine and it can easily shut down
its oil and gas distribution to Western Europe.
Why? Obviously for resources.
It
is time to take stock and pressure our leaders that a
shift in their development model and consumption
patterns must be changed. No more excuses.
Most of our natural resources
are just waiting to be tapped and be equally-distributed
for everyone’s benefits. But these must be defended
against greed at all cost!
Sadly, with an average age of
22 years, it seems most of today’s youth do not realize
the value of our environment and the vital importance of
a healthy ecology.
Our youth must be enjoined to participate in
reforestation and conservation activities. They must be
encouraged to defend the rights of our natural
resources. We need a collective effort to keep our water
flowing safe and clean.
After all, without water --
‘the source of Life’ -- we have nothing left worth
talking about.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Opinion - Wednesday, May 14, 2014
IT
is the time of year when the summer heat bears down upon
us.
However, these days the
summer heat turns into a scourging inferno affecting
everyone and everything on this planet.
It has been over four months
and three weeks since super typhoon Yolanda ravaged the
Philippines. It leveled the city of Tacloban and is
still affecting other cities and communities in its
aftermath.
Surprisingly, those behind
the United Nations Framework Convention onClimate
Change (UNFCCC) are
still debating
on the report.
Recently, the Financial Times
issue a report by Pelita Clarke titled ‘Leading Climate
Scientists in Clash over ‘Silly’ Statement on Report’. The
title alone
spoke for itself.
How petty can those
scientists be to continue colliding
with each other while the entire planet is in peril!
Chris Field, professor of
Environmental Studies at Stanford University, reportedly
commented about Professor Richard Tol of the University
of Sussex in the United Kingdom. Tol is the senior
author of the report’s chapter on climate
change and
economic impacts.
As FT’s Pilita Clark
reported, Prof. Tol asked last week that his name be
removed from the study’s summary, a widely-read section
of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change(IPCC). Tol believed that the report was an
‘alarmist’ and included ‘silly statements’ about the
vulnerability to climate
change of
people in the
war zones.
The chief author of the study
by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change(IPCC) challenged the views of an economist drafting a
key chapter.
How
can an entire climate
change program
be stalled because two of the world’s leading climate
change researchers
busily clash over a report on the impacts of global
warming and rising sea levels?
As of this writing, the
Financial Times reported that Prof. Tol could not be
reached for comment.
This is preposterous since
the planet heats up to levels unattainable for the
people and planet.
Consider the other undeniable
facts of agricultural crop yields such as wheat
and maize being hit and are declining, the reduction and
shortage of water everywhere, the melting glaciers
and strange and climatic events globally, the
shrinkage of up to 2 percent of the global GDP.
The prevailing global
environmental ills obviously put weight on the corporate
wheels. These companies start to overhaul their
management policies to cope. Some giant companies
recently offered higher compensation package to their
employees willing to risk their health and lives once
they agree being based in air-polluted China.
Alongside are some of the
best known US companies taking water supplies into
account in making business decisions.
AT&T, the US
telecommunication giant and Hershey’s, one of the
world’s largest confectionary makers, are among those
taking such steps as California confronts a prolonged
drought and the world supplies of water are stressed.
The latest findings of the
UN-IPCC also takes the dying condition of the oceans
into account.
The
oceans produce over 50% percent of our oxygen and
produce over 80 million tons of food each year. These
underpins energy, medicine, transportation and job
creation.
“The IPCC report confirms the
current rate of ocean acidification is at least 10 times
faster than anything recorded in the past 65m or even
300m years.
Meanwhile, fish catch is
likely to decline at tropical latitudes. The threats continue to
hound us with the risk of severe ill health and
disrupted livelihoods. Disrupted power and water
supplies already occur everywhere.
There is now a reported
higher risk of extinction rate of species and slow
destruction of the food web. Coral reefs, where the food
chain starts, are in gravest danger.
More forests are dying and increased acidification of
the oceans is alarming.
Even as the world witnessed
the Conference of Parties (COP 19) being held by the
UNFCC last September, it was the same time when factual
and devastating events occurred: from Katrina in the
United States to Yolanda in the Philippines.
What are the leaders’
priorities? What is their agenda? Is the UNFCCC doing
its job? I really doubt it.
If they do, and excellently,
then why does our planet continue to
heat up? Why do the seas continue to
rise and why do new diseases arise due to the worsening
environmental condition?
There are already many Arab
springs rising. War over natural
resources is
now arising in Ukraine.
Here in the Pacific, there is
prevailing animosity among neighbouring countries
(including the Philippines) due to the intrusion of
China to our territorial waters and our islands.
We
all witness how China is waging its own “war against
pollution” as the prevailing ‘air-pocalypse’ continues
to destroy cropland and endanger lives.
As it experiences its worst
environmental condition, we can only but surmise what
really compels China to pursue its stubborn intrusion to
our national territory.
Starvation can lead people to
instinctively go to war of resources, for the sake of
survival. This is what we fear most.
Hence, we cannot allow our
efforts to be stalled by a report on arguing experts and
colliding theories.
The world must act to mitigate greenhouse gases (GHG).
It must adapt and restore our forests and mangrove
swamps.
We must all act and not delve
on mere words. Our biodiversity is being lost at
alarming rates. Its gradual destruction will eventually
lead to extinction.
Nature is sending out warning
signs to
all of us, so fast and so soon.
The signs around
us are crystal clear. No debate is necessary. No
argument is needed.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Opinion - Wednesday, April 23, 2014
THE situation in
Tacloban is critical. Our visit there after four months
showed no sign of rehabilitation; more like everything
is in a state oflimbo.
When the sun sets, there is only darkness broken by a
few street lights. There are good
Samaritans helping
the people -- but most of those helping appeared to be
foreigners.
Most of
the people in
Tacloban still live in tents. The plan to rehabilitate
it is not clear.
Tacloban must be re-located
to higher ground inland as more severe super typhoons,
coming from the Pacific Ocean, will continue to
ravage the
island.
Time is of great essence and
government needs to act fast.
The recent UN
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change report
states that the only way to win the war against global
warming and climate change is to mitigate and
keep temperatures below the 2C degrees rise.
Tacloban, like many other
cities impacted by climatic changes, must be ready for
more storm surges.
We need to learn from the
past and be ready.
We need to move or relocate the
city to
safer grounds.
If
it must be, a new Tacloban is in order and will serve as
an example to the world that we can do it.
There is urgent need to
reforest the mountains and plant mangroves to protect the
city against
future storm surges.
Mangroves will help protect
the land.
Natural barriers are a must.
We saw more foreigners
working than government people. Why is that so?
Politics must not get into
the way of
the people.
Remember Yolanda and you
remember Tacloban. This city beckons deeply to those who
care to help sincerely.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Opinion - Wednesday, April 2, 2014
AS
China’s Prime Minister announced that
they would begin to combat the worsening toxic air and
climate change; at the same time, devastation of the
environment continues globally: winter
storms, severe droughts,
unemployment on the rise. Poverty rising faster than the population
growth, Arab springs
occurring here and there, man-made pollution worsening.
The list goes
on.
Panasonic of Japan is the first global company
that is sending its employees to China with a premium in
pay.
The Japanese group unveiled the changes citing the
high level of Pm 2.5. (Particulate matters of 2.5
micrograms or less can enter the blood stream through
the lungs and cause
asthma, cancer and heart
strokes.)
It is tantamount to buying off the health risks
the employees would be dealing with once they will be
based in a country fighting off the worst pollution on
record.
For the employees’ part, it will be an
irresistible offer that leads to an
accept-at-your-own-risk decision.
In short, business goes on. Is this how such
environmental hazards should be confronted?
Should
human beings be made as sacrificial lambs before leaders
start acting on the root causes of pollution?
I am still perplexed as to why world leaders
refuse to change the economic development model.
Why do they continue with the old ways that has
been proven to devastate countries and communities?
Why do they still use coal and oil, the dirtiest forms
of energy, after these were proven to be the culprits
destroying our planet and people?
The Financial
Times recently reported that with the
low demand for iron ore, copper and other building
metals and due to the slowdown of growth in China,
more mining companies (such as Rio Tinto, BPH
Billiton and many others) will lose billions of dollars
after they have destroyed the environment and
biodiversity to mine the ore.
Now, with the slowdown of China’s economy as well
as the pending global economic slowdown, there are no
signs of recovery.
Ever
since, we have forewarned that, in due time, the demand
for metals would slow down.
Did these mining companies heed our forewarnings?
We have argued, time
and again, that once forests
are destroyed they cannot be replaced.
Unfortunately, they even stubbornly went full
blast in their wanton drill-and-extract operations.
Obviously, insatiable greed for profits
overstepped the necessity to respect the cycle of
nature. Mining has a very long gestation period before
the ore and metals are put to use. When they start a
mine, they cut the forests whether open pit or tunnels.
The forests -- also called the “lungs of the planet” --
sequester man-induced carbon dioxide and give us the
much-needed oxygen to sustain life.
A destroyed biodiversity is lost
forever.
Elsewhere, The
Financial Times also
recently reported that El Niño weather warning puts
farmers on high alert.
That puts commodities investors and farmers in a state
of low food yields.
It
also reported that the Wall Street braces for a
25%-fixed-income fall while Europe is one step away from
deflation.
How can the world survive these
challenging times without compromising a healthy
lifestyle boosted by clean water and naturally-organic
meals on the table?
What good is all this so-called
“development and progress” if they have made life more
difficult for us all?
Where is “development” or “progress” when it faces
food shortages, scarcity of water, new diseases and
increased poverty?
Enough of this narrow economics
and politics of destruction!
Time is running out and changes must be made in
the global arena. We cannot afford to wait for the big
players to act.
They won’t! We need to do it on
our own by reforestation and by slowing down emissions.
We need to educate our
population.
We need a big change in our attitude and way of
thinking -- a massive paradigm
shift --
for the well-being of the people and planet.
We must collectively speak
against global polluters and environmental culprits!
Unless we all heed to the warning
signs of
nature, we shall become unsuspecting accomplices to the
destruction of our environment.
The time to change is NOW!
TACLOBAN MUST RISE FROM THE RUBBLE
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Philippine Daily Inquirer, Opinion - Friday, March 28, 2014
TACLOBAN
CITY—I had long planned on visiting Tacloban, the
capital city of Leyte, to enjoy a panoramic view of
nature. I had also long wanted to visit the famous
landing site of the late American general Douglas
MacArthur in the town of Palo. After he was ordered to
leave Bataan for Australia during World War II,
MacArthur promised the Filipino people that he would
return. It was a promise that boosted the Filipinos’
fighting spirit against the Japanese occupiers. Thus,
the landing site has become symbolic of hope and
commitment.
The plan to fly to Leyte was
stalled when Supertyphoon “Yolanda” beat us to the draw
in November last year. It was only last week that our
visit finally pushed through. And my brother Javier and
I witnessed, with heavy hearts, the devastation wrought
by Yolanda’s wrath, and the need for reconstruction and
rehabilitation that remains starkly urgent to this day.
It became clear to us that
the entire city and many other parts of Leyte and its
neighboring islands will never be the same again.
The plane my brother and I
boarded was full. We landed at the former airport, now a
makeshift open terminal. The porters presented a song
number as a welcoming gesture to the arrivals. Perhaps
it was their way of showing gratitude and goodwill for
the help pouring in from all over the world. One could
feel their determination to get their city, and their
shattered lives, back on track.
To
our surprise, all the hotels were fully occupied,
primarily by foreign relief workers. We were lucky to
find a room to share at the 3-story Z-Pad Residence
Hotel about 100 meters from the sea.
But when night descended,
only a few dim streetlights pierced the darkness. The
streets were empty; what was once a bustling city had
been reduced to a seeming ghost town.
We saw in the light of day
that the people who had lost their homes to Yolanda’s
storm surge are still living in tents donated by various
foreign governments. But we also saw how, despite their
makeshift lodgings and unfortunate circumstances, the
people were working to rebuild their dwellings and their
lives. It was inspiring to see them staying on, refusing
to uproot themselves from their city.
We likewise saw a number of
Korean and Japanese nationals at work in construction
activities, using their own equipment. Pieces of wood
from trees felled by Yolanda were still scattered about.
Coco lumber seemed to be the available building material
in the reconstruction of communities.
After Yolanda, the beach is
now considered a “no-build zone.” But despite the signs
prominently posted near the sea and canals, many
continue to violate the order.
I
frankly think that the radius of the “no-build zone”
should be expanded. If a new Tacloban were to rise, it
must be from the interior and not from where it faces
the mighty
Pacific winds. Who knows when
new weather disturbances, perhaps even stronger than
Yolanda, may strike again? In this rehabilitation stage
of Tacloban, foresight is extremely vital to save lives
and property.
But it has been more than
four months since Yolanda struck, yet Tacloban’s wounds
remain fresh.
Let not the deaths of
Yolanda’s countless victims be in vain. We need to help
Tacloban and we must do it fast. The national and local
governments must unite and come up with a master plan
for rebuilding. It did not seem like such a plan is now
in operation.
As one of the initial steps,
the government should consider providing the residents
of the hard-hit areas with tax relief. Why add to the
survivors’ suffering? They must be given incentives to
stay and revive their business enterprises.
It
was ironic that Yolanda struck at the time when the
United Nations Framework on Climate Change Convention
was holding its Conference of Parties (COP 19) in
Warsaw, Poland. It was as if the supertyphoon were timed
to jolt the world into acknowledging the immense impact
of climate change. Beamed worldwide from “ground zero,”
the eyewitness reports of foreign correspondents—the
shocking impact of the storm surge and hurricane-force
winds of the strongest storm on record to make
landfall—served to deliver the alarming message that
it’s later than we think. But the message was sadly lost
on the world’s biggest emitters of greenhouse gases.
Nevertheless, the lessons
learned are the most important. Rehabilitating the
environment of Leyte (and neighboring Samar) is a
necessary collective effort. There is a need to plant
more mangroves and to engage in reforestation for
starters.
We must adapt and prepare. We
must mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and show the rest
of the world that it can be done.
A fighting spirit is what is
needed against a war we all must win: a war against
climate change. Let the rehabilitation of Leyte be a
showcase of how our fighting spirit works.
Tacloban rising from the
rubble will again be the Filipinos’ symbol of hope and
commitment, not only in history books but in reality.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Opinion - Wednesday, March 12, 2014
I
HAD always thought that, as years pass, we would make
this world a better place, Just where did such hopeful
thinking emanate from?
Well, during our younger days, the
mountains were populated by green, pristine forest.
Rivers were crystal clear. Farms were rich in yield and
there was a mega-biodiversity in our country.
We had everything needed for
self-sufficiency. Our natural resources, both marine and
terrestrial, were immense.
Most Filipino households enjoyed
healthier meals and better, happier lifestyle.
Then development started creeping
in. Changes became visible everywhere, as traditional
houses were phased-out to give way to high-rise
buildings.
Mountains and forests started
transforming from being very lush to being bald.
Rivers ounce filled with bounty
turned to silted, polluted waters. Progress and
development were on their way.
However, development began to erode
wellness and happiness. It was killing our biodiversity.
These
days, even China continues to wallow in a poisonous smog
of filth and polluted air, with the air quality recorded
at its worse (breaching *700 plus concentration of
particulates).
The worse record is in the province
of Shijiazhuang. The Chinese people continue to live in
a toxic environment which their leaders stubbornly
describe as “progress and development”.
With the population of China either
aging or very young, they are the victims of a polluted
environment laced with carbon monoxide, sulphur oxide
and other toxic oxides.
As part of their daily needs, their
population continuous to purchase masks and air filters
in an attempt to save themselves from this TOXIC greed
of those behind their “development and progress”.
Comparatively, the progressive
United Kingdom enjoys good and clean air at its record
of 30 while the United States has 34.
The air moves all around the
atmosphere and is not limited to the root source. It has
no boundaries.
It spreads and pollutes the
neighbouring countries and the global atmosphere. What
makes it worse is how it contributes a lot to global
warming and climate change.
Is
this what they call wellness of LIFE? I don’t think so.
We believe that China, along with the rest of the world,
must veer away from the old economic model.
We need to change our economic
model after it was proven to be the root cause of
pollution, global economic crisis, poverty, corruption
and biodiversity loss.
As of this writing, a powerful
winter storm, including flash floods in California, is
expected to affect the lives of over 100 million people
in the United States.
How many more winter storms do we
need? How many more deaths and devastation must we
await?
Many Arab springs that have taken
place will not stop.
Rather, these will escalate as in
the case of Ukraine. Expect Thailand to follow, Many
more countries will follow suit, all being under extreme
pressure to survive.
The development model has failed us
and the longer we cling to it the worse off we will
become.
As I write this, more winter storms
continue to hammer and ravage the United States.
Meanwhile,
Australia is losing its beef stock due to drought and
extreme heat.
Our food chain is affected and our
agriculture will continue to yield lower than expected.
Ocean acidification continues to
destroy the last bastion of our environment: our marine
ecosystem.
Once gone the entire equation
changes.
I fear that we will have a very HOT
and vicious summer, when our water resources will run
dry. We expect summer with unbearable heat, a summer
when our fields will practically burn and a summer that
would turn any vegetation into a vast, desert like
expanse.
I fear many climatic events as well
as war for natural resources in the horizon.
Fear. That’s the price we all have
to take. All in the name of “progress and development”.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Opinion - Wednesday, February 26, 2014
AS
I write this, Lon-don and the United Kingdom are under
water and experiencing the worst floods on record.
The UK began to
defend its shores from rising seas due to man-induced
climate change by building flood gates on the Thames to
stop the flooding of London when the sea water rises. If
my memory serves me right, those flood gates, ever
since, have been used more than they are expected to.
Yet, there is nothing that can be
done to stop the heavy rainfall and storms that
continuously batter the UK.
On the other side of the Atlantic,
the eastern seaboard of the United States continues to
be devastated by snow storms and below freezing
temperature.
Meanwhile, we had our recent trip
up north to Baguio City (which name was derived from an
Ibaloi term ‘bagiw’, meaning ‘moss’).
Known as the ‘City of Pines’ and
the country’s ‘Summer Capital’, Baguio nowadays defies
one’s high expectations of coolest climate, panoramic
view of lush forests and the irresistible smell of pine
trees.
Along the way, one can see many
century old trees that are being cut despite the clamor
of many NGOs against cutting almost 1,800 or more trees
that have lined the main highway for decades. Their
protests were in vain.
Does this unreasonable cutting of
valuable trees explain the extreme dryness these days of
the erstwhile green landscape of Baguio?
Today,
it is reminiscent of the 1930s ‘Dust Bow’l that occurred
in the United States, all in the name of progress.
Is it really all in the name of
development and progress?
Then it’s time for a paradigm shift
among the leaders behind it. I wonder that our
government agencies and leaders are expecting from this
disastrous so-called ‘development’.
They are violating the TOTAL
LOGGING BAN! Add to that THE LAW PROTECTING OUR NATURAL
RESOURCES. We know who the loggers are and yet the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
has not taken any action against them. If DENR is
incapacitated, why can’t if call on the law enforcers?
Trees and forests sequester
man-induced carbon dioxide which has
reached over 400ppm from last count and still rising?
What more proof do they need that
man-induced climate change will continue its devastation
for as long the abused of our environment prevails?
What makes these leaders so
irresolute and passive about climate change and global
warming?
Don’t they know that we are running
out of water, this being the source of all LIFE?
The planet cannot sustain this old
development model. IT MUST CHANGE AND BE CHANGED FAST
AND SOON.
Look at how they deal with the
melting Polar ice in the Arctic. Instead of ruling with
an iron hand against global polluters, these leaders
decided a myopic band-aid solution: they are making a
business out of it! In the end, we will all suffer.
We need and we must to do it
ourselves: To reforest and rehabilitate, to go into
renewable energy and to redirect to organic agriculture.
To
survive this calamitous times, we must all be
responsible enough to conserve, preserve, rehabilitate
and protect our own environmental resources.
We must remember what Eleanor
Ostrom, author of ‘Governing the Commons and Noble Peace
Price Laureate on Economic,’ who declared: “We must
reclaim back the commons.” This she said in a conference
held in Whakatane, New Zealand.
I agree with her. It is time to
step on the brakes on the destructive economic model. It
is time to go renewable, reuse and follow the circular
economy.
Stop the carnage and de-progress.
Remember super typhoon Yolanda? Nobody would want more
of her kind.
DEPROGRESS AND SAVE OUR PEOPLE AND
PLANET.
Other than this, there is no other
way to survive.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Philippine Daily Inquirer, Opinion - Tuesday, February 4, 2014
THAT’S
THE title of a movie that seemed particularly
appropriate for the recent deep freeze in the United
States due to the “polar vortex”, a giant swirling of
cold air in the atmosphere.
Rare as it is, the polar vortex is
an occurrence normally confined in the Arctic. But with
the rapid melting of the polar sea ice, the Arctic is
heating up quicker than the rest of the world.
And because of the acceleration of
the Arctic heat-up, the polar vortex unexpectedly moved
further to the south of United States, thus causing a
deep in the Midwest, the Eastern seaboard, indeed the
rest of America.
The extreme temperature dropped to
the minus 20s and minus 30s in the Midwest, “enough for
boiling water thrown from a pot to turn into snow,” as
Wisconsin-based meteorologist Eric Holthaus demonstrated
in a video.
On the other side of the world, in
Australia, it was reported that over 100,000 bats fell
from the sky because of the extreme heat.
Global
warming is now indirectly causing occurrences such as
the unusual polar vortex that gripped the United States
and gave it an Ice Age experience.
(Looking back, while the United
Nations’ Framework Convention on Climate Change was
holding its Conference of Parties, or COP 19, in
November 2013, the world was witness to the devastation
wrought by Supertyphoon “Yolanda/Haiyan” on Tacloban
City and other parts of Central Philippines. It will
take years before these unfortunate areas fully
recover.)
Photographs and footage of the
winter freeze in the United States were eerily similar
to scenes we saw in the movie “The day after tomorrow.”
Reports of people dying in the brutal cold were
literally chilling.
All these must change or we will
not see the last of the polar vortex. Such phenomena can
change the old business model that is destroying our
planet. This business model based on greed and gold is a
model of extraction, logging and deforestation.
If
the UNFCCC will not find a negotiated agreement of
mitigation and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions,
then others will do on their own. Germany, for example,
has expanded its renewable energy base a thousand fold.
In the Philippines, we may have
been battered but our resilience is holding. We will
overcome. We will continue planting mangroves and
reforesting our country.
We will abate and mitigate. We will
protect our oceans and forests because these sustain
life and absorb 50 percent of atmospheric carbon
dioxide.
We will heed the recent intense
warming signs of nature, such as Yolanda and the polar
vortex.
I repeat myself:
We all must do our role in the fight against climate
change. Otherwise, we will all perish.
2 challenges: Unpredictable weather, greed
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Opinion - Wednesday, January 29, 2014
THIS
January is experiencing an unusual weather pattern
considering it is a month when typhoons and floods are
rare. But times are indeed changing and the climate is
becoming more and more odd and unpredictable.
As of this writing, thousands are
displaced by heavy rains and floods sweeping Visayas and
Mindanao. Sadly, lives are again lost.
As the first full moon of the year
rises this week, we expect the highest and the lowest of
tides making the situation even worse.
What is supposed to be a pleasant
month for Filipinos and tourists has changed bitterly
for all. Our tourist industry, one of the pillars of our
economy , has been derailed as many visitors opted to
cancel due to weather impediments.
From Bohol to Boracay, from Cebu to
Samar, all the way to Palawan and the Visayas, islands
of beauty normally filled with tourists are badly
affected.
Worse still is the fact that our
agriculture has been affected. The yields will go down
and poverty will increase.
Elsewhere, it is extremely
opposite. Australia has bush fires and heat waves
reaching record levels.
Meanwhile, ‘polar vortex’, a newly
–coined term with its strong, upper-level chilling winds
are freezing more than 20 states from the Eastern
seaboard to the Midwest to the Northeast in the United
States.
It
has disrupted business, closed schools and caused flight
cancelation. It will be a bitter winter for the Northern
countries.
There seems to be no escape from
the climate change. Man-induced disasters are
increasing.
We cannot predict the weather, much
less be accurate anymore.
Nature surprises us with sudden
phenomena, such as Yolanda and the polar vortex, that
even environmental experts are caught off-guard with.
These unexpected phenomena are happening so fast, so
soon!
Is it not high time to think: What
cause such unpredictable weather patterns?
Could it be man-induced pollution
leading to global warming or climate change? What is our
role in these monstrous changes now causing unusual
global weather patterns?
More and more media outlets are
highlighting weather news and strange weather patterns.
Given what is occurring globally,
our lifestyles and ways of living have been affected.
Believe me: there will be more Arab
springs; more countries will not share their crops and
food with us. I foresee a battle for natural resources,
to each its own survival.
It
is time to make a change. We must mitigate and abate
greenhouse gas emissions and win the battle for climate
change or else we will see stronger and more devastating
calamities.
It is time that we embrace a new
business strategy, that is, of self-sufficiency. A
strategy that we have always advocated. We cannot rely
on Thailand for rice, for one. We must rely on our own
produce.
However, we must not allow greed
and profiteering to corrupt the much-needed self-reliant
system our country has to establish.
We now live in the most challenging
times. We must strive to survive.
THE TIME FOR GREED AND MATERIAL
PROFIT MUST STOP!
THE GOOD AND HEALTH OF OUR PEOPLE
AND PLANET ARE PARAMOUNT.
We must act now! To do later will
be too late for all of us.
More Ferocious
Super-Typhoons?
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Opinion - Wednesday, January 22, 2014
To
this day, Tacloban City and its environment still reel
with the residual effects of super-typhoon Yolanda.
People need to
recover yet and infrastructures need to be rebuilt ---
all these will take time, money and other resources.
Classified as a
‘Category 5’ storm (with winds exceeding 251 km/h –
never before recorded here – this super-typhoon was
named by the World Meteorological Organization as
‘Haiyan’, a Chinese term for a seabird called ‘petrel’.
It became a
wonder for meteorologists as to how and why a
super-typhoon of this strength would arise in November,
when the typhoon season was normally expected to have
ended.
Somehow spared
was Bohol which suffered the devastation of a 7.2
magnitude earthquake.
Looking ahead, a
new moon is expected next and we know that the new moon
or full moon would bring the highest of tides.
So, we expect a
doubly disastrous calamity. We raise our hopes to the
highest that the worst is not to happen again and all
would go back to normal, God-willing.
Not even the
climate experts can explain why super-typhoon Yolanda
came to be.
Personally,
I believe that the culprit is man-induced climate change
which can trigger a super-typhoon like Yolanda or worse.
That, I am sure
of.
I don't
understand why the experts are perplexed by the fury and
power of this super-typhoon. A typhoon from the sea
draws its strength from the heat of the oceans. The
hydrological process and the weather patterns, the
northeast and the southeast winds -- these are among the
things we learned in school.
Staunch
environmentalist Al Gore has warned again of the impacts
of climate change on the ecology and the global economy.
Gore hopes that the greed in business will be addressed
and that the leaders would care to listen. Obviously,
they do not.
The United
Nations’ Conference of Parties (COP) 19 convened for the
19th time in Paris this Monday, to attend to the
much-waited agreements on green house gas (GHG)
reductions and finally engage in the battle against
climate change.
Until recently,
the Visayan islands had no electricity and had limited
water supply. After the culprits logged her bald, Panay
is now depressed, losing its resources that it once had
in abundance.
I do not
understand why despite a total logging ban in our
country, loggers continue to destroy our forests.
We are an island
archipelago and are dependent on each other.
In
the midst of the national state of calamity a friend
based in Antique sought our assistance after Yolanda
destroyed their family’s house and properties. Several
similar calls for help came our way and these were all
responded to.
But where were
the leaders when we needed them most? We have been in
the DARK, literally!
WE MUST ACT NOW
on our own with THOSE who share our passion, aiming for
solutions to preserve our civilization and to conserve
our planet. We must fight global warming and tackle
climate change issues in all aspects before we succumb
to the impacts these issues bring with them.
Otherwise, the
fury of Yolanda will only be a pale warning for more
ferocious, killer super-typhoons to come.
Our
battle cry: Remember ‘Yolanda’
EASTERN
VISAYAS is still reeling from the devastation wrought by
Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (aka “Haiyan”), the strongest on
record.
Yolanda destroyed one-third of our
country’s rice production, among other things, and has
affected the lives of hundreds of thousands of
Filipinos, many of whose houses and properties were
washed away. The death toll has breached the 6,000 mark.
Rehabilitation and reconstruction
of the ravaged region will take years.
Yolanda made global news at the
same time that the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change was holding its climate change
conference in Warsaw.
As expected, the Conference of
Parties (COP) 19 was disappointing, with the 195
member-countries painfully agreeing to make a
“contribution,” instead of a robust “commitment,” to
combating climate change. The aim is still to reach a
stronger agreement in Paris in 2015. Imagine what else
can happen in the two-year waiting period!
“What makes this depressing is that
the world could probably eliminate the risk of
catastrophic outcomes at limited cost, provided it had
acted quickly, effectively and in concert,” rued Martin
Wolf of The Financial Times.
In his article, “The Climate
Casino,” Prof. William Nordhaus of Yale University Press
cited about a dozen climate economist arguing that the
cost of limiting the increase of global temperature to 2
degrees Centigrade would be just 1.5 percent of global
output, provided the right actions were taken.
Skeptics argue with uncertainty, as
if the right thing to do is to do nothing.
Meanwhile, Wolf said, “A
particularly important aspect of that uncertainty is the
tipping point. We know that earth’s climate has change
sharply in the past. It is possible that some
insufficiently understood process could tip the world
into another and perhaps irreversible state. The
collapse of large ice sheets is such a possibility;
another is large changes in ocean circulation.”
The
greenhouse effect is basic science. Emissions have risen
rapidly. Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide
are now more than 400 ppm (parts per million), which is
50 percent higher than before the Industrial Revolution.
The message delivered by Yolanda
should have knocked some sense into the COP 19 members.
The message was to reduce greenhouse gases, or face more
devastating storms.
If a Yolanda-like storm hit Warsaw
or New York, it would have sent a stronger message: Act
NOW. Why wait for COP 21 in Paris in 2015? It makes no
sense. We do not have the luxury of time.
How many more people need to die?
How many more countries need to be victimized by climate
catastrophes?
The Arctic ice is melting fast. The
oceans are changing, in fact slowly dying, due to
acidification. Should this imbalance continue, our
ecosystems will lose their ability to replenish and
sustain the earth.
We must act now in our own ways and
mitigate emissions, protect our carbon sinks and go on
renewable energy. We need more mangroves, swamps and
coastal forest.
Can’t we follow Germany’s lead by
going fully renewable before 2050?
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Opinion - Wednesday, November 20, 2013
THE
future of our planet is a mystery to me. How hot it will
get? How high our seas will rise? How many more people
will die? How many island states will submerge? How will
the melting polar arctic ice affect our oceans? How can
our planet’s end happen so fast?
Australia – particularly its
capital city Sydney – was still blanketed by
highly-polluted smoky haze due to a recent massive
bushfire.
Here, the strongest storm ravaged
the Visayas islands. The rest of Asia continues to be
victims of typhoons and flash floods and landslides.
When will our world leaders begin
to seriously address the real problem of climate change?
For the 18th time since the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate are Change (UNFCCC) was
founded to mitigate climate change, nothing has happen
so far. Its leaders are convening this November in the
COP18 Conference of Parties. We remain
hopeful for their action more than their words.
Apparently, every conference they
hold only results in disappointment. How can they be so
narrow minded? The United Nations is supposed to protect
the people and countries, NOT destroy the planet.
How many more conference do we need
to finally have an agreement to reduce greenhouse gases
(GHG) and man-induced carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
With many calamities that continue
to ravage the earth, one would think that the solutions
to climate change would be reached and implemented to
normalize carbon dioxide back to its life-sustaining 350
ppm level.
On the contrary, it seems that
pollutions and wanton destruction of our forest and
oceans continue to fast track instead of regressing.
Frankly,
the global economic slowdown has reduced the destruction
of our environment in many ways. Should the planet be
saved by the global economic crisis, then well and good.
Our fall back scenario will be a healthier
lifestyle change that would lengthen the planet’s life.
In a drastic economic demand, the
planet may survive but our civilization may not due to
greed. The culprits are destroying our forests by
converting these to a dry expanse where they plant palm
oil which they call a ‘forest’. Palm oil is invasive and
its NOT a forest. It is a ‘plantation’ that has no
ecological value at all.
The oil plantations have grown in
existence from Malaysia down to our very own Mindanao
and Palawan.
Our forests have been felled so
that our government can plant palm oil for “economic
benefits”? What benefits are they exactly talking about?
A virgin forest is worth more than
any plantation. They give us the oxygen we need.
Countless living species in a virgin forest contribute
to the balance of our ecosystem.
How many of them know about the
important of a harmonious relationship between a forest
conditions and the ocean’s health? This interconnection
affecting all of us in the end does not rely on
geographical basis alone.
Look at how China breathes in a
dark and polluted atmosphere. Narrow economics and
politics of destruction seem to rule. The present
economic development model has done all the damage.
Sadly, there seems to be no effort to change this
destructive model.
Are
we not all to be blamed for inducing, whether directly
or indirectly, the prevailing climate change?
Countless lives are lost, countless
more are suffering.
Do we need another earthquake and
super typhoon to wake us up? However, despite these all,
most of the leaders do not walk their talk. Instead,
they talk incessantly yet walk away from the real
environmental issues.
That is the very reason why genuine
environmentalists oppose, often at their lives’ risk,
any business agenda disguised as progress but actually
thwarting this scientific fact unknown to many.
Ocean acidification is killing our
coral reefs and our marine species. In fact, our oceans
are dying as pollution and man-induced climate change
take its toll. Fish catch continues to decline.
Food supplies will be scarce,
poverty will increase and more Arab springs will arise.
The looming war will be about survival.
Let us wake up to these facts and
take action with urgency. If not, we face a world of
more severe weather calamities, floods, droughts and
food shortage.
FLOODS, LANDSLIDES AND EARTHQUAKES
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Opinion - Wednesday, November 13, 2013
FINALLY,
the most powerful nation on earth – the United States –
has experienced once again a shutdown. No benefits for
their citizens, no parks to visit,
etc. during the shutdown.
The Statue of Liberty, their symbol
for freedom, democracy and the new world, shut down too.
The American dream, the Land of the Free and the Home of
the Brave closed.
What has Liberty aside from being
the biggest polluter next to China, done to deserve
this?
There is no doubt that they will
print more money and see an increase in their
debt-making inflation and weakening of the purchasing
power of the US dollar – and for what purpose?
More than 60 years after the
Industrial Revolution, the planet’s present development
model has destroyed our ecology and the global economy.
Gone are the days of a balanced
ecology. The story goes on and on. As I write this, a
series of powerful typhoons are upon us.
Up in Baguio City earlier, the
typhoon was at signal number 3 and the winds
were more powerful than ever.
Lives were lost and the damage done was at its worst.
As
if sending a stronger wake-up call to all of us was the
great 7.2 magnitude earthquake that recently hit Bohol
and Cebu and claimed hundreds of lives.
Zamboanga City, still reeling from
more than 21 days of war and unrest, has suffered flood
waters. Olongapo City was not spared from the same
deluge.
When it rains these days, the
entire city, or even metropolis such as Metro Manila,
becomes overwhelmed with floods.
Just like Mexico and other parts of
the world. Asia gets flooded by monsoon rains and
typhoons coming in like a swarm of bees.
Blame it not on the rains but on
climate change which increases the volume of rainfall.
Blame in on the depletion of our forests. Unable to
retain water.
Blame it on the wanton destruction
of our forests and the marine environment. Blame in on
greed.
Blame in on us and those who
continue to pollute?
The present development model has
not taken this into consideration. The drains are over
50 years old; in some cases development has followed a
model that has failed and must be changed. This must be
addressed.
There
are many effective development models to consider, one
of which is the “circular model.”
Shifting to renewable energy and
implementing plane recycling can put a stop to logging
and extraction.
We ask ourselves: Why are all these
climatic calamities happening more often, more
unpredictably and more severe?
The United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations a are
coming up. There should be a reduction and mitigation
plan to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide. The carbon
dioxide content in the atmosphere is now
life-threatening at over 400 ppm.
A recent issue of the Financial
Times reported about the extreme air
pollution in China affecting millions. We are running
out of time as the planet continues to heat up and the
sea-level rises.
New rivers are being formed as the
old ones dry up. There have been
record floods and typhoons and there will be many more.
The planet is in peril and many don’t
even know it unless they are impacted.
What have we done all these years?
Nothing but destroy our environment.
This
must be changed. We must act and educate. We must get
everyone involved in saving the planet.
Environmental awareness must be
heightened to make everyone realize the urgency.
We must act NOW or we will continue
to be underwater. We must not allow ourselves to
eventually cease as a civilization.
When will we make up to the fact
that our planet is in peril and our entire way of life
has changed?
Do we need a magnitude 7.2
earthquake that ravaged Bohol and more than two
thousands aftershocks to wake up?
The time to act is NOW and not wait
for more calamities to unfold.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Opinion - Wednesday, October 23, 2013
MANILA
has recently turned into darkness as torrential rains
flooded the entire metropolis and its outlying
provinces. Heavy downpour lasted for more than 72 hours
which caused unusual floods and overflowing of some
dams.
As it struck, Typhoon Maring
remained stationary north of Batanes, sucking all the
southwest monsoon, thus filling the dams and flooding
Metro Manila.
On its second day, classes and
government offices, as well as the stock market, were
suspended. Our streets turned into rivers. Both relief
and rescue were slowed down, thus resulting in losses of
both lives and properties.
Over 700,000 people were affected.
We all know that much more had been impacted in a
mega-city of about 12 million people.
Normally, we are used to this kind
of weather considering we are now in the rainy season.
But recent typhoons and their consequences continue to
worsen.
We used to live in harmony with
nature. We even used rainwater for everything from
drinking to irrigation and to all household needs.
The hydrological process was normal
until it has been multiplied in strength by a thousand
fold due to global warming and climate.
The
waters from above usually store themselves in the forest
roots and watersheds. However, today they come down in
the form of flash floods, destroying everything along
their way.
This is the price we all have to
pay for the ruined forest around us.
The government and the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is
aware who the illegal loggers are and had imposed a
total logging ban. ALL DENR needs to do is enforce the
ban to its fullest extent, since the illegal loggers
remain unafraid.
Manila is a dying city in terms of
environmental assets. Yet, the government continue to
push for its own definition of ‘progress’ regardless of
the adverse environmental impact.
What agenda does the government
really have in developing the metropolis without
consideration to its natural environment? They cannot
even expedite the flood control project they started a
decade ago!
To
whose benefit will their agenda serve in the long run?
If that ‘progress’ will eventually cost loss of lives
and properties, as what is happening now, then the
agenda never serves its purpose from the very onset.
Raising the water rates frequently
does not benefit the, consumers. Don’t they know that we
barely have water to give our people to drink?
Then they claim that ‘there is a
need for a new source of water, thus a need to dam
another river?’ DENR recently admitted that we have 148
critical river systems and only 16 river basins left. Do
they really want to argue with nature?
What nonsense!
We are supposed to be rich in
water. It is everywhere and yet our people have to
forcibly pay for this God-given resources.
It freely comes from above into our
watersheds and rivers down to the groundwater. It is a
common knowledge. However, our water resources are
mismanaged, abused, neglected and carelessly wasted.
In the global scene, if richer
countries can splurge on their funds to spy on everyone
in the planet using their high-tech equipment and
facilities, surely they can use the same funds and
expertise to stop the massive logging, help slow down
emissions of greenhouse gases everywhere and legally
pursue all global polluters.
What
are they doing to our people and planet? Poverty is on
the rise. The food chain is contaminated.
Our so-called ‘economic growth’ is
actually joining the rest of the world in faltering.
Why must our country be pegged to
the US dollar, thus making us slaves to the Federal
Reserve?
We are a rich country and we have
all the resources to survive. We can be self-sufficient
and can combat climate change right in our own backyard.
We must act now with resolve as we
face more disasters, unleashed by nature and by greed.
We must not allow the lid of
darkness to lead us blindly to oblivion.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP)
Dedicated
environmentalists conducted recently their own State of
the Nature Address (SONA) to assess the state of our
environment.
The SONA was
hosted by Green Convergence, a coalition of NGOs, Civil
Society Groups, and people who care for the environment
and Mother Earth. It was held at ESI grounds in MIRIAM
College in Quezon City.
This year’s
topic focused on WATER -- A God-given human right, with
focus on our having so much water and yet we are
suffering from a water shortage, at least in
Metro-Manila where the privatized water companies want
to raise the rates.
Director
Ricardo Calderon, Director of the Forest Management
Bureau of the DENR, reported that we have:
·
421 River Basins spread over 26.96
Million hectares;
·
18 major river systems over 11
million hectares; and.
Director
Calderon adverted to the government’s efforts to
reforest and protect our watersheds. Director Calderon
said that in a two-year period, over 300,000 hectares
were reforested and that despite the presence of laws
and the logging ban that is in effect, there seems to be
no stopping the logging culprits and destroyers of our
environment.
Jay Bee
Gargenera of Alyansa Tigil Mina informed the forum that
mining companies continue to use millions of liters of
water a day in order to keep the mines going. He said
that the Tampacan mining project, the largest in
Southeast Asia, looms as the biggest open pit mine and
will likely affect the island of Mindanao.
It was
reported in the SONA that Protected Areas have not only
been invaded but have been re-defined to identify the
lines to be developed.
May
I ask: What is wrong with our leaders both in the
government and the private sector? Don't they know that
the planet is in peril? -- that we are in an age of PEAK
water usage? Don't they know that water is LIFE and
without it we are at risk?
We do not
have to be. We have so much water everywhere. Our world
is so rich yet, as of today, over 2 Billion people have
no access to potable water and sanitation.
Poverty is on
the rise, and ahead, I foresee a war over water.
Let’s state
the obvious: water is a finite resource and we have only
2.5% percent of the world’s surface providing fresh
water. Only one (1) percent is used, as the rest are
frozen.
Yes,
we are so blessed with water but we MUST not allow
ourselves to be deprived of this God-given resource.
We must take
care of Mother Nature and our only planet, or suffer the
fate of losing our civilization as we know it.
THE BATTLE FOR NATURAL RESOURCES
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight, Opinion - Wednesday, September 4, 2013
As I write this, the heat wave and
drought in Northeast Asian countries has reached record
levels. The severe heat wave in Japan, South Korea and
some parts of China (including Shanghai) has destroyed
agriculture produce. It has caused the rise of sickness
and new diseases.
In our country, we have just seen
the effects of the recent typhoons that have wrought
havoc in the North Western areas of Luzon.
The extreme heat in the Middle East
and in North Africa has already caused lifestyle change.
People can no longer live their normal lives since they
are forced to adapt to new conditions. This will get
worse as years pass.
Water, a finite resource, has
become globally scarce. With over two billion people now
living below the poverty line, water rationing is now a
concern.
What about the Millennium
Development Goals (MDG) of the United Nations? These
goals were agreed upon by about 193 UN member countries
with 23 international organizations during the world
Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002.
To-date, these goals which include
``radicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving
universal primary education and ensuring environmental
sustainability,” have not been met.
All we heard from their end were their own optimism, based on their own surveys about ``improved water sources”.
They defined improved water sources
as household connections, public standpipes, boreholes,
protected wells, protected springs and collected
rainwater. The UN foresees improvements in access to
water by people by next year, 2014.
It now seems that it will remain as
an unachievable forecast.
There is therefore an urgent need
to scale-up sanitation approaches for the grassroots.
But what are the leaders doing?
These leaders go to the extent of re-defining protected
areas to accommodate the interest of those behind the
scourging of our natural resources!
The effects of global warming and
climate change spare no one. Europe and the United
States have not been spared.
In the United States the drought
last year was reportedly worse than the decade-long
`Great Dust Bowl’ in the 1930s that took its toll on
agriculture.
I do not understand why these
leaders won’t just do everything that must be done to
reduce greenhouse gasses. (GHG) and restore carbon
dioxide to 350ppm needed to sustain life.
That is not very hard to do.
Leaders must stop chanting their mantra of ``sustainable
development model” and just step on the brakes!
This so-called ``development model”
has always been doomed as futile from the outset. Why do
they call this ``development”? They should call it
``destruction” because that’s exactly what it is!
The old development model is still
being applied despite the calamities and the global
economic melt- down.
The people of China are now
breathing toxic fumes as their air pollution has reached
deadly levels and yet they go on with the same economic
development model that has failed to make life better.
As the ice continues to melt
everywhere, the news that China will be plying the
shipping route across the Arctic sea is very disturbing.
China’s intrusion into our waters
and those of other Asian countries is a sign that the
battle for natural resources has began and will continue
to escalate.
This intrusion to our territorial
waters has prompted our government and those of Japan
and Korea to escalate military strongholds.
We have been seeing the
manifestations of droughts, floods, typhoons and strange
weather patterns globally. How much more pressure can
the planet take?
The loss of biodiversity has
increased to a much rapid rate. In due time, our planet
will not be able to sustain life. Our forests, rivers,
oceans and the whole biodiversity will be destroyed.
The expansion of the deserts is another indicator that climate change must be stopped.
We have said this time and time
again. There are many Arab springs to rise, there are
many countries to suffer extreme austerity measures. All
our ecosystem will suffer.
Smaller countries and indigenous
peoples will be helpless if not defenceless against both
nature’s wrath and man-made destruction.
Consider what it happening now to
the island nation of Kiribati located at the central
tropical Pacific Ocean.
Itself a UN member, Kiribati has a
population of about 100,000 inhabitants. But the
continuing rise in the sea level caused by climate
change is now forcing their government to its last
recourse: moving the entire populace to nearby Fiji
island.
Are we waiting for this scenario to
happen to our own country? God forbid!
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Philippine Daily Inquirer, Opinion - Wednesday, August 21, 2013
WITH
THE heavy rains there’s water everywhere, and yet we’re
running out of potable water!
Flooding is a perennial problem in
Metro Manila and many other parts of the country. It
poses a challenge to our government, which reportedly
needs two decades or more to complete a flood-control
master plan.
If one travels to Baguio City, as
we recently did, one will see many landsline areas and
mountain gone bald because of deforestation—clear signs
of more flash floods in the years to come.
Now they want to cement the
riverbanks, as if that will solve the
following problem. What we need to do is to dredge our
silted waterways, protect what’s left or our forests,
and then go on a massive reforestation program.
Europe was recently underwater,
caused by heavy downpours that led to the swelling of
the Elba and Danube rivers and the
breaching of their levees. The floods in India, Canada
and elsewhere are likewise appalling.
So much water wasted and many are
still desperate for water to drink. Already, more than 2
billion people in the world—both in the rural and urban
areas—struggle to find access to water for their very
survival.
“Each
and every day some 3,900 children die due to dirty water
or poor hygiene,” says the World Health Organization.
“Water scarcity, poor water quality, and inadequate
sanitation negatively impact food security, livelihood
choices, and educational opportunities for poor families
across the world.”
Over 70 percent of our planet is
made up of water but only 2.5 percent of that is fresh
water, most of which comes from the polar ice caps. But
the ice caps are melting so fast and the waters flowing
into the ocean due to global warming. The rest of the
water is used for agricultural, residential and
industrial purposes.
The rains are
supposed to replenish the watersheds. But not enough
rainwater is stored because there are hardly any forests
left to contain it.
The imbalance in
our ecosystem is showing but it is being ignored. The
culprits continue damming our rivers and decimating our
forests. They are defying Nature’s warnings. And worse,
world leaders have done nothing concrete to mitigate
climate change, which continues to wreak havoc on the
planet and melt the remaining ice caps.
Water,
the source of all life, is running out. Our rivers and
lakes are running dry.
Says author and
environmental analyst Lester Brown: “The world is seeing
the collision between population growth and water supply
at the regional level. For the first time in history,
grain production is dropping in a geographic region with
nothing in sight to arrest the decline.
Because of the
failure of governments in the region to mesh population
and water policies, each day now brings 10,000 more
people to feed and less irrigation water with which to
feed them.
“In India, 175
million people are being fed with grain produced by over
pumping, in China 130 million. In the United States, the
irrigated area is shrinking in leading farm states with
rapid population growth, such as California and Texas,
as aquifers are depleted and irrigation water is
diverted to cities.”
Brown adds:
“Eighteen countries are showing signs of severe water
shortages, and China, India and the United States are
included.”
And
yet, here in our country, some even want to dam the
Laiban River?
I remember the
days when we drank clean water from the well and the
household water from our faucets was taken from a nearby
unpolluted river. We enjoyed water in its pristine form.
These days,
bottled water is a profitable business despite water
being a God-given resource.
We have reached
the age of peak oil, peak food, and peak water. There
will be more Arab Springs and a war for resources,
primarily for water, because it is essential to
survival.
The deserts
continue to expand. Look how the Sahara, Gobi and
Kalahari deserts continue to gain ground. We are losing
the battle against the phenomenon called
desertification.
At the rate
water is being wasted everywhere and becoming more
polluted, the war for water may begin sooner than we
expect. We must take action against all threats to our
water resources.
It’s not a
matter of choice. It’s our responsibility.
HEAT WAVE, ARCTIC MELT & CLIMATE CHANGE
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight - Wednesday, August 14, 2013
THE
global heat wave seems to be increasing and rising
higher than expected.
In some areas in
Africa and the Middle East, temperatures have reached as
high as 50 degrees Centigrade, causing massive damage in
some areas. The heat has led to abrupt occurrences of
strange weather patterns, causing unusual thunderstorms
and rains elsewhere.
Austerity
measures they had been imposing everywhere proved
useless and are just making the poor even poorer.
These measures
created global poverty groups pocketed in different
categories but still within the premises of poverty.
Thus, the
problem remains unsolved.
In effect, the
multitude, specifically to poor, have to change their
entire daily routine and schedule, such as going to
school and work early in the morning and back home
before the heat bears down upon them. The heat will not
only affect the health of the people, particularly the
young and the elderly.
It will
devastate crops and turn fertile farms into deserts.
Rivers will begin to dry up and the agricultural produce
will shrink as yields will decline, forcing many farmers
not to plant but rather divert to other means of
livelihood.
The
whole ecosystem will be imbalanced affecting species,
including man, leading to extinction even of our
civilization. This is why the issue of global heat must
be taken seriously by everyone.
What will happen
when peak water and food will be reached? What will we
expect to happen when water and food would be scarce?
Countries will hold on to their own supply of food and
water. The global issues will escalate into power
struggles and fights for survival.
Moreover melting
ice in the Arctic has made shipping lanes narrower, the
very reason why they can now ply the route from Rotterdam
to Kobe, Japan or the Busan, South Korea as they aim to
save at least 10 hours and many nautical miles for
business purposes.
Should the
leaders not mitigate and reduce greenhouse gasses and
win the war against global warming and climate change,
the battle for resources will escalate to a point when
the only solution would be war and military action.
Already we are
seeing that tug-of-war manifesting in many Asian
islands, with China against Japan or Taiwan. Even our
very own Scarborough Shoal is not spared from being
grabbed from our territorial grasp.
This
is our land and we will defend it with our lives.
Expectedly, every country will defend its own to survive
this deluge.
Let us not wait
for this kind of war to intensify. All we need to do is
reduce emissions and restore carbon dioxide back to the
350ppm-level.
For our part,
one way to mitigate climate change is by helping fast
track the needed mangrove reforestation as well as by
continuously fostering the spirit of volunteerism while
educating the masses about what threatens our ecosystem
these days.
So many in the
grass roots level here are still unaware of the threats
to our environment. It goes to prove there is a need for
massive campaign for educating them.
We also need to
help network with environmental experts and encourage
the media to help disseminate the activities so that
others would be empowered to get involved in this battle
against climate change.
The recent news
that China and the United States would bilaterally
reduce florochloro carbons is welcome.
However, I am
more concerned with the ecological time bomb ticking
even faster while leaders do nothing but assure us with
their theoretical solutions based on uncertain studies
and so called expert advice.
We
must go organic and re-direct into renewable energy. Our
government must spearhead the campaign to help
environmental NGO’s and individuals who put their own
lives at risk in the frontline.
Only through
such unwavering commitment can we win the battle to
protect our biodiversity. Leaders who do not walk their
talk must be compelled to change their approach to the
pressing global problems about our planet’s declining
health.
Their words, no
matter how intense and promising, remain like feathers
in the wind.
In this kind of
war for the preservation of our natural resources, what
we need is only one word.
And that word is
Action!
YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight - Wednesday, July 24, 2013
“YOU
are what you eat”. This is an adage that has been
proven true.
What you put
into your body will affect you specifically in
physiological and psychological terms.
In the
United States, the consumers are beginning to insist
on their right to safe food, the choice of what to
eat and the labeling of all ingredients in their
food.
It is in
U.S. where obesity and “Genetically Modified
Organisms (GMO’s)” have been to norm since the
introduction of GMO’s.
However,
this norm is recently changing. The movement is
gaining ground.
Our country
is so blessed with such a natural bounty that we
cannot afford to have it contaminated by the alien
invasive species and GMOs.
Last week,
we were privileged to meet Jeffrey Smith who is the
author of the best-selling book titled “Seeds of
Deception”. Smith also wrote another recent
best-seller titled “Genetic Roulette”.
Thanks to
the efforts of the Consumer Rights for Safe Food
(CRSF), the ‘No to GMOs’ Network and Green
Convergence (a coalition of non-governmental
organization) has been advocating safe and organic
food for our people and our country, as well as a
healthy and ecologically-sound environment.
We are
determined to fight, at all cost, against all
attempts by other to contaminate our natural
foodchain with GMO’s
I still
remember our hunger strike against GMO issues in the
early 2000 in front of the Department of Agriculture
in Diliman, Quezon City. We won those issues. We
have gone a long way but this recent battle we MUST
win.
Having met
with Jeffrey in his recent Manila forum was an honor
for us all and for those who listened to him as he
shared during his countless experiences on his
battle against those behind GMOs.
The harmful
effects of GMOs are well-documented in his
best-selling books which are both rich in content
and highly critical against genetically engineered
foods.
In his
books, he outlined the dangers of the insidious and
irreversible effects of GMOs.
A simple and
humble person, Smith dedicated his life to fight for
the right of safe and organic food and to battle
against food manufacturing which are mostly tainted
with GMOs and are abundant in the United States.
He
mentioned that ‘all crops produced in the United
States are usually genetically modified, whether
these be soya, corn, sugar beets or fruits such as
tomato and squash.’
Citing
findings from renowned scientists like Arphad
Pusztai, who has documented the flaws of genetic
modifications, Smith also echoed the findings of
Ignacio Chapela, an Associate Professor from the
University of California-Berkley, amongst others.
According to
Smith, “all of the United States, Brazil and
Argentina are contaminated with GMOs due to the
planting of corn, soya and canola.”
He mentioned
that “we are still safe in the Philippines as we
have not planted GMOs. However, the government has
field tested BT corn and eggplant and we have been
trying to stop this action since early 2000. This
may just spread and destroy our environment and food
chain.”
Kudos to
you, Jeffrey Smith, in your fight against evil.
Kudos as well to all those who, like Jeffrey,
continue with utmost courage to
advocate for the right to safe food. We are all with
you in this battle not only against GMOs, but
against greed and lust for money and power by a
handful of business giants.
These GMOs,
once planted or released to the environment, can
spread with he wind, pollinating and contaminating
our rich, natural and organic agriculture, our food
chain and our rich biodiversity.
Despite a
Court of Appeals ruling to stop using GMOs here in
our country, there are fears that his court ruling
may be defied since field-testing allegedly
continues.
We cannot
allow our agriculturally rich country to be
contaminated by GMOs, which haven’t even been proven
scientifically to be effective or safe for all
humans and animals.
We are
urging the government of our country and the rest of
the world to STOP the introduction and further
release of GMOs.
The only way
to deal with GMO issues is a determined stance of
“NO to GMO!” Period.
Lastly, once
the world patronizes GMO seeds introduced and pushed
to the world, then the world only has
itself to blame, while the world slowly dies due to
the effects of GMOs. That is business profiteering
at its worst. We must never allow this to happen!
We
MUST ban GMOs from being planted on our country’s
soil. These belong to the confines of a laboratory,
not on our God-given fertile grounds.
We
Filipinos, must join hands and repel any attempts to
make our children and all of our countrymen become
unsuspecting “guinea pigs” of experimental crops and
foods tainted with life-threatening GMOs.
We MUST ban
GMOs from being planted on our country’s soil. These
harmful organisms must be confined in their
companies’ laboratory, not spread around our
God-given fertile grounds for profit.
Let us join
more than 67 countries which have already took their
stand and rejected GMO infiltration and
contamination.
Let us
protect our rich, natural and organic food chain. We
are what we eat. But we must first do what must be
done.
Let us not
be victims of myths surrounding GMOs, making them
appear harmless to consumers.
You are what
you eat. However, what you eat must come from what
nature has blessed you with, not food grown from
seeds of deception.
LET US FIGHT FOR A HEALTHIER LIFE
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight - Wednesday, July 10, 2013
FOOD
production in China, in Russia and in many parts of
the world have decreased fast as pollution and
man-induced climate change continue to take their
toll.
Note that
the economic growth has blackened the air in Beijing
and has caused deaths and illnesses due to the toxic
air breathed by the people there.
Moreover, a
rare strain of bird flu outbreak is reportedly
starting again in China.
Its flu-like
symptoms are reportedly being suspected to be linked
to the polluted air.
The
over-development of China has also led to its
current infamous role as one of the biggest carbon
emitters in the world, overtaking the United States.
Water
resources, natural food production and biodiversity
are all helpless victims of global warming and
climate change.
The
unbearable heat, including that which scourges us
now here in the Philippines, has brought forth many
deaths and new diseases.
Dehydration
and heat stroke cases are on the rise as people,
species and the planet as a whole
succumb to the rage of climate change.
Our
stance against man made pollution is not limited to
China, Russia, the United States and other countries
sharing the same guilt. It must also be felt even
more right here in our own country.
We must
preach in our own backyard.
What are our
own leaders doing to abate this perennial global
problem?
What is the
United Nations doing? What about
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC)? After all the Conference of Parties
(COP) meetings, did anything concrete happen?
Why are we
still trading carbon as a tool to mitigate
greenhouse gases?
While
forests absorb carbon dioxide and give us
much-needed oxygen, why are they being cleared and
converted into palm oil plantations for a few
dollars more in profits enjoyed by a handful
businessmen?
The oceans
everywhere, once so rich in marine protein and food
supply, are now gasping for breath.
Our country
is said to have one of the richest coral reefs in
the world’ being geographically located at the
center of the Coral Triangle. With the bounty of our
own seas, we can survive.
Why are we
polluting our seas and oceans? These are the same
seas and oceans that observe 50 percent of
atmospheric carbon dioxide and also give us oxygen.
Today,
ocean acidification, pollution and climate change
are destroying the last frontier, the global
commons.
Why are the
leaders allowing man-made destruction to happen?
Why are we
so blind to allow these to happen right before us?
I can only
think of greed, ignorance and lust for power to be
the underlying factors that drive the both the
polluters and the global leaders to continue their
mania for direct and indirect hands in the
destruction of the environment.
The
criterion for progress these days seems to be
stretched beyond our Mother Earth’s premises, as
space exploration programs now include those that
may eventually protect our own planet.
As Lynda
Williams wrote: “World-renowned scientists such as
Stephen Hawking have made calls to colonize the Moon
and Mars in order to preserve the species due to the
inevitability of certain future doom on Earth by
environmental destruction, plague or warfare.”
(Peace
Review, a Journal of Social Justice)
This theory
may sound absurd to most, or reality to some.
It is, after
all, the 21st century and we are supposed
to be in the ‘Age of High Technology, of learning
from the past and beginning a new future.
One
thing I am certain about is: There will be more Arab
springs, more natural calamities, deaths, floods and
droughts.
Poverty will
continue to rise, and yes the global economy will
continue to decline. Particularly, should the
present scenario of destruction become unstoppable.
We must
fight for our rights to a healthy world, a healthier
life!
Let us stop
turning a blind eye to reality and be enlightened by
the challenging signs of the times.
These signs
are more than enough to compel us to act.
THE LAST DROP
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight - Wednesday, July 3, 2013
WE
were lucky enough to have grown up amidst the
abundance of our natural resources. These were
during the decades of ‘50s to the ‘70s.
The
rainforest then was pristine while most of the
countryside was unspoiled by man-made progress. Our
rivers teemed with fish as their waters flowed
freely and clearly – an abundance of clean waters as
if they flowed infinitely!
Our seas,
coral reefs and mangrove swamps were rich sources
supplying us with a food chain that was clean,
healthy and reliable.
We enjoyed
everything from our natural resources at a cheaper
price and yet of high quality and larger volume!
I remember
how it was popular then to buy rice not by kilo, but
by the “ganta” (roughly at 2.5 kgs.) Fruits and
vegetables were sold by pieces, by dozens or by
bundles, rarely by kilos. Most fish, shrimps, crabs,
sea shells and other marine products were sold
either by a bunch or by the heap.
As years
passed, both technological and industrial progress
everywhere continues to lead us to the deterioration
and depletion of our natural resources.
Now,
scarcity is obvious as most products seem to be sold
in their smallest retail sizes, such as the
popularity of “sachets.”
Even the
smallest fruit or vegetable is sold by kilos,
regardless of its condition. Unsafe food production
becomes more and more visible as an alarming
consumer issue, from the countryside to the major
cities even in the most progressive countries.
It
is an irony that we are following a cycle of
eco-suicide here!
We allow
ourselves to lose access to a naturally cleaner,
healthier way of living in exchange for a systematic
and chemical-laden consumption that the world now
submissively adapts itself to.
Many may be
unaware, but what really makes up our planet? Simply
said, we have a so-called “water planet” since it is
made up of over 71% of water on the earth’s surface
in the forum of oceans and seas.
The
remaining 29 percent cover lands such as continents
and island. Freshwater supply found in lakes, rivers
and polar ice caps comprises less than 2.5 percent
while over 69 percent is in the form of ice and
snow. The melting of ice caps is a source of fresh
water, too.
But ice caps
and ice-bergs are now melting faster due to
man-induced climate change. Unlike the natural
meltdown process, climate change meltdown cannot
replenish the ice caps at all.
The
irreversible ecological damage will soon render
extinct the “home of the Inuits”, with all its polar
bears ad other species in the Arctic. Without the
snow and ice as their habitat, they will eventually
drown to extinction.
Of the 2.5
percent ice and snow, one-fifth remains frozen in a
lake in Siberia. Finally, 1.5 percent of the rest of
ice goes back to the oceans and land.
Meanwhile,
the remaining water is found in our rivers, lakes,
groundwater aquifers and watersheds.
As
the world’s current population reaches over seven
billion, increasing by over 290,000 a day we can
expect a global population of over nine billion in
2050 or 37 years from now.
How worse
can that affect our planet? Well, simply imagine a
household budget of Php100 a day for three persons
eventually accommodating 50 people instead. Hunger
and survival issues are definitely on their trail.
It is a grim scenario ahead, no doubt about it.
There is
just no way that our water resources will last at
the rate we are wasting it, depleting this most
vital resource.
Despite all
these, they still want to dam our rivers to destroy
our water sources further.
At the
expense of our biodiversity and water sheds, they
want to build the Laiban Dam, among others, to
supply the water needs of Metro Manila.
Where
there’s water, there is life. Nobody can survive
without water and that’s a fact.
Once we
allow the destruction of our natural reservoir, then
we will be drinking the last glass of water soon.
All in due
time, a glass of water will be more precious than an
ounce of gold.
Why
wait for the last glass? Why wait for the last drop
of water?
The Chinese
philosopher Lao-Tze was right when he said before.
“Dig your well before you get thirsty.”
But think
about it:
With the
last drop gone, what good is a
well without water in it?
WHY MAKE THE UNBORN SUFFER?
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight - Wednesday, June 26, 2013
THE
Financial Times reported in its May 28, 2013 issue
that “the cost of malnourishment to global economy
will reach $125 billion.”
The author
Helen Warrell cited that “to be malnourished in the
womb causes deficiencies in cognitive development
that will reduce a child’s future earning potential
by 20%” and “is expected to cost the global economy
$125 billion by 2030.”
This news
comes at a time when the global economy is in
shambles and the International Monetary Fund (IMF),
the World Bank and the Central Bank members are
pumping in stimulus financing and economic easing.
They
continue to impose strict austerity measures which
have not only weakened the purchasing power of
currencies but had caused in-flationary and a sense
of uncertainty in dealing with the global economy.
The FT
article only stirs more doubts about the climate
change talks and the need to convert these talks
into concrete actions.
There has
been no substantial gain on the reduction of
greenhouse gases (GHG) and no REAL action taken at
all!
While they
keep talking, the planet is getting warmer and
warmer!
What
proof can be more valid than the existing
atmospheric carbon dioxide level
breaching the 400-ppm-thres-hold? Worse, it is
even nearing the 450-ppm-level which is
expected to cause more devastating effects to the
global climate patterns. Add to the list the
destruction of biodiversity, increased poverty and
the introduction of new diseases leading to more
early deaths.
A good
friend and colleague, former World Bank director Dr.
Robert Goodland had consistently mentioned that we
need to address the close to 51% of GHG caused by
the production of livestock alone.
The United
Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has
its estimates that do not matter on anyone’s table,
so to speak. At the very least, the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has
not taken action at all on the very root of the
issue.
Simply put,
estimates are futile when no effective actions
ensue. Period.
Our world
leaders need to simultaneously address the livestock
issue, at the same time beat the GHG emissions issue
to a pulp while getting more involved into
renewable.
They must
act with urgency and ensure that every step they do
would be efficient, effective and devoid of
corruption and personal agenda.
I
have been receiving comments that the gender aspect
may help, as men reportedly become outnumbered by women these days. Hence, women
may need to take the lead in the global
environmental frontline.
It reminds
me of the late British Prime Minister Margaret
Thatcher’s famous quote: “If you want anything said,
give it to man. If you want anything done, give it
to a woman. “But she was talking about policies.
All of
humanity must act. We all breathe. We are all
involved. We all have the right to Life so we are
all responsible and accountable when it comes to the
state of the planet.
Our very own
Philippine Constitution, with its laws on natural
environment, upholds our right to a healthy, clean
and decent life.
We cannot
allow our-selves to be bullied. The global commons
are in danger and our planet is in peril.
We need to
reclaim the global commons from
trans-national-corporations or TNCs. We need to get
out of ‘narrow economics’ and change our wasteful
present economic model.
As echoed by
the late Dr. Eleanor Ostrom, we need to stop the
‘expert arrogance’ and ‘politics of destruction’!
Most of us
do not even remember University of California
Professor Jeffery Rowland who discovered the hole in
the ozone layer.
The chemical
industry tries to destroy Row land’s argument until
the British Aerospace reportedly proved that the
hole indeed existed and was getting bigger.
The BA
findings led to the worldwide banning of chloro
floro carbons (CFCs). Thus, the hole in the ozone
problem was allegedly solved.
With
strong will power and high volunteerism spirit, much
more with the backing of science and technology, the
global issues about our environment can be
confronted head-on. There is no reason why we cannot
beat global warming and climate change.
To save our
planet from its early demise due to polluters, a
more appropriate Thatcher quotation then would be:
“You may have to fight a battle more than once to
win it.” All must be involved, specifically from the
academe to the grassroots level. Another solutions
is the Public-Private-Peoples Partnership (PPPP) and
not the government-favored Private-Public
Partnership (PPP).
We need to
tackle the issue of population. Our population has
breached the 7-billion mark and continues to
increase. If not controlled, our planet will not be
able to sustain the needs of our civilization.
Everyone has
a right to be born to enjoy God given environmental
blessings. Why make the unborn suffer with man-made
environmental curse?
DON'T LET THE SKEPTICS WIN
THE
RECENT news is that the 450-ppm threshold of carbon
dioxide in our atmosphere will be a reality soon. Is
this cause for global alarm?
Yes, and it must
be prevented from happening at all costs because it will
raise global temperatures by 2 degrees Centigrade and
lead to extreme droughts, floods, storms and typhoons
–the “usual” calamities, but with more intensity and
frequency.
And yes, the ice
caps are melting even faster, strongly indicating the
reality that is to come and that must not be ignored.
Consequential to
such a scenario are widespread food
shortages, extreme poverty, massive destruction of our
habitats, and imbalance in our ecosystem. Biodiversity
will decline to its worst, even to the extinction of
more and more species. For all we know, it can lead to
the extinction of our civilization!
The powerful
tornadoes that leveled parts of Oklahoma in the United
State States are another sign of worse environmental
disasters to come.
In fact, we are
already experiencing strange weather patterns locally
and globally as the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has
reportedly gone over 403 ppm.
In an article
titled “Climate Skeptics Have Already Won” (The
Financial Times, 5/22/13), Martin Wolf put it very well:
“Humanity has decided to yawn and let the real and
present dangers of climate change mount.”
How can we not
totally agree with the author, considering that nothing
has actually been done to mitigate and reduce the
green-house gases released in the atmosphere?
Today, 30
percent of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is
directly due to humankind’s careless lifestyle. China
was responsible for 24 percent of the global total
emissions in 2000; the United States, 17 percent; and
the Eurozone, 8 percent. But each Chinese emits only a
third of that emitted by an American.
China’s catch-up
growth is making this harder. What kind of growth does
it want? A growth blanketed with dark toxic air in its
capital, Beijing, or a growth that will give its people
the quality of life that they deserve?
News reports
suggest a number of steps to fight global warming and
climate change. These are: Implement a “carbon tax” (or
make polluters pay); impose really tough emission
standards; create a secure global trade regime in low
carbon fuels; develop ways of financing the transfer of
the best available technology for creating and, more
importantly , saving energy; and require government to
invest in research and early stage innovation.
We have the
technology for renewable energy, or at least Germany
does at the cheapest cost. It’s a move worth emulating
by the rest of the world.
Wolf mentioned
two others: nuclear energy and geoengineering, which
we strongly oppose. These are steps leading
backward and comparative to comic-book solutions.
In dealing with
global environmental threats, the answers we need are
simply “classroom solutions.” All we need to do is put
the brakes on so-called “development.” We should also go
full blast on renewable energy and change our present
development model.
And also, work
on how to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from
livestock, which release at least 51 percent of the
total amount of greenhouse gases.
With these
steps, we can begin to win the war against climate
change. If we don’t take these steps, Wolf may be right:
We may have already lost.
We must not let
ourselves be subjected to the destructive development
model and settle with fence-sitting and watching the
planet heat up. We must do everything to prevail and
save our Mother Earth, men and women alike.
Climate change
and global warming are genuine and concrete issues. If
the worst calamities and catastrophes do not compel
our leaders to act promptly against the
ultimate destruction of our planet, not even their
skepticism can be of use in the end.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight - Wednesday, May 29, 2013
THESE
day’s extreme heat – in the vicinity of over 37 degrees
Centigrade, without exaggeration – has been giving a
real feel of over 50 degrees! It has felt like the
planet was on fire, burning like it never burned before.
Due to this intolerable heat, everywhere, more and more
people are suffering from fatal heat strokes.
We feel it. At
least I do and we can’t take this much longer.
Both croplands
and species suffer. Lands turn into arid deserts,
claiming wider coverage.
As I write this,
India is suffering from its worst drought in the last 40
years. The cycle seems to be getting shorter, a
forewarning that there will be more severe droughts as
there will be more severe winter storms, floods and
typhoons.
Some experts
theorize that no amount of efforts can help India combat
its worsening drought and its growing desert.
Its people, as
well as their cattle, among others, are now dying due to
extreme heat. What is to become of India and other
countries similarly suffering from extreme heat and
drought?
India once
boasted of its landscape so rich and blessed with
pristine forest and the richest top soil. Its soil was
so rich, that one used to have the impression that
anything planted on India’s soil would expectedly grow
into a bountiful harvest.
Well, that is
history now, not only for India but anywhere else. Those
days of bounty may be gone forever as our planet
continues to heat up.
Look at how our
biodiversity is still being battered by polluters! Our
waters, forests, seas, and practically all aspects of
our ecosystem are still being abused!
One reason is
the continuing use of the so called “present development
model approach” that global leaders adhere to.
This ineffective
development model is dictated not by a genuine intention
to save our planet, but by the lust for power, money and
greed! Other than these self-gratifying factors, what
else could be holding back these leaders from changing their approach to a more
effective, precise and clear-cut maner in dealing with
the perennial global warming and climate change issues?
How can they
refuse to see how poverty and unemployment are racing
against each other, both in acceleration that seems
unstoppable? The global economy is in shambles, with all
the billions of dollars use for bail-out and
stimulus-deficit financing instead of well-planned
programs, projects and policies suitable to the
enhancement of our biodiversity that is tantamount to
feeding a large population.
These
huge funds could have been used in combating climate
change and global warming which the leaders failed to
resolve. They never really were serious, I guess. Or
were they trying to bask on their failures?
Why? Because the
ineffective results of such approach are proving to the
world how the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) failed to resolved both the
cause and consequences of more droughts, storms and
natural calamities now weighing upon us.
Once can only
imagine the impact of these natural calamities and
man-made catastrophies in a deluge against us!
Without any
concrete agreement among the parties, it is clear that
there are no serious goals set for reducing greenhouse
gasses. It is obvious that there is no real consensus on
how to simply reduce GHG and mitigate global warming.
This close-fisted seriousness should have been ingrained
in their approach at the outset in order to win the war
against climate change.
The question is:
do these leaders ever think that way?
The answers are
right in front of our eyes. All we need to do is open
them.
Unless the
global problem of climate change is addressed with
urgency, this inaction will trigger more Arab springs
and a battle for resources in the not-so-distant future.
It is quite
hopeful that environmental aware-ness campaign these
days has inspired more and more citizens and
organizations to help our ailing environment.
Yet, this
handful is not enough. All of us must equally rise
beyond the call of duty to protect Mother Earth.
The planet can
still survive from its present perilous state, despite
the extreme heat and drought that
threatens it, for as long as everyone commits to help
reduce the carbon foot print.
Once each man’s
commitment and action strengthen this common goal, hope
for Mother Earth’s fast recovery will serve like a vast
oasis in a desert for all.
That kind of
oasis that never runs dry.
WHY ARE WE NOT WINNING THE WAR AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President Ecological Society of the Philippines)
Think
about it. Ours is a country so rich with natural
resources, strategically located at the center of the
Coral Triangle and blessed with species of which only
10-20% are said to be discovered.
Imagine how many of the undiscovered species may have
gone extinct and how the discovered ones are declining
by existence.
Well, there seems to be nothing new with regards to the
environmental problems we have and the way climate
change is manifesting itself on the people, species and
planet.
As I write this, the United States is victim to
hurricanes and typhoons. Asia, specifically Bangladesh,
is being drowned by strong typhoons and rains.The rest
of Asia are not spared.
It is only the month of May but rainy season in our
country is starting earlier than usual, alongside the
scourging heat with temperatures reaching
37-degree-centigrade level with a real feel of more than
45 degrees.
How much longer can we take all these pressures? How
many more people must die?
How many more towns and cities all over the world must
be victims of global warming and climate change before
our leaders act sensibly?
Sadly, the next Conference of Parties (COP) of the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) prioritizes its agenda on geo-engineering as a
solution to climate change.
It is a move that is bound to be futile such move is
tantamount to changing the nature of our planet. Among
those considered questionable is their option to put
mirrors in space to deflect the sun's heat.
It seems they intend to redirect the atmospheric carbon
dioxide to outer space? If that is not a perspective of
an irrational mind, I am not sure how can one call that
as decently as possible!
It is a theory not only out-of-tune. It is careless ,
thereby another experimental step that is already a
complete failure at the onset ! Perhaps something to add
on the list of their other failed attempts to combat
climate change. They never learn from history!
Unfortunately, as they continue with their obstinacy, we
are all caught in the middle of escalating climate
change issues.
The real victims are those who are suffering from
drought, famine, lack of clean and potable water, lack
of accessibility to healthy food and decent lifestyle,
socio-economic inequalities, to name a few.
With this kind of thinking, there seems to be no real
intention to mitigate and reduce greenhouse gasses
(GHG). There seems to be no real commitment to reduce
and mitigate climate change.
On the contrary, what the leaders are stubbornly
adhering to these is this development model that started
during the Industrial Revolution.
Ironically,the said development model ,with all its
'bracketed rights and broken promises', is now
responsible for the destruction of both the ecology and
the economics of the world .
Despite
the ineffective 'development model', leaders continue to
be its biggest fans since they refuse to change their
approach in combating climate change.
Their attitude as leaders is clearly stemming from
obstinacy and ignorance on the very root cause and
eventual catastrophic consequences of the environmental
issues they deal with.
I could surmise that it is either they are much
convinced that the present development model will be
effective in due time ( which I know will never be) or
they actually have no other alternatives to offer us.
What is wrong with our global leaders? Don't they feel
the increasing heat in global temperature? Don't they
see the floods,typhoons,hurricanes and strange weather
patterns?
Are they not supposed to act with urgency in this battle
against global warming and with the very aim to prevent
it from worsening?
Globalization and the present development model has
failed. As I had underscored so often, more countries
are suffering from austerity measures imposed by the
International Monetary Fund. That, for one, is what
their development model is doing to us.
Meanwhile, recent Reuters report said that : 'With power
generation still dominated by coal and governments
failing to increase investment in clean energy, top
climate scientists have said that the target of keeping
the global temperature rise to less than 2 degrees
Celsius this century is slipping out of reach."
The atmospheric carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is
nearing beyond the 400-ppm-threshold. Should that
happen, and we pray not, more climatic changes will
occur with the veracity and strength that will destroy
our civilization, as we know it.
This is not doom-saying.We must all know what happened
to the Easter Island civilization gone extinct to
understand more. We cannot allow this to happen to our
own civilization.
What can our tribal leaders do? They have been living in
harmony with nature since the beginning of time. Today
they have no control of the effects of global warming
and climate change.Their forewarnings were not heeded to
and perhaps even not considered at all,because their
wisdom comes from the primitive approach.
Well, I should say, primitive as they were,but more
logical,simple and yet effective because at the onset,
their ways are protective of our environment.
As I write this, our water resources are running dry but
leaders still want to dam more rivers. It leads to a
scenario that turns our resources from a blessing to a
curse,considering the increasing occurrences of our
forest trees being felled.
Our agricultural lands are losing their top soil ,
causing them to turn to deserts.
Our oceans absorb more than 25% percent of carbon
dioxide and give us the needed oxygen for life. The only
ones that may be left to occupy the seas are the jelly
fish since they thrive in low oxygen and acidic water.
Our oceans are victims of ocean acidification destroying
countless species. The PH content of our seas have
turned acidic and a time will come that they will no
longer be able to sustain our marine resources of which
we rely so much on for food.
Yet, they want to mine our oceans and extract more
minerals in a world were the economy has not improved
but has slowed down.
How can we expect our rivers to hold more water so we
can enjoy the blessing? Instead of finding ways to
protect our rivers, damming is their option?
What will happen to our food security and our oceans the
last frontier?
Poverty will continue to rise and more Arab springs will
be brewing.
Why
don't these leaders implement circular economy,recycling
and renewable energy options now being pursued by some
countries such as Germany?
Why don't they use barter
system and have night markets ,like those in Baguio
City,which make the local economies move without
destroying the environment?
Barter system has always been effective as a business
model since the beginning of time.
We need to buy locally and not globally to rid the
business model of high transportation cost.
Comparative advantage and self-sufficiency must also be
considered.
Where lies now the insistence of these leaders to go on
with their development model?
IS IT GREED AND LUST FOR POWER? IS IT IGNORANCE AND
STUPIDITY?
These are the same leaders who insist on the addiction
to oil and coal as their preferred options.
As long as our biodiversity is intact and our natural
resources are in pristine shape as they were , there is
no doubt we can survive.
If there is one sure stop to decrease the level of
carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, it is through legal
means. The global polluters must be tried in the
international courts with crimes against humanity. They
should be compelled to stop polluting the earth!
We must act with vigilance! They must be stopped NOW!
There are so many actual and genuine solutions which our
planet can gain a new life from.
That if the leaders now are not setting their eyes on
the only profit they seem
to know: the profit spelled as 'money'.
Should that be the case, we need not blink to think: our
planet's life calendar will surely run out of days to
count in due time.
Was the war against climate change lost then, long
before it was started? It's our turn to repel such
belief!
A battle half-met is a battle half-won.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) CLIMATE HIMALAYA Thursday, May 16, 2013
I
thought that it would be time to stop writing about
the environment, specifically about climate change,
that my previous articles had lambasted and even
backed up with actions to mitigate,enhance,restore
and rehabilitate our natural resources.However, today’s extreme heat prompted me back to writing.
The day’s temperature was over 37-degrees Centigrade. Frankly, without exaggeration,it gave a real feel of over 50 degrees! It felt like the planet was on fire, burning like it never burned before. Due to this intolerable heat, everywhere more and more people are suffering from fatal heat strokes. We feel it. At least I do and we can’t take this much longer. Both croplands and species suffer. Lands turn into arid deserts, claiming wider coverage.
As I write this, India is suffering from its worst drought in the last 40 years. The cycle seems to be getting shorter,a forewarning that there will be more severe droughts as there will be more severe winter storms,floods,typhoons.
Some experts theorize that no amount of efforts can help India combat its worsening drought and its growing desert.
Its people,as well as their cattle, among others,are now dying due to extreme heat. What is to become of India and other countries similarly suffering from extreme heat and drought ?
India once boasted of its landscape so rich and blessed with pristine forest and the richest top soil. Its soil was so rich, that one used to have the impression that anything planted on India’s soil would expectedly grow into a bountiful harvest.
Well,that is history now, not only for India but anywhere else. Those days of bounty may be gone forever as our planet continues to heat up.
Look
at how our biodiversity is still being battered by
polluters ! Our waters, forest , seas, and
practically all aspects of our ecosystem are still
being abused !One reason is the continuing use of the so-called ‘ present development model approach’ that global leaders adhere to.
This ineffective development model is dictated not by a genuine intention to save our planet, but by lust for power, money and greed! Other than these self-gratifying factors , what else could be holding back these leaders from changing their approach to a more effective, precise and clear-cut manner in dealing with the perennial global warming and climate change issues?
How can they refuse to see how poverty and unemployment are racing against each other, both in acceleration that seems unstoppable ? The global economy is in shambles, with all the billions of dollars used for bail-out and stimulus-deficit financing instead of well-planned programs, projects and policies suitable to the enhancement of our biodiversity that is tantamount to feeding a large population.
These huge funds could have been used in combating climate change and global warming which the leaders failed to resolve.They never really were serious, I guess. Or are they trying to bask on their failures,instead?
Why? Because the ineffective results of such approach are proving to the world how the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ( UNFCCC) fail to resolve both the cause and consequences of more droughts,storms and natural calamities now weighing upon us.
One
can only imagine the impact of these natural
calamities and man-made catastrophies in a deluge
against us!Without any concrete agreement among the parties, it is clear that there are no serious goals set for reducing greenhouse gasses. It is practically obvious that there is no real consensus on how to simply reduce GHG and mitigate global warming. This close-fisted seriousness should have been ingrained in their approach at the onset in order to win the war against climate change.
The question is : do these leaders ever think that way?
The answers are right in front of our eyes. All we need to do is open them.
Once the global problem of climate change continue to be addressed with urgency, this inaction will trigger more Arab springs and a battle for resources in the not-so-distant future.
It is quite hopeful that environmental awareness campaign these days inspire more and more citizens and organizations to help our ailing environment.
Yet, a handful is not enough. All of us must equally rise beyond the call of duty to protect Mother Earth.
The planet can still survive from its present perilous state,despite the extreme heat and drought that threatens it, for as long as everyone commits to help reduce their carbon foot print.
Once each man’s commitment and action strengthen this common goal, hope for Mother Earth’s fast recovery will serve like a vast oasis in a desert for all.
That kind of oasis that never runs dry.See More
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight - Wednesday, May 8, 2013
ALTHOUGH the
global celebration of Earth Day with all its fanfare has
come and gone, the world continues to dwell on the dire
need of Earth for help.
To achieve that
purpose, the current level of atmospheric carbon dioxide
(CO2) must be reduced to 350ppm which is needed for life
to continue safely in our planet. CO2 presence in
earth’s atmosphere lies at the root of global warming.
Sure,
reforestation projects and other conservation efforts
are exerted everywhere. But these enhanced yet sporadic
activities are not enough. The planet is still in peril.
That’s a fact we all have to deal with squarely.
In its April
2013 issue in an article titled “Against the Grain,” the
Financial Times reported that the bio-fuel industry
adheres to a law that transforms food into energy. This
is due to the present energy supply that has gone to an
all-time-low against the heightened consumer demand
these days.
Such approach
goes to show that environmental converts as well as the
rising cost of food, obviously has reached the end of
the line.
The so-called
‘bright light of bio-fuels,’ which reduces the
dependency to oil, destroys the agriculture industry and
our biodiversity.
Why? Forests
have been cleared to be converted to corn, soy and palm
plantations. The end does not justify the means.
On one hand, all
these commodities have been affected
by the low global demand and leaders
opt for the irrational solution!
Mind you, this
solution was developed by so called
‘experts’! Aren’t we seeing enough of their penchant for
narrow economics?
On another hand,
the Financial Times also reported on a new and concise
study done by 73 researchers. The study claimed that
humankind has indeed induced climate change and that it
will worsen in the coming years.
As expected, the
report is being challenged by skeptics on climate
change. I could only suspect that greed and lust for
power are behind their skepticism. Otherwise, they would
be alarmed by such studies like the rest of us.
The global
economy continuous to stumble as a triple-dip is
expected in England.
More waves of
protests, the so-called Arab springs, are mushrooming
since the people cannot take the austerity imposed upon
them anymore.
It is sad that
this year’s Earth Day has been plagued with record high
droughts, floods, extreme heat, snow storms, hurricanes
and typhoons. All records have been broken in the
climatic sense!
Continuous
logging and mining still contribute to the massive
destruction of our natural resources and biodiversity.
Here in the
Philippines, our forests are reported to have the lowest
percentage in the whole of Southeast Asia. Decades back,
our forests were so rich, with over 20 million hectares
of prime rainforest.
How can we allow
this worsening scenario to continue?
To lose our own
country’s natural resources such as our forests, we only
have ourselves to blame.
Our own leaders
must be mobilized to fight for each tree! We need to
take action and walk our talk!
There had been
countless environmentalists who lost their lives as they
fought for the welfare of our environment. It is not
heroism that is underscored here. It is about survival
of our own planet!
Let us win the
battle for conservation and the war against climate
change.
Earth Day must
not be held solely for its fanfare and festive
celebrations.
Earth Day must
be held to remind us of our planet’s dire need to
survive the threats of man-induced greed and
carelessness. This is why it must not only be a marked
as one-day to one-month affair in anyone’s calendar.
Earth Day must
be held every day.
EARTHDAY: A DAY OF GLOBAL PENANCE
(By: Malu Gacuma Volunteer Project Organizer - Ecological Society of the Philippines)
The early 1970s
had dark days hounded by protests everywhere, but
the loudest cries were mostly focused on anti-war
sentiments and neither environmental nor
planet-saving specifically.
Research showed that the globally-celebrated Earth
Day stemmed from anger about the 1969 massive oil
spill in Santa Barbara, California. The man-made
environmental catastrophe bonded about 20 million
people then who took to the streets and auditoriums
as they shared a common battlecry : to save planet
Earth.
The very first Earth Day rally was held on April
22nd of 1970, led by Earth Day founder Gaylord
Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, USA.
From coast-to-coast rallies, these protests
eventually crossed and aligned borders and barriers,
even those politically, as the same message began
echoing among millions of environmental advocates
from 141 countries then.
This year, 192 countries, including our very own
Philippines , are actively participating in the
yearly Earth Day celebration, with hundreds of
millions advocates around the world joining in.
Activities continue to evolve from the most
primitive like recycling, re-using and reducing of
environment-friendly materials to the most advanced
ones using social media and technology. All with the
same purpose: to impart the urgent message of saving
Earth from its perilous state.
Subsequent Earth Day themes have been drummed up all
these years, but the intensity of anger that started
against man-made destruction to our environment
seems to have waned these days.
Instead, the celebration is now approached in a more
fanciful and festive manner, perhaps to induce the
love for environmental tasks or to spark the
interest for it. Eitherway, more and more
volunteering individuals and organizations are
becoming visible.
However, while the passionate level of global
environmental awareness begins to sink in, the
heightened effects of climate change and global
warming continue due to uncooperative and calloused
economic movers and industrial shakers.
With the accelerated degradation and depletion
of natural resources, alongside the imminent
extinction of more and more species and the
increasing global temperature, such powerfully
influential initiatives like Earth Day must be
conducted not once a year but every single day the
whole year round!
As Antonio M. Claparols, president of Ecological
Society of the Philippines, had observed:
“Earth
Day celebrations are now losing their real
objectives. Earth day must be held every single day
and real actions must be done to protect our planet.
These actions include speaking up against and
resisting all overt and covert tactics of greedy and
unscrupulous leaders and polluters, from the
top-most down to the grassroot levels everywhere.”
Such
conviction, although voluntary in nature, can change
the pace of environmental protection faster as the
urgent need for it calls for.
Claparols, who was among the Board Members when
Earth Day began in the Philippines, had also
spearheaded the introduction of the first
environmental management course in an international
business school and served two terms as Councillor
for International Union of Conservation of Nature (
IUCN).
Through ESP projects, he continues to support
countrywide initiatives such as massive
reforestation of our mountains, anti-mining
campaign, mangrove planting, harnessing solar energy
to save trees, construction of sanctuaries to save
endangered species such as turtles, among others.
Yet, he admitted it takes more than these kinds of
efforts to battle the environmental culprits.
Claparols cited one experience as an example . as he
said:
“We
used ( former Philippine President Ferdinand)
Marcos’ Presidential Decree 1219 banning the
harvesting of corals which were sold merely as
decors before. We went to Washington D.C. to lobby
for the cause and had it amended into the Lacey and
Black Bass Acts ,thru the intervention then of Tom
Garrett of the Animal Welfare institute and U.S.
Senator Warren Magnuson. Our fight led to the
lifetime protection of our Philippine coral reefs,
among others.”
The anger against man-made environmental destruction
that triggered the very first Earth Day movement
must not be forgotten. It has to continue as the
driving force that must compel the organizers and
participants to do what must be done in such
intensity that this planet has never experienced
yet.
Otherwise, Earth Day celebration will only be one of
those snail-paced movements whose rippling effects
would last only after ‘a few pebbles were cast on
the pond’, so–to-speak.
Earth Day must be treated as a ‘Day of Global
Penance’ when man must make amends with Mother
Nature and do something about it. Only our penitent
and remorseful intentions can connect us to the
pains and woes our planet is now suffering from.
That connection will strengthen our commitment to
never repeat the cycle that would destroy Mother
Earth.
The same
connection, expressed collectively every single day,
will mark the difference between penitents and
fools.
PROGRESS THAT SUSTAINS OUR LIVES
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight - Wednesday, April 17, 2013
SPENDING
the Holy Week in our home-town in Talisay City
on Negros island is a family event that we
always look forward to with excitement and joy
each year.
Personally, I find it very enjoyable to be in
our farm, bonding with our farmhands and their
families while reflecting on the passion and
resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our
family role as sponsor of the Santo Entierro is
vital as it completes the Church’s commemoration
of the “Passion and Life of Christ.”
On Good
Friday, we joined the procession and escorted
the life size image of Santo Entierro to San
Nicolas Church which overflows with devotees
each year, with the number constantly growing.
We
braved the blistering heat as the sun burned our
skin to a crisp during the procession. It was an
experience we accepted, bringing us closer to
the Lord in His sufferings for humankind.
This
time of the year, the summer heat was no joke.
The heat could be felt at its worst even in a
provincial setting where supposedly we expected
a cooler temperature!
Looking
around, one could witness withering plants,
crops dying and our rivers and watersheds drying
up.
As we
returned to Manila, we were welcomed by an even
worst climate due to the presence of
heat-inducing concrete roads and pavements and
pollution everywhere.
As of
this writing, northern countries are still
experiencing an extended winter instead of enjoying the onset of spring.
Heavy,
unpredictable rains and long droughts obviously
have become the two early environmental culprits
this year.
Globally, the economy remains stagnant, if not
regressing. Should this continue, we can expect
a migration of both species and people to
climates and environments that they can adapt
to. This is dictated by the instinct of survival
we all knows.
It is
already happening – which raises fears. Why?
Because I believe that climate change migration
will not work for species except on temporary
basis for some.
Consider
the polar bear whose icy home in the Arctic is
melting fast. Polar bears will never adapt to
anything less than the icy-cold habitat they are
used to. Soon, they will join others in the
dreaded ‘list of extinction.’
This is
what I fear most: That their extinction will
gravely affect the balance of our eco-system.
Any imbalance will be life-threatening to all of
us as a civilization.
Despite
all the economic woes, development is moving
full blast in our country and elsewhere. This
reminds me of the 1997 Asian crisis which
left Thailand with over-development at
the expense of their water. It proves that
over-development is not the answer to any
economic problem, including ours.
However,
the same Thailand scenario can happen to our
beautiful land. What an irony – our country is
rich in natural resources and
strategically-located at the center of the Coral
Triangle.
We all
need to think collectively about self-reliance,
resourcefulness, organic and
environment-friendly lifestyle in order to
survive these challenging times.
We need
to stand up and speak against global polluters.
There must be no exception, including all those
who cater to their demands and lobby for their
self-serving agenda.
The
international conferences I have been attending
for decades now led only to green washing
exercises of good rhetoric yet nothing effective
enough to save our planet.
I have
been there: A conference to identify the
polluters and stop them from
destroying our planet, a conference that
will reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) and restore
carbon dioxide to 350ppm needed to sustain the
planet.
What
will happen to more than 2 billion people
currently having no access to water and
sanitation? Their number is growing alongside
their dire poverty.
Sadly,
greed and materialism coupled with narrow
economics and politics of destruction, riddled
with experts’ arrogance and negotiability –
these are the ingredients of deception placing
our planet at stake.
To all
those who are sincere and honest in the
advocacy, I urge you all to stand up and fight
for your basic right to clean air and water!
We all
must follow what Pope Francis said: Protect the
poor and the sick, protect all God’s creatures
and the environment.”
Let us
keep fighting for the use of renewable energy for massive reforestation, for
recycling and reusing, for sustainable use, for
organic life style.
We must
stand up against anything
detrimental to our health, our lives, our
future, and our environment.
We need
progress that safely sustains the lives of all.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Philippine Daily Inquirer - Friday, April 12, 2013
You must
have noticed the high temperatures and the
blistering heat now bearing down on us. What’s
even worse is the variance between the
temperature and the real feel of the heat. That
tells us a lot.
Summer
has truly set in, bringing the heat that dries
our lakes and rivers and saps the energy from
the frail human body mostly composed of water.
Amidst the heat, thunderstorms occur and rains
pour, causing destructive flash floods.
People
and animals get sick, and new diseases appear.
Deserts continue to expand, claiming prime land
and destroying our soil. The weather cannot be
predicted anymore.
A
call for a new development model is echoing
worldwide as countries fall on austerity
measures compounded by the shortage of food and
water. Higher rates are imposed by the
International Monetary Fund.
Poverty
continues to rise and more Arab Springs are in
the making. Cyprus is the latest victim, its
financial system in near-collapse.
Yet,
despite all the calamities and the continued
pronouncements that climate change is the single
most critical threat to humankind and the
planet, the old development model continues to
bully the weak and to accelerate the pace of
extraction of minerals.
But many
are taking matters in their own hands and are
doing volunteer work to mitigate the effects of
climate change. Yes, things are changing, and
with the election of Pope Francis, who advocates
“helping the poor and the sick, all creatures
and the environment,” there is hope.
People
will hopefully get the message that God’s
creation is being destroyed.
“There is
a time when silence is a sign of betrayal,”
Martin Luther King once said. And this is such a
time. It is a time for all to make their voices
heard. The louder their voices are directed to
all leaders, from local governments to every
head of state in the world, the better.
It is
time to act and wage war on global warming and
climate change. It is time to bite the bullet
and step on the brakes against false development
and progress. It is time to follow Germanys’
lead to go full-blast on renewable energy like
solar and wind power. It is showing the way; we
must follow its good example.
We
must remember that Mother Nature sustains us
all. We need to protect her from all pressure.
She cannot take much more of human-induced
pollution and climate change.
Make your
voice heard. Take action in your own way. Lower
your carbon footprint. Perhaps we may still have
a chance to save our planet, our only home.
OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight - Wednesday, April 3, 2013
TO
my surprise, Admiral Samuel J. Locklear III,
Commander of the United States fleet in the
Pacific, mentioned in a recent Boston Globe
interview, that “the biggest threat is not North
Korea, but climate change.”
Coming
from a seasoned Naval Commander, this brings to
the fore the seriousness of global warming and
climate change.
We
ourselves are witnesses to unpredictable global
weather patterns. Consider the extreme and
severe winter storms in Europe and in the United
States, along with the droughts and extreme heat
in Africa and the Middle East and the unusual
rains all over Asia. These all occur too fast,
too soon!
What is
disheartening is that when these natural
calamities happen news headlines focus more on
current events and the economy rather than major
disturbing weather patterns. Much like the truth
being taken for granted.
Let’s
face it: The planet is dying and we are
virtually mindless about it.
Sure,
some concession came – the killing of sharks,
was banned during the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) recently held
in Bangkok, Thailand.
However,
they want to mine the deep seas. Their careless
decision, or perhaps their lack of foresight,
are killing people in mining-affected
communities.
Admiral
Locklear’s statement only confirmed what many
fear about the life threatening dangers of
climate change.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) seems to
be a complete failure in tis mandate to curb and
mitigate greenhouse gases. It also failed to
limit atmospheric carbon dioxide to 350ppm which
is the level needed to sustain life.
As of
this writing, we have reached over 395ppm and we
are experiencing the horrible consequences.
To make
it worse, global poverty as well as
over-population are both on the rise. Food
shortages are occurring in many areas while
clean water resources are starting to dry up.
Recently,
the Asian Development Bank (ADB) mentioned that
Asia will be running short of
water by 2030. It may be sooner than that, as we
continue to build on the same development model
we were brought up with.
This
model is a failure and the root cause of
stagflation in the global economy. This is the
so-called “development model” that
destroys our natural resources. Isn’t that a
misnomer?
I cannot
understand the callousness and lack of action
from our world leaders. Where is their political
will?
What
worst scenario must arise to compel them to act
rationally and fast?
We need
an urgent and radical change from this
complacent attitude! We need a quantum leap of
change, specifically in life style, education,
production and consumption.
We have
to upgrade our value systems and the footprints we make as our legacy.
Our
biodiversity is dying. This is no joke, as
others may think it is. The deserts are
expanding from the Sahara in Africa to the Gobi
desert in China. Even the city of Beijing is
being engulfed by toxic, dark air.
How can
people be so blind?
The
planet cannot sustain this present development
model. The sooner we accept that as a grim
reality, the better for all of us.
We
cannot afford to wait. Nowadays, the awareness
is running high that more and more people are
starting to take matters into
their own hands.
Volunteerism
is on the rise as youth and adults alike get
deeply involved in mangrove and terrestrial
reforestation. Coastal clean-up activities are
becoming visible as well as setting up
sanctuaries for endangered species such as
turtles.
We need
to do much more than these to help in speeding
up the planet’s healing process. We need to step
on the brakes regarding manmade pollutions.
We can
opt to use renewables instead. We can reforest
our mountains and protect our forest. We can
stop ocean-acidification and marine pollution.
We can slow down our carbon footprint.
WE CAN
WIN this battle against climate change.
It is a
war we cannot afford to lose.
MANGROVE PLANTING, FEEDING CONDUCTED IN PUNTA TAYTAY
Environment Press Release - The Visayan Daily Star, Monday March 4, 2013
A
mangrove planting with feeding and outreach
program was recently held in Barangay Punta
Taytay, Bacolod City, by the Ecological Society
of the Philippines and the JRS Express, a press
release from organizers said.
The
activity was phase one of the group’s
environmental and humanitarian project title
“ESP 2013: A Green Crusade”, that aims to
contribute to massive reforestation and spread
the volunteerism campaign to help protect and
rehabilitate the environment.
A
seminar was also participated in by residents,
with ESP volunteer project organizer, Malu
Gacuma, discussing the use and benefits of solar
cooking to save trees and help combat climate
change in the grassroots level, the press
release also said.
The
parabolic solar cooker was conceptualized by ESP
president and JRS Express chief executive
officer Antonio M. Claparols.
Around
100 poorest of the poor children received two
kilos of rice and several pairs of Burlington
socks, and were treated to chicken arrozcaldo,
sandwiches, juice and candies.
The
project was in partnership with Burlington Socks
Industries Philippines, International Order of
DeMolay-Serafin V. Aguilar Chapter Chapter and
Free and Accepted Masons of the
Philippines-Kanlaon Lodge No. 64 and the
Barangay Council of Punta Tayta, the press
release added.
THE NEW YEAR AND ITS CALAMITIES
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight - Wednesday, February 20, 2013
THE
new year has barely began and we are faced
with so many pressures.
Consider:
·
The
northeastern seaboard of the United Sates has
experienced the worse snowstorm in years. The
extreme weather has affected everything from travel
to food security and power.
·
The lives
of the people in New England have been subjected to
one of the worst snow storms ever.
·
The
worsening man-induced climate change has placed the
most powerful country in the world on a
stop-and-survive mode.
Why are we allowing all these to
happen?
While the U.S. and Europe freeze,
the rest of the world also suffers the same fate.
Snow, rain and sleet cover many northern countries;
ex-treme heat and drought impact on other areas.
With all that, what has befallen
our planet and its people?
With all the strange,
unpredictable natural calamities, there does not
seem to be a big push forward to combat global
warming and climate change.
Leaders focus more on how to
revive the economy. Yet, the world economy struggles
from a downward route, shown by the rise of
un-employment, poverty and global crisis everywhere.
Is there no amount of stimulus
anymore to re-charge the economy? Many
must be unaware that even over-printing of paper
money contributes to the ongoing global inflation.
The austerity measures to be
imposed in the United States, Europe and other
countries will eventually take their toll on the
people.
One can expect the rise of
problems such as lesser health and medical services,
lesser welfare and lesser social security.
What many have labored so hard
for so many years, in the form of savings and
retirement benefits, will only go down along with
the system that is going broke. Is this the promised
picture of progress and development world leaders
continue to assure us of?
We
are dismayed by the slow action being taken by the
same world leaders. Hence, we are urging our leaders
to take the lead now and win the battle against
global warming and climate change.
The world has reached a stage of
ecological disasters, and of ecological
irreversibility.
We are running out of clean water
and food. Our forests continue to be
illegally-logged. Our mountains continue to be
horribly mined.
Mining companies want to extract
the last ounce of gold and silver commensurate to
their vested interests.
Unless we move against such
abuses, we become the victim. Should we allow them
to continue with their wanton destruction of our
environment?
I am happy to see that there are
now more and more people aware of the urgent
environmental protection and rehabilitation our
planet needs. This offers hope that the battle
against climate change can be reversed.
More and more people especially
the young have embarked on volunteerism and
enhancing the environment.
Our numbers continue to grow as
more and more volunteers, especially the youth, step
up.
It is a slow but sure process.
All efforts will reap beneficial results.
I know that hope springs eternal.
·
We embark
on massive reforestation projects, conduct seminars
on the use and benefits of solar cookers to save our
trees, widen mangrove forests, save some endangered
species and push for “zero waste”
models in the metropolis and elsewhere.
·
We must
de-progress and step on the brakes on problems about
extraction and pollution.
For
what good is development if, in return, we are made
to breathe polluted and toxic air such as what
people in Beijing live with.
Time is not
on our side. Everyone must do something for the good
of our environment.
Many can
start right in their own household or by adopting
disciplined lifestyle. Imagine what we can achieve
if we collectively agree to save our dying planet
The echo a
wise saying: “It is not even a choice we have to
make. It is our responsibility.”
THE WARSHIP THAT HIT A PROTECTED CORAL REEF
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight - Wednesday, February 6, 2013
THE
97,030 square-meter Tubbataha is a World
Heritage site and a UNESCO-protected marine park
famed for its beauty and diversity.
It is
considered one of the best dives sites in the
world, having two coral atolls that harbor a
wide range of marine species including 600
species of fish, 360 species of corals, 11
species of sharks, 13 species of dolphins and
whales, 100 species of birds, and sea turtles.
How on
earth can a U.S. warship, so
technologically-advanced, run aground in a
world-re-nowned coral reef?
Despite
its zonar, radar, GPS and other
highly-sophisticated equipment, the USS
Guardian, a 68-meter-long U.S. Navy minesweeper,
recently hit and destroyed part of the Tubbataha
reef in the Sulu Sea.
The
warship reportedly had “technical problems” that
made it difficult to steer its way against a
storm path, thus it got marooned on the reef.
The see
accident caused damage to more than 1,000 square
meters of corals.
The
presence of USS Guardian in a protected area is
questionable. It clearly violates sections 19
and 26 of Republic Act 10067 known as the
“Tubbataha Reefs National Parks Act of 2009.”
The
United States Navy recently offered its apology
over the incident, but is apology enough to
compensate for the damage done?
Experts
said that it takes “10 years for the said reefs
just to grow an inch”. They conclude that it
could take “more than 10,000 years before the
corals will regrow to their previous state.”
What
good can a mere apology do? Albeit apology
accepted, the United States government must
still be legally-compelled to pay our government
for the damaged reefs.
What is
the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) doing about it?
It has to step into the picture to hasten the
process deemed needed.
The
vessel still remains in the reef and the damage
will get much worse if the warship is not
removed.
Should
the ship have nuclear arms and the usual
ordnance and fire power present in every
warship, then we are in for a much worse
scenario.
The ship
can sink, explode and spread its devastation all
over the Sulu Sea. Salvage operation must be
done – and fast!
We
cannot cry over spilt oil or fuel! We cannot
afford another se disaster!
On
the global front, the environment is a victim of
global warming and climate change as well as
pollutions and ocean acidification.
Our
natural resources are in dire danger. Yet,
doubts prevail on how to save the planet.
Sadly,
the environmental movement seems slower than
expected. Environmental laws, such as RA 10067,
must be obeyed at all cost.
Violators must be dealt with accordingly. It is
the moral responsibility not only of
environmentalists, but of each Filipino, to urge
our government to implement to law. The time for
excuses is over.
Saving
the planet starts by saving and protecting our
own territory. To do that, there is no room for
any excuse.
Not even
an apology.
LET US LEARN FROM TRADITIONAL SOCIETIES
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Journal Tonight - Wednesday, January 30, 2013
AS
of this writing, scourging heat embraces ‘down
under’ as Australia heats up like it has never
done before. Already deemed as half a desert,
its aridity seems to expand enormously.
The
climate change debate is indeed beginning to
reel off in Australia.
Meanwhile, in Beijing, the smog and polluted air
are both taking their toll on the population.
Despite
the danger, the business-as-usual attitude
prevails at a faster rate in this emerging
economic giant, with its 1.4 billion citizens
all at stake. I Wonder how this pollution
directly effects their respiratory health and
well-being?
China
must act now, it being the biggest emitter of
green-house gases, overtaking the United States.
The
atmospheric carbon dioxide has reportedly
reached over 390ppm (parts per million) and its
exponential growth will go over the 2-4 degrees
C threshold needed to sustain life and reverse
the destruction of our planet.
This
cannot go on and must be changed for the better.
Many are taking the lead to combat and abate
climate change, both here and abroad.
No
country can ever boast of its economic or
industrial progress and development, based alone
on its Gross National Product or the amount of
gold reserves it holds, it its own people and
environment both become unwitting “collateral damage”.
In
his book entitled “The World Until Yesterday,”
Jared Diamond said it was barely 75 years
ago when transformation of traditional
societies from being self-sufficient island
states (where they do things on a sustainable
method) is a far cry compared to today’s
over-consumptive and wasteful societies.
The
author underscored that disputes then were
solved by dialogues held around a tribal fire,
ending up in peace for the nation.
How
ironic that today, with presence of unbeatable
judges and panels of lawyers, cases usually end
up even more complicated, seldom in peace.
When
will we learn from history and traditional
societies?
Internationally, Warren Buffett has increased
his investment in the solar power industry to
over $2.5 billion.
In
Germany, the government continues to invest
heavily on cheap solar and wind power after its
commitment to veer away from nuclear energy,
stemming from Japan’s tragic nuclear plant
experience.
Shouldn’t genuine progress of a country be
gauged simply by the richness of its environment
and happiness of its people?
This is
not a Utopian benchmark. This exists. It can be
possible. One only has to travel to a small,
remote, humble and yet happy place called
Bhutan.
In the
local setting, notice how more and more
initiatives, such as introducing the use and
benefits of solar-cooking and strengthening
massive reforestations projects, contribute to
environmental progress.
Education and advocacies may spread throughout
schools and communities like wildfire, with
lifetime influences that can be handed to our
succeeding generations.
However,
like wildfire also, the initiative can easily
wane if we do not nurture the collective
attitude necessary for such endeavors.
Would we
allow ourselves to be merely fence-sitters,
watching, waiting for consequences to unfold,
until we are next in line to suffer from
environmental hazards?
Or
should be challenge ourselves to do all we can
so that we can redirect this
worsening environmental scenario both continents
are experiencing ahead of us?
I
reiterate that this is possible! A green crusade
has to continue at all cost.
We all
must do our share onwards as the UNFCCC
continues to move backward after the futile Doha
climate change conference. They talk, we walk.
Words against action. Simple.
We must
learn from traditional societies and the norms
of old.
Let
results eventually be the judge.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Inquirer Opinion - Tuesday, January 15, 2013
The
year 2012 passed into history with a
record-breaking number of calamities: floods,
droughts, storms, supertyphoons. Calamities hit
the planet, all in extreme degrees, sparing no
country.
The United Kingdom experienced the worst flooding in years. Ukraine and its neighbors went through extreme cold weather conditions; it “stood still” as the winter snow breached -27 degrees Centigrade.
In our country, an unusual pattern of weather disturbances took shape, causing unprecedented destruction in parts of Mindanao that through decades have come to be considered “storm-free.”
2012 broke both the “hottest” and “coldest” weather records.
How can we forget Superstorm “Sandy” after it humbled the United States, the most powerful country in the world, when it pummeled its eastern seaboard and the cities of New York and New Jersey, and left them in a “state of calamity.”
Frankly, I expected that after Sandy, the United States and the world would wake up and seriously tackle the urgent issue of battling global warming and climate change. But I was wrong.
The
concerned leaders are looking instead into
accelerating consumption and production. This is
tantamount to spewing more carbon dioxide into
the atmosphere, thus increasing their countries’
contribution to the worsening unpredictability
of global weather patterns.
This is eco-suicide! Did anybody else ever notice?
In Doha, Qatar, the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change failed again to reach an agreement that would abate and mitigate global warming and climate change.
Do the world leaders see all the strange climatic disasters? Are they so blinded by greed and an insatiable lust for power that they refuse to take a stand? How can they not see even the simplest indicators such as whales and big fish beaching themselves? Or the common occurrence of red tide, algae blooms and fish kills? Or the continuing ocean acidification and Arctic ice meltdown? The list goes on.
Are they waiting for Greenland to disappear from the map to convince themselves that global warming is real? Why can’t the world learn from Germany whose economy is moving ahead, with solar power replacing nuclear power as its main source of energy? Germany has disproved the claim that harnessing solar energy slows down progress.
We
must follow Germany’s lead and abandon the
world’s present “development model of
destruction.”
Sadly, renewable energy development slowed down in 2011 and 2012, according to Bloomberg Energy. If this is any indicator of how things will be, then the future is bleak for our planet.
Still, we look forward to a new and challenging year, bearing in mind the worst calamities of 2012, but confident that mankind is up to this point still in a position to prevent the conditions that could lead to greater disasters.
For a better year to come, let us learn from the year that was.
WE ARE DEMANDING FOR OUR RIGHT TO LIFE!
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Tonight - Wednesday, January 2, 2013
THE
Doha climate change talks are over. As expected,
nothing was agreed upon to mitigate greenhouse
gases.
Another
victory? Yes, but or global warming and climate
change polluters. It appears climate change
talks these days are more like fish markets, by
comparison, where negotiations occur.
What
happened to the “polluter pays” principle?
Shouldn’t polluters be compelled to pay for the
damages – both irreversible and not – that they
do to the world and to humanity?
Should
they not be subjected to absolute justice
leading to permanent cessation of their
carbon-polluting enterprises?
This is
a MUST! This must be in the agenda of any
earnest discussion to combat climate change. But
this is not what is happening in reality.
Instead, their so called “negotiations” preclude
the necessary solutions to this global threat we
are all experiencing now.
This is
not any corporation’s planet. This is our planet
and polluters must pay for the life threatening
carbon dioxide they have emitted.
Consequentially, green house gases
continue to rise.
Major
polluters are relentless in their ways, without
a hint of rendering apologies nor payments and
good will – just denial and full blast
pollution.
Our
country is currently declared under “state of
calamity” after the carnage brought forth by
typhoon Pablo in Mindanao which was once
typhoon-free. Many lives were lost and
agricultural damages reached over Php9 billion
as of this writing.
Who will
pay for this damage? Who will account for the
lives lost?
A
typhoon may be a natural calamity with
unpredictable pattern. Yet, to b aggravated, if
not induced, by climate change due to man-made
pollution is a different story. This is where we
have to wrestle with major polluters!
They
cause carbon dioxide to reach more than 390ppm
in our atmosphere. The continuing increase in
carbon dioxide will exceed the estimates and the
Earth’s temperature is seen to rise over the 2
degrees Centigrade level.
Should
we allow them to continue with their unyielding
attitude, our planet will experience more
devastating calamities never experienced before.
The
world is now caught in a tight situation because
of these polluters’ greed.
No
amount of adaptation will save or secure us
unless we win this battle against major
polluters.
The
Arctic ice now melts even faster. Species are
going extinct. Water and food both are running
dry as devastation creeps into the earth.
Do we
need to experience more?
We must
reforest our mountains and mangroves. We must
protect whatever little is left. We must protect
our oceans. We must go organic and stop
industrial plantations. The list goes on.
We had
been warned of peak oil and food, of peak water
and clean air. They are happening now.
All the
signs are clear.
We are
following the history of Easter Island and what
caused its extinction. Let us learn from
history.
Let us
unite and strengthen our resolve to win this
battle against global warming and climate
change, for our children and their future.
I
daresay, we must also do our share and we can do
it.
We are
not appealing anymore. It’s about time to stop
being passive.
THUS, WE
ARE DEMANDING FOR OUR RIGHT TO LIFE THAT NO ONE
HAS THE MORAL RIGHT TO TAKE AWAY FROM US!
THE WAY IT WAS & THE WAY IT SHOULD BE
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Tonight - Wednesday, December 19, 2012
IN
the 19970’s, our family used to go scubadiving
almost every weekend. Traveling all over the
country for family enjoyment, I still recall how
rich and pristine were the coral reefs and how
the seas and their shores enthralled us. The
mountains then teeming with forests left us in
awe.
During
our younger days, we used to play in a creek
close to our backyard. The waters were crystal
clear. We enjoyed the sight of lots of guppies!
It was fun to follow the creek down and explore
its mystery and marvel.
It was
called the Maricaban Creek in Pasay. It
traversed through Makati leading to Manila Bay.
The
creek played an important role in our young
lives. It helped shape our convictions to be
responsible citizens.
We used
to believe then, young as we were, that we
belonged to the generations that could change
things: ‘make a difference’, ‘save the world’,
‘rally in the streets’ and “give peace a
chance”. These lines became our mantra.
Our
young imagination was fueled by the troubled
times. Who would not dream to be heroes or close
to being such? At the back of my mind then, I
had always wanted our natural environment to be
protected. It is worth the fight since it is our
home.
Today,
that creek has lost its marvel. It still exists
but without guppies in its waters, now turned so
dirty. It is a mystery to me where the vast
greenery next to the creek, such as the cogon
fields, has gone.
Taking
over the rustic environment is a vertical, urban
jungle that has no biodiversity.
Now, I
feel as if we failed. All efforts and struggles
seem to be strained against those who make
Mother Earth a dying planet. Our ecological
richness was at its best and yet we fought to
converse it – in vain. Today, the scenario has
extremely changed. The planet is heating up
un-controllably to dangerous levels.
We
are being battered by pressures beyond our
control. Climate change is becoming an enemy as
worst as the global polluters causing it. This
must be stopped and we must prepare for what is
to come. To ensure economic progress, we always
advocate for self -sufficiency based on our rich
natural resources and bounty of our mountains
and seas.
Let us
do our share and restore our environment that we
used to have. De-progress, restore and save our
ecology for our children and the future
generations to come.
Environment, after all, has to be nurtured. Not
for the way it was but for the way it should be.
THE YEAR WHEN NATURE LASHED OUT
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Tonight - Wednesday, December 12, 2012
AS
I write this, super typhoon “Pablo” has cut a
swath of massive destruction on Mindanao, an
island that was once free from typhoons.
Mindanao which takes pride in its pineapple and
banana plantations, is one part of our country
which is considered best for those agricultural
products that are sensitive to rainfall.
Ironically, as of this writing, the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
is meeting in Doha to address the mitigations of
greenhouse gases and win the battle against
climate change.
With
super storm Sandy causing its recent devastation
in the U.S. eastern Seaboard, it was hoped that
the United States, under newly re-elected
President Barack Obama, would take the lead in
the climate change talks.
The very
first indication that they are truly responding
to the urgency of the times would be for them to
sign the Kyoto protocol and make sure that
greenhouse gases are reduced significantly. They
must ensure these greenhouse gases are reduced to 350 rpm needed to sustain
life on earth.
Many
warnings have already been echoed on the
irreversibility of the Earth’s temperatures, now
increasing over the 2 degrees Centigrade mark.
Fears
have been echoed that once the Earth’ s
temperatures surpass the 4 degrees Centigrade
level, this would cause a disaster for both
living and non-living creatures.
There
are reports that we have already neared, if not
reached, such threatening stage.
The
World Bank, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), and the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) are some of the
many institutions that have repeatedly called
out this global concern.
With
2012 being the hottest year of record, with the
flooding in Asia and South America, with super
storms like Sandy and the continued droughts and
floods that plagued the planet this year, these
issues are everyone’s concern, not just homework
for the experst.
And yet,
as I finish this article, we can witness
freezing weather in the northern parts of China
and those countries in Europe.
With
winter not officially calendared, the ice and
snow arrived in advance, in deadly chill, all
over the Northern Hemisphere.
The year
is now ending with a typhoon impacting on an
island whose plantations heretofore had less
experience with such great devastations.
Nature
will continue to lash out until
her message of help will be heeded.
Should
the COP talk in Doha fail, which I am certain it
will, then we must take things in our own hands.
In our own little way, so that together we would
make the much-needed difference!
Resilience and perseverance, these are but two
of the keywords.
Yes, it
will be a year to remember.
Wouldn’t
it be best to remember 2012 for its great
significance to, and not of utter negligence of,
this environment we call our home?
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Philippine Daily Inquirer - Opinion, Monday, November 5, 2012
WINTER
STARTED early and Hurricane “Sandy” came late
and without mercy. And it was no ordinary
hurricane; it was dubbed “Frankenstorm” because
of the monstrous destruction it threatened to
wreak on the entire eastern seaboard of the
United States.
Sandy came at a time pre-destined by the heavens and nature—just a week before the presidential elections in the United States, the most powerful country in the world yet so meek before the wrath of nature.
One would think that after a series of “unusual” natural calamities over the years, the issue of global warming and climate change would be fully accepted by now and the need to mitigate atmospheric carbon dioxide tackled and solved. But skeptics remain, insisting that global warming and climate change are either a hoax or a paranoid doom merchant’s commodity.
What more proof do the skeptics want? Are superstorms and unusual global weather patterns not enough?
The Financial Times warned that the issue of climate change, if not addressed with urgency, can bring temperatures to rise to over 6 degrees Centigrade.
According to Jeremy Leggett, a convenor of the United Kingdom’s Task Force on Peak Oil and Energy Security, “a third of Xstrata’s revenues come from coal. Atmospheric research centers are telling governments that unless greenhouse gas emissions from coal, oil and gas are slashed, we are heading for a 6-degree Centigrade rise in global temperatures. That would be economically and environmentally catastrophic.”
Imagine
the polar ice melting and finally gone. Imagine
the monster storms and devastating droughts.
Imagine an increase of temperature to over 6
percent. Imagine the billions of people who
already are affected by poverty.
We don’t want to sound like the dreaded prophets of doom. Yet, that seems to be the scenario unless we mitigate and win the war against global warming.
It is alarming to learn that the Philippines is one of the countries to be most impacted by global warming. We cannot just sit still. We need to shout out loud and lead the way toward climate change negotiations. We need to take action both here and abroad.
We need to adapt and mitigate in our own way global warming and climate change through continuous reforesting programs and by raising a buffer of healthy forests on our mountains.
We need to protect our coastlines and seas with mangrove forests and wetlands, since the seas are the last “bastion” of food supply for our people.
We must protect and enhance our habitats and ecosystems.
The present development model must be changed! As they say, “de-progress” and educate our children so that they may help and understand the causes and effects of global warming and climate change which now threaten their future.
An adage puts it simply: “Deciding and doing are two different things.” We must decide now and do something now. This is the only way we can all win the looming war for survival.
ACID TEST: THE GLOBAL CHALLENGE OF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION
This documentary explores the startling phenomenon of ocean acidification, which may soon challenge marine life on a scale not seen for tens of millions of years.
The film was made to raise awareness about the largely unknown problem of ocean acidification, which poses a fundamental challenge to life in the seas and the health of the entire planet.
Like global warming, ocean acidification stems from the increase of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere since the start of the Industrial Revolution.
Leading scientific experts on the problem, many of whom appear in the film, believe that it’s possible to cut back on global warming pollution, improve the overall health and durability of our oceans, and prevent serious harm to our world, but only if action is taken quickly and decisively.
Watch the full documentary now
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Tonight - Editorial, Wednesday,October 24, 2012
IT
was just a matter of time.
All
the signs have been present that we are running out of
food to feed the world:
·
The
use of food for energy.
·
The
droughts, the worse in over 25 years, that ravage
continental United States.
·
The
droughts and floods that devastated Asia.
·
The
increase in the prices of basic food such as corn, soy
and wheat.
·
The
continued drop in food yields due to climate change,
soil erosion and floods.
·
The
destruction of our biodiversity.
·
The
continued logging and pollution of our planet.
As
of this writing, the G2O is calling for a special
session on global food security.
The
United Nations has called on the United States to stop
using food for energy.
Our
oceans, which make up over 71 percent of our planet and
which contribute much of the protein food for the people
are losing their resilience.
Once
marine life is devastated, it loses its capacity to
replenish itself.
Good
fish catches and the supply of big fish are gone due to
wanton trawling and dredging.
Continued pollution, ocean acidification and man-induced
climate change are taking their toll not only on our
oceans but also on the air and land resources.
Plastic, which make up 90 percent of all wastes in the
oceans, continue to fill our gyres and dead zones keep
on increasing.
The
ocean’s oxygen supply has gone from bad to worse, to
being acidic, damaging coral reefs and adversely
affecting the marine food production.
Such
horrendous damage may take decades to be naturally
replenished.
Another
adverse effect would be the prompting of algae bloom,
negating the reproductive stimulus of big fish to
multiply.
Consider the great whales, which only give birth once
and need to travel thousands of miles to feed, mate and
spawn.
Our
great whales are in danger of extinction since their
environment has turned acidic!
Yet,
there are countries like Japan and Iceland that continue
to hunt the poor, harmless great whales despite the
efforts of the International Whaling Commission to stop
whaling.
Let
us give our planets and mountains time to grow.
Our
marine-protected areas must be in-creased if we want to
save our seas from dying.
It is
with a heavy heart that I see world leaders not paying
attention to protect and conserve our dying planet.
Have
they not learned from history?
Don’t
they remember what happened to Easter island, the Mayan
civilization and many that followed?
Let
us not forget that all things are interconnected. The
web of life is now in dire danger.
Let
us not forget that all things are interconnected. The
web of life is now in dire danger.
Let
us avert our civilization’s decline due to recklessness
and greed.
That
will be indeed the end of the line.
We
challenge governments and our leaders to show the world
that we can do it – that we care for a healthy ecology
and a sustainable economy.
Should the challenge be unmet, it will only be a matter
of time for disasters to strike.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Tonight - Editorial, Wednesday,October 17, 2012
THE
naturally beautiful and culturally rich Jeju Island
known as the “Island of Peace”, a special autonomous
province of South Korea and the site of the last World
Conservation Congress is now itself the center of a
growing controversy.
Behind the controversy is Motion 181 which calls for the
protection of the people in Gangjeong, a 400-year-old
fishing and farming village in the island. Jeju has been
in harmony with nature for thousands of years.
Motion 181 centers against a planned construction of a
U.S. naval base on Jeju Island.
The
peaceful island is deemed to be geographically-strategic
as it is surrounded by China, North Korea, Russia and
Japan. This island is a World Heritage Site and a
biosphere-reserved by UNESCO. It is also protected by
international law.
Definitely, the building of the U.S. naval base will
impact on the island and the people. Soft-coral reefs
offshore will be destroyed when the seabed is dredged to
get U.S. warships
into the port.
Any
Environmental Impact Assessment will show the
devastating effects of having a naval base in Jeju.
Protective of the Heritage Site, some activists groups,
fired up by Motion 181 met with the villagers and they
collectively rallied peacefully outside the Congress
Hall while the motion was put to a vote in the plenary.
The Government House had more abstentions and ”No” votes
were gained more than the “Yes” votes.
The
NGO themselves voted strongly for the Motion and against
the construction of the U.S. naval base.
This
development is saddening for it shows once again little
respect to save the planet and can only contribute to
further dimming the future of our planet and our people.
Already the world is suffering from drought, typhoons,
floods, shortage in food and water, extinction of
species, poverty and biodiversity destruction. Aren’t
these enough to jolt our leaders to their senses?
The
planet cannot sustain the present development model and
the end of the line is near. We need a massive
transformation and we did not see that in the Congress
in Jeju.
We
must be more vigilant in our efforts to conserve our
planet – or else face the consequences of more
calamities.
The
world must keep an eye on how to avert an environmental
asset like Jeju Island contributing to be a collateral
to military progress.
Let
Jeju Island be freed from being under siege. Let it
continue be an Island of Peace.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Tonight - Wednesday, September 19, 2012
WE
now live in the most challenging times, faced with a
reality that Mother Earth is now gasping for her last
breath!
The
vital signs are clear: Global economies are in shambles;
unemployment rate continues to rise; poverty continues
to spread even in the most
progressive cities around the world, new diseases
are surfacing, and global population is unstoppable.
More
than two billion people now live below the poverty line
– deprived of a basic necessity: Water.
“Where there is Water, there is Life!”
Water
sustains our survival.
However, water resources are running dry at a very fast
rate. Sadly, over 40 percent of our rivers have been
dammed, preventing the much needed nutrients and rich
sediments from naturally replenishing our mangroves and
wetlands, where the food chain starts.
Back
home, after several dives in different parts of the
country, we witnessed the effects of man-made pollution
reaching our seas.
It is
very alarming how high acidicity ion, along with
man-induced climate change, gravely affected the oceans!
How
many people realize that oceans make up 71 percent of
our planet, supplying us with 50 percent of the oxygen
we need to survive?
With
rampant abuses, negligence and lack of awareness, the
world continues to experience a fast decline in marine
food production.
Compare the volume and size of marine catches we have
now, to those enjoyed by our ancestors 50 years ago!
THINK
OF HOW WORST this scarcity of marine food will become 50
years from now!
I
REFUSE TO ENVISION A future generation praying for a
handful of fish to catch in the wide seas!
I
FEAR TO FORESEE future generation of children not
recognizing a turtle … or a crab or a jellyfish or a
whale shark is… because none exists anymore by then.
Is
this scenario possible?
Yes!
YET, THIS MUST NOT HAPPEN!
If we
look at our land resources, we can witness worse abuses,
such as wanton mining and quarrying – destroying forests
through illegal logging and leaving mountains vulnerable
to flash floods, soil erosion and landslides.
We
are silent witnesses to countless lives already taken by
such man-made catastrophes! Imagine such tragedy coming
to our own family!
Will
we allow our selves to remain as silent witnesses to
this cycle of environmental abuses?
THIS
MUST NOT HAPPEN!
It is
ironic that despite all the warning signs of a dying
Mother Earth, the business-as-usual attitude remains –
massive consumption and a wasteful pattern.
It is
high time that we change this prevailing global
attitude.
If
there is comfort, I see a movement to change the old
ways.
DAEJAYON
IS one organization that has embarked on an initiative
to combat climate change.
Many
youth organization have joined this movement.
Just
a few months ago, students from the Philippine
participated in the Global Youth forum in Seoul. More
and more young leaders are enlisting themselves
voluntarily, so that their voices would be heard for the
sake of our environment.
Young
people from all over are introducing their own
environment-friendly techniques and inventions,
contributing their skills, talents, and time for Mother
Earth.
Back
home, we have adopted and expanded mangrove forest sites
for reforestation, with youth volunteers having the
highest attendance. We also held Environmental
essay-writing and art contest in schools for increased
awareness.
New
initiatives such as introducing the benefits of using
solar cookers to stop burning of wood are among the many
responses to the Earth’s degradation. These initiatives
need to be adopted more widely.
Our
educational system needs to give more focus on social
and ecological systems. We need to transform our ways at
a massive and faster rate, if we want to succeed.
To
the youth I say: You are the hope of our dear planet.
Let your voices be heard … let your actions be followed
by the rest of the world.
As
the late Professor Elinor Olstrom said: “Let us reclaim
the commons!”
I
say: “LET US DO IT NOW!”
Let
this be our legacy – for our children and their future.
(Excerpts
from a speech by the author at DAEJAYON Green Campus
Conference held during the 5th World
Conservation in Jeju, Korea. Antonio M. Claparols is
President of the Ecological Society of the Philippines,
IUCN-Member IUCN-CEESP.)
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Tonight - Wednesday, September 12, 2012
In
Metro Manila alone, more than 12 million inhabitants,
especially in the young, the poor and the elderly, are
now affected by polluted air. Everyday, we breathe this
polluted air, piercing our lives like a slow death in
process.
This
was among the messages from Green Convergence’s SONA –
State of Nature Assessment. The Green Convergence is a
coalition of NGOs for safe food, a healthy environment
and sustainable economy, whose stake-holders include a
cross section of society: government officials, civil
society, NGO’s students, farmers and teachers.
In
this year’s SONA we heard the grassroots speak –
farmers, fishermen, indigenous peoples and the urban
poor. They had one thing in common: a struggle against
the dying environment that is affecting their lives and
cultures.
Their
messages were telling:
·
Fishermen said their fish catch has gotten less and
less.
·
The
farmers experienced droughts, floods and soil erosion.
Their crop yields have gone down – like the rest of the
global world.
·
The
indigenous people can no longer live in harmony and
sustainability with nature as man induced climate change
spares no one.
Wherever
you are, the state of natural heritage is in dire
danger. We are a planet in peril.
With
peak food and oil prices now being experienced by the
world and with the drought that continue to scourge the
earth, highlighted by typhoons and hurricanes, obviously
we have reached the end of the line.
As of
this writing, two typhoons both gravely affected our
country and ravaged Taiwan, South Korea and Japan.
What
can be more a convincing messages from Nature itself
than the recent earthquake or the recent typhoons that
hit the Korean peninsula, Taiwan and Japan earlier?
Sadly, these natural calamities have become occurrences.
And I cannot see us and the planet take much more.
There
will definitely be more Arab springs and the struggle
for resources will escalate. Poverty will continue its
exponential growth.
In
the first half of September 2012, International Union
for Conservation of Nature or IUCN will host the 5th
World Conservation Congress in Jeju Island. Jeju is in
island of peace in the land of the morning calm, South
Korea.
That
congress will tackle global problems and pressures on
the earth’s environment. It will also delve on how to
mitigate climate change.
It
aims to hammer concerns ranging from culture, wild
nature, and food security to water and to the state of
the forests and oceans.
I can
foresee Mother Nature taking control of the Congress in
Jeju. May that help in her protection.
I
expect the world will echo the stories we heard In Green
Convergence’s SONA. When will the world realize that the
planet is really dying and cannot sustain the present
development model much longer?
We
continue to hope that many will soon realize that this
is the root cause of our planet’s degradation.
Only
with this realization can we all move forward and save
what little is left of God’s abundant creation.
For
now, all roads lead to Jeju.
THE STATE OF NATURE ASSESSMENT AND THE WORLD CONSERVATION
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP)IUCN-Member;
IUCN-CEESP; 53 Tamarind Road,
Forbes Park, Makati City, Philippines
Tel-63-2-633-9626 /
Fax-63-2-6317357
Today,
we listened to our SONA-The State of Nature Assessment
done by Green Convergence, a coalition of NGOs for safe
food, a healthy environment and sustainable economy.
Participants included a cross
sections of society: government officials, civil
society, NGOs, students, farmers and teachers.
This year’ s SONA was different as we heard the
grassroots speak.
These are farmers, fishermen,the Indigenous peoples and the urban poor.
They all have one
thing in common: a struggle against the dying
environment that is affecting their lives and cultures.
Even in Metro Manila alone, more than 12 million
inhabitants, especially the young, the poor and the
elderly, are now affected by polluted air. Everyday, we
breathe this polluted air, like a slow death in
process.
This reminds me of the story of the fisherman that echoes
the same message. The fish catch has gotten less and the
catch smaller.
The farmer has experienced droughts and floods and soil erosion.
Their crop yields have gone done like the rest of the global world.
The indigenous peoples can no longer live in harmony and sustainability with nature as man induced climate change spares no one.
Regardless where you are.
The
state of our natural heritage is in dire danger. We are
a planet in peril.
With peak food and oil now being experienced by the
world and with the droughts that continue to scourge the
earth, then highlighted by typhoons and
hurricanes, obviously we have reached the end of the
line.
As of this writing, two typhoons had both gravely
affected our country and ravaged Taiwan, South Korea and
Japan.
What more can be a convincing message from Nature itself
than today's earthquake? It also resounded the typhoons
that hit the Korean peninsula, Taiwan and Japan earlier.
I can foresee Mother nature taking control of the
Congress in Jeju. May that help in her protection.
Sadly, these natural calamities have become yearly
occurrences. And I cannot see us and the planet take
much more.
There will definitely be more Arab springs and the
struggle for resources will escalate. Poverty will
continue its exponential growth.
On September 5-15, 2012, the IUCN or International Union for Conservation of Nature will host the 5th World Conservation Congress in Jeju island.
Jeju is an island of peace in the land of
themorning calm, South Korea.
The
said congress will tackle the global problems and
pressures to the earth’s environment. It will also delve
on how to mitigate climate change.
It aims to hammer concerns ranging from culture and wild
nature, food security, to water, to the state of the
forests and oceans .
The world will echo similar stories we heard in today’s
green SONA. When will the world realize that the planet
is really dying and cannot sustain the present
development model much longer?
We continue to hope that many will soon realize, that this as the root cause of the planet’s degradation.
Only with this realization that we can all move forward
and save what little is left of what was God’s abundant
creation.
For now, all roads lead to Jeju.
ECOLOGY NEEDS MASSIVE STIMULUS
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Tonight - Wednesday August 15, 2012
IT
is not difficult to understand why we must preserve our
seas and prevent further destruction to the marine
environment.
Considering that over 75 percent of the Earth is water,
our seas and oceans are the lungs of our planet. They
supply us with over 50 percent of our oxygen and absorb
over 30 percent of carbon dioxide. Close to two billion
people rely on the seas for food and their livelihood.
There
is no doubt that our seas play a vital role in our
planet’s survival and yet, so little is known about it,
hence we continue to destroy her.
The
marine environment harbors three main ecosystems, all
representing the beginning of the marine food chain.
These ecosystem consist of coral reefs, mangrove swamps
and estuaries.
All
these ecosystems are in dire danger. Our mangrove
forests and estuaries are feeling the havoc brought
forth by terrestrial activities. Soil erosion continues
when the rains come and top soil erodes to the sea. The
pollution and climate change continue to take their
toll.
Coral
reefs are suffering the same fate as ocean
acidification, pollution and climate change persist. It
has been reported that 85 percent of our coral reefs are
dead or dying.
Take
note: we are the heart of the Coral Triangle. The
benefits provided by these ecosytems have no monetary
value. Money and economic stimulus alone cannot save the
marine environment.
Mangrove forests, wetlands and estuaries are not spared
by pollution as they
continue to degrade due to ocean acidification
and the fact that 40 percent of our rivers have been
dammed, preventing valuable sediment to reach and
replenish these ecosytems.
As
the scourging heat continues to bear down on the United
States, most of their agricultural produce suffer in
what could be the worse drought that has hit the U.S. in
the last 50 years. The price and supply of corn, wheat
and soy have been affected. Never has it reached such a
high cost as the supply will not be able to meet the
demand.
The
lives of most Americans will be affected as the economy
and ecology continue to experience human-induced
pressure of pollution and climate change.
While
the United States is on fire, Asia is experiencing
severe floods and typhoons. Our country has not been
spared. This will trigger a food shortage and possible
more Arab springs will unfold as the battle for
resources is imminent.
Why
do we need to reach this stage? Why do we need to mine
and follow the old and destructive development model?
Why
don’t we do things differently?
We
must change our ways and recycle, reuse and maximize
renewable energy.
To my
surprise, there are multitudes of people who are unaware
or don’t care about the sate of our dying planet.
Many
of them are still stuck in old, consumptive and wasteful
ways. They don’t even know that the air they breathe is
toxic and the fish they catch, sell or consume contains
high levels of mercury.
The
ecology needs a massive stimulus to stop pollution
totally and deter the prevalence of climate change.
We
need a massive transformation in our ways, and we need
it soon.
A
stimulus of the environment – that is what we exactly
need.
WE MUST TRY HARDER TO SAVE OUR DYING PLANET
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Philippine Daily Inquirer - Thursday August 9, 2012
EXECUTIVE
ORDER 79, which President Aquino signed on July 6, 2012,
has sealed the fate of our people and country. It does
not touch on the social and ecological systems of which
we reply on for life. It only
touches on monies and materials issues, old
development models that have wrought havoc to this
country since the 1900s.
The
heat wave in the United States, the floods in Russia and
the strange global weather behavior are all man-induced
climatic changes-all related to mining and pollution.
Consider our seas from which we rely on for life and
food. Already 40 percent of our rivers are damaged,
preventing sediment and nutrients to replenish the
wetlands and mangroves that are all part of the food
chain, thus obviously doomed to eventual destruction.
The
oceans absorb about 30 percent of atmospheric carbon
dioxide and plankton, and they are in danger as the PH
level (alkaline content) goes below 7, causing
ocean-acidification and coral-bleaching due to global
warming. This is life-threatening.
Life
in our oceans and lakes, as well as our forest and
mountains, are all in danger. The number of dead zone
have increased as there is not enough oxygen in the
seas. The entire gamut of photosynthesis has been
adversely affected.
Why
do we need to sell our country? No one will help us when
we are in danger. Look at Placer Dome and Marinduque’s
deluge. After all these years, nothing has been done and
no action has been taken against Placer dome, ironically
a member of the International Council on Mining and
Metals.
EO 79
will expedite the destruction of our island archipelago
system and destroy our rich marine life. It will
increase poverty. It will cause new diseases to
arise—diseases that will impact our social and
ecological systems.
It is
not economics but ecological balance that we want to
ensure. Our planet is our life, and our life is our
planet.
However, our planet has been pushed into its tipping
point – a point where there may be no turning back as
the path toward destruction and its manifestation are
clear.
The
solutions are before us. We need to transform our ways
and accept the fact that the present development
model is the root cause of environmental and social
destruction. We must realize that a development model
must focus on sustainable methods used by our
indigenous peoples in our forests and coasts..
We
need to change our educational system to include the
sustainable model focused on the social and ecological
systems.
The
days of narrow economics and expert arrogance are gone.
The politics of destruction must now end and real
transformation must take place now. We, together with
our youth, must strive harder to save our dying planet.
To
those behind EO 79, and those who have to know the
threats it brings, let this be our strong message: Our
natural heritage is not for sale!
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Tonight - Wednesday July 18, 2012
AS
I write this, the continental United States is engulfed
by the worse drought and heat waves ever – reminiscent
of the days of the dust bowl. The effects of the heat
wave have affected the livelihood, agriculture and
well-being of the people from the Land of the Free.
Prices of soy, corn and wheat have soared to expensive
highs. What is worse is that the production and yields
will go down, making supply scarce and possibly not able
to meet demand.
These
are clearly effects of global warming and climate change
on ecosystems and habitats.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, floods and
rains have devastated Asia and parts of Russia. These
too have affected the lives and homes of people and the
planet.
Why
do we need to wait for calamities and disasters to
happen before we act?
Already we have finished with Rio + 20 Earth Summit with
nothing concrete to abate and mitigate the deadly
effects of global warming.
Our
forests, rivers and oceans likewise are affected by the
wanton pollution and business as usual attitude
despite all that has been done in conference;
after all the calamities, the droughts, floods and
typhoons.
Already, our corals reefs are bleaching due to global
warming and ocean acidification.
In a
recent dive we had in Anilao, we experienced reefs that
had been damaged by man and over tourism. It has been
reported that over 85 percent of our coral reefs in the
Coral Triangle are destroyed and dying. Our forests and
mountains are in the same state.
We
seem not to be able to convince our leaders that the
Earth is dying and that the pressures brought forth by
humans will destroy people and planet.
We
need to transform our consumption patterns.
We
need to mitigate global warming and climate change.
We
need to change our educational systems to include the
protection and conservation of our natural heritage.
This
must be done with vigor and haste for we do not have the
luxury of time.
If
not, we may face an ecological disaster that we have
never seen before.
PRESS RELEASE RE: ESP/JRS EXPRESS ENVIRONMENTAL ESSAY & ARTWORK CONTEST - written by Malu E. Gacuma on Monday July 12012
The Ecological Society of the Philippines and JRS Express, in partnership with the United Architects of the Philippines-Mt.Kanlaon chapter and Silliman University, recently held an Environmental Essay-writing and On-the-Spot Environmental Artwork contest bearing the theme :” SIMPLICITY IN NATURE: HOW I SEE IT IN THE FUTURE.”
With the strong support of ESP and JRS Express president/CEO, Mr. Antonio M. Claparols and his brother, ESP co-founder and JRS Express VP,Mr. Javier M. Claparols, along with SU President Dr. Ben S. Malayang III and UAP-MK, thru ESP Negros' volunteer Project Organizer Malu E. Gacuma, the said events were jointly held on June 23, 2012 , a Saturday, from 8:00 am to 12 noon at the Main Library of Silliman University.
According to Claparols, a staunch environmentalist, : “ This is in line with our commitment to educate the youth , to make their voices heard and to allow them to take part in environmental conservation due to the deteriorating state of our environment and our planet’s degrading condition. As future leaders,our youth is a silent oasis of ideas and conviction.They must be heard now.”
Based on results of the judging panel led by Architect Jorge M. Mission, president of UAP-MK,the top three ( 3) winners of the Artwork contest , who were all from the Fine Arts department, were immediately declared at 2: 00 pm of June 23. First prize winner was Entry No. 16 by Tevet Margaret Vanguardia who received Php 5,000 in cash; 2nd Prize winner was Entry No.8 by Vince Andrean Bandiala who received Php 3,000 cash and Third Prize winner was Entry No. 9 by Sha’Anne Lawas, who received Php 1,500 cash.
Meanwhile, awarding of the environmental Essay-writing contest were announced on July 7, 2012, a Saturday at 11 am at the same venue. The top three ( 3) winners were Entry no.2 (“Nature’s Nature” ) by Diane Petersen who received Php, 5,000 cash as First Prize ; Entry No. 9 ( “ In A Hundred Years or So”) by Mel Ann Clair C. Bagaipo who received Php 3,000 cash as 2nd Prize and Entry no. 1 ( “Nature: Just What the Doctor Ordered” ) by Mariella Bustamante who received Php 1,500 cash as Third Prize.
The said winners also received their individual environmental trophies during the July 7 awarding ceremony.The said trophies were designed for the event by Bacolod City-based Architect Dominic E. Diocson of UAP-MK.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Philippine Daily Inquirer - Tuesday June 26, 2012
The
noon sun burned and the heat was just unbearable. Hours
later, darkness took over and the night began with
thunder and lightning. A heavy downpour followed,
causing floodwaters to rise. Expectedly, transportation
stood still.
As I write this, the rains have ceased. But in the rest
of the world, extreme drought and rain alternate in
buffeting the planet—not in a matter of seasons but in a
matter of hours! The global climate has been altered by
man’s carbon footprint and the ongoing “development
model.”
The planet cannot endure more of the pressures bearing
on it. The costs of living have increased everywhere.
Poverty continues to grow, along with the population.
Greece
has voted for new leaders. Welcome development, perhaps,
if not for the circulating news that it wants a
moratorium on debt payment. Frankly, I see no harm in
that scenario, considering that the global business
world is running on debt and more restructured debts.
What makes the scenario worrisome is the rising
corruption rate among the rich. How often do we read and
hear of some corporate names once respected but now
tarnished with fraud and corruption?
The time has come for stockholders to act and speak out!
It is encouraging that some have already done so,
putting a cap on CEO earnings and saying “No!” to
environmentally and socially impacted transactions. They
are obviously aware that these are the causes of climate
change, which will forever kill the planet.
Yet, world leaders are still engrossed in saving the
anemic global economy by imposing austerity measures on
peoples and countries that have done no harm. We need to
see the same iron hand applied to those damaging Mother
Earth, specifically those who harm our environment in
the guise of development and progress.
Development
means making life better for the people. It means
providing better food, better water supply, better
shelter, as well as better employment to sustain their
living.
The “development model” now being used globally has
failed and must be changed. The sooner it is done, the
better. Anything that falls short in responding to this
urgency allows more abuse of the environment.
The time has come for better change to unfold, and that
time is NOW!
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Tonight - Wednesday June 20, 2012
WHEN
it rains it pours, as the adage goes, yet in reality, it
pours with a vengeance we all have seen before.
Our
planet is heating up faster than the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and many
others have predicted.
Agriculture and food security are both at risk, more so
with most of our water resources heavily depleted and
polluted. The air we breathe has become polluted that we
can all feel the pollution around us.
Looking at Rio+ 20 WORLD SUMMIT in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, the prognosis is that little can be expected to
be achieved. Why?
Consider this: it may be dubbed as the “conference of
conference” and the summit is expected to guide the
world on the repercussions of the destruction of our
land, air and sea.
Yet,
our environment has gone from bad to worse since the
historic Earth Summit in Rio in 1992.
Biodiversity
loss has increased at a rapid pace. Poverty is at an
all-time high and its growth in now seen as exponential.
Logging and extraction are still wantonly continued by
the culprits.
Despite this grim scenario, the business-as-usual
attitude continues unabated.
But
life is balanced. The good news is that a few
corporations such as Google, LEGO and IKEA have invested
over $500 million into renewable power sourced from wind
to solar farms.
Their
move only proves that they want to be different from
those who plant trees to ‘green wash’ their sleek
operations. It is a move that needs to be emulated by
most, if not all, corporations.
These
few and many unknown souls are doing their own thing to
abate and combat climate change. They are the real
heroes, albeit unsung at these challenging times.
As
of this writing, it is expected that U.S. President
Barak Obama, as well as UK Prime Minister David Cameron,
European Central Bank head Mario Draghi and Germany
Chancellor Angela Merkel will not be involved in
the Rio Summit.
Do
they realize that their presence will be valuable for
more than 50,000 of today’s unsung heroes expected to
attend and cry out for Nature? No pun intended here, but
should the said leaders not attend the summit, we can
only surmise that they may be avoiding to be the right
trees to be barked
at!
There
must be a clear road map after Rio—clear meaning “with
targets and goals.” It also means a road map with a new
development model which
calls for ecological security, unlike the old
models.
At
this crucial time for our deteriorating planet, clear
changes are needed
with urgency, radical as they may seem.
How?
It is just common sense.
The
only sense needed, uncommon as it is.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Journal Online - Wednesday June 6, 2012
SYDNEY,
Australia
-- It has been quite sometime since I had visited
Sydney, Australia. The last time was in July, in the
winter of 2009.
My recent visit was mainly to attend the graduation of
my son, who earned his degree in Economics from The
University of New
South Wales. We are all very proud of him
and of all those who graduated along with him.
Ironically, these graduates are welcoming the real
hurdles in life during what can be the most turbulent
period in human history: with the
global economy in
shambles and expected to get worse.
China has just announced the slowdown of its economy.
This will have a dramatic impact on the global economy
now already deemed ‘anemic’ on its own.
Then, there is Europe that is expected to go on
‘stagflation,’ a situation in which the inflation rate
is high, the economic growth rate slows down and
unemployment remains steadily high.
Elsewhere, the United Kingdom has announced a double dip
and slow growth. The elections in France and other
countries have called for change. The Greek problem of
bolting out of the
Euro Zone has caused risk and uncertainty.
The United States will continue with its poor economic
performance and yes, there will be more Arab springs.
Worse, there may even be a war over resources, due to
all these global uncertainties.
Alongside all these, poverty continues to rise wherever
population does.
Now, here’s the saddest part: the environment continues
to be degraded while the old business-as-usual attitude
in the development model continues to go full-scale.
Mining and extraction continue to wreak havoc to our
planet and our natural capital, considered the last of
our resource base, is being depleted!
What surprised me during my visit here is the number of
young graduates from France, Germany, Italy, China,
Korea and the Philippines who all have found contractual
employment here in Australia.
It is disappointing to find professionals who had to
contend working as waiters and taxi
drivers. They are
obviously taking any kind of employment at hand, just to
make a living.
It is good to hear, though, that most of them are just
here for temporary jobs and are planning to go back to
their respective countries in due time to be more
productive.
We had an opportunity to go to Hunter Valley, a
wine-making region which is two-hour drive from Sydney.
It was in our itinerary for a whale-watching cruise,
preempting the migration of Humpback whales searching
for warmer waters.
Whales are mammals and breathe air like us humans. Their
brains are much bigger than us homo sapiens. Like
dolphins,
they must surface to breathe air.
Sadly, despite the efforts of the International Whaling
Commission,
protection of whales seems to be a “call in the
wilderness” since they are still being killed by whaling
fleets from Japan and other countries.
Have the culprits not learned? Or is it, I suppose,
their insatiable greed and lust for power and
money
driving them to continue their abuses?
As this prevails, the seas are turning into carbon sinks
while the sea grass, coral reefs and mangrove swamps
absorb much more carbon compared to the little forest we
have left.
Action
must be taken swiftly to protect our marine environment!
It doesn’t have to take an earthquake to awaken anyone
of us from the holocaust of nuclear power. The world
should have been awakened by the tsunami in Fukushima,
if no lessons were learned after Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
As I write this, it very encouraging that still, there
are many who never give up with their initiative to
protect our resources. These are a handful few, who
believe that the planet cannot sustain the present
development model.
Such initiative led to the phasing out of nuclear power.
This eventually led to solar and wind power now going
full scale in Germany and Japan. I spoke to a student
taking up his Masters in Architecture and asked him if
he and his classmates are being taught Eco-architecture.
It was to my surprise he said ‘No, they don’t’. Thus, I
encouraged him to convince his professors to include
Eco-architecture in their discussions, if not in their
curriculum, and how urgently it must be done.
With all these in mind, I feel sad for the new graduates
not only in Sydney but anywhere else in the world, as
many if not most will not be able to find employment to
start their lives.
It is difficult for me to express my dissatisfaction
with our so- called world leaders. They are moving much
too slow, too snail-paced, for the planet and for the
people to survive.
This is where we have to use the spirit of volunteerism
at its height! We must do things ourselves in many
little ways.
We need to call the attention of leaders and compel them
to fast track the use of renewable energy, to stop the
use of oil and coal, to stop logging our forests, to go
on a massive reforestation and to protect our
ecosystems.
It is not just a responsibility of a handful few. It
must be everyone’s moral responsibility to take action.
If need be, we must use vigilance to keep our leaders
focused!
We must choose leaders who will carry us on to the next
century that would see our planet replenished and the
ecology in balance.
We must act now with vigor and vigilance as Mother Earth
cannot take much more pressure.
As Abigail Adams once said: “Great necessities call out
for great virtues.”
We are experiencing the necessities. It is about time
for us to use our virtues for better changing times.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Tonight - Wednesday May 30, 2012
BOHOL
has many wonders. These include the Chocolate Hills,
Loboc River, the forest home of the endangered Tarsiers
– the world’s smallest mammal and Baclayon Church, one
of the oldest churches in the country.
Moreover, it boasts of: An eco-tourism center that takes
care of the environment and people and culture, who make
all the difference and the folk’s natural tendency to
love and care for their natural capital.
Bohol
was the site of the blood compact made by Sikatuna and
Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in the 1500’s. Bohol was also
one of the two provinces to create their own Republic
after the War of Independence against Spain, the other
being the Cantonal Republic of Negros.
Bohol
boasts of one of the best diving places in the country.
Dive in Balicasag and enjoy the wonders of marine life
and their bounty.
The
sea turtles, bountiful species and pristine coral reefs
always seem to amaze divers.
Recently, I had the rare opportunity -- really the
second time – to visit the wonderful island of Bohol. My
brother Javier and I set forth to visit and go diving.
Armed
with our cameras and underwater paraphernalia, off we
went.
After
the great dive in Balicasag , we went to Oslob, Cebu, a
two-hour banca ride from Panglao Island.
It
was a rainy and cold morning as we boarded and began our
journey. The waters were rough and after an hour and a
half out of shore, the sun came out for us and we got
ready to dive and see the gentle giants of Oslob – the
Butandings, or whale sharks. We had the dive of our
lives for never had we seen so many whale sharks!
It
was a wonderful site. We saw several whale sharks just
swimming around the cove where they were given shrimps.
However, the whale sharks need their natural environment
rich with plankton.
We
had seen the gentle giants of Donsol. But to see so many
whale sharks or Butandings is amazing!
These gentle giants feed on plankton. Are these
their migration paths and how did this wonder all began?
There
is so much to learn about our natural capital, our home,
the marine environment – rich and fragile as it is.
Let
us follow the people of Bohol and conserve our natural
capital.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols - President ESP) Peoples Tonight - Wednesday May 9, 2012
NO
matter where anyone goes these days, one would feel the
scourging heat as the summer continues to sizzle. Even
the desert continue to expand to urban centers like the
Gobi desert invading Beijing.
There
seems to be nowhere in the world that is exempt from
that is exempt from this manmade environmental madness!
Global Warming that is.
The
strange and unpredictable weather has made agriculture
difficult to sustain. Yields are lower as drought
plagues the land. Both planting season and harvesting
seasons get delayed, and yes, the yields are much lower
compared to previous years. How can farmers continue to
farm and feed the world sustainably with this worsening
global heat?
I
recently went to Tagbilaran City in Bohol to visit the
tarsiers and for an underwater escapade. The wonders of
Bohol go beyond
the tarsiers and Chocolate Hills. The people
there and their culture go a long way.
Site
of the peace pact between Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and
Sikatuna in the late 1570’s Bohol even today – continues
to boast of rich and diverse seas.
However,
what could have been pure enjoyment was hindered by the
extreme humidity, even right within the forest of Loboc.
Everyone had a fan or a towel and a bottle of water. The
heat was just unbearable! Perhaps the tarsiers may have
their own complaint, quiet as they were, despite their
adaptability even as the weather unpredictably shifted
from too much heat to a sudden rain-fall. The
rain that ensued was a relief after the scourging heat
showed no mercy.
The
islands of Balicasag and Pamilacan showcase one of the
greatest coral reefs and marine
life I have ever seen! There was no sign of coral
bleaching caused by climate change, as far as I saw. I
am convinced, though, that in due time these coral reefs
would show signs of today’s climate change and its
adverse effects even on underwater resources.
Coral
bleaching has been found in many parts of the country
and elsewhere in the world. The global heating process
which is affecting both the atmosphere and the oceans of
the world and might involve increases of as much as 2oC
over next 50 years constitutes a serious threat to the
survival of the coral, since this would mean that the
tolerance limits would be overstepped.
The
start of the marine food chain may be destroyed
before we know it.
Preventively, we must respond with urgency to all these
threatening signs of things to come.
Last
week, more volunteers braved the scorching heat and
immersed to knee-deep murky coastlines to plant mangrove
propagules and enhance the mangrove forest in Punta
Taytay in Bacolod City, all in the hope of spreading the
urgent message: to protect the environment.
It
will get hotter. That is the message. That is what we
have to help stop as early as now.
How
much more can the planet and the people take? Global
economy is in shambles and food and water are becoming
scarce. The social and ecological systems continue to
bare the brunt of the pressures as mining and so called
development are in full swing.
We
need to act wit vigilance and with a collective effort.
We
need to win the battle against climate change!
For
our people and
this planet we call our own.
(By: Antonio M. Claparols-President ESP) Philippine Daily Inquirer - LifeStyle - Saturday May 5, 2012
It’s
been a long while since I returned to the ocean, my
“home,” so to speak, second to the forests. To see and
marvel at the richness of the seas! The biodiversity is
indeed unmatched!
This
story begins in Bohol, an island in Central Visayas,
rich in culture and, if I am not mistaken, one of the
two provinces declared as a cantonal republic after the
war for independence from Spain (the other is Negros).
We
went to Loboc, viewing the rich and clean Loboc River
along the way. Eventually, we also met with the smallest
primates in the world, the tarsiers. These mammals sleep
in the daytime and are awake at night, like bats. They
gestate for six months and give birth to only one
offspring.
The wonders that are the tarsier will go on forever as
long as they are protected, conserved and treated with
respect, even in their sleep. After all, they are
mammals like us.
Then
off we went to Balicasag Island, world-famous for its
marine biodiversity, along with Pamilacan and other
areas in Bohol.
We
saw gigantic turtles, many of them just swimming freely,
as well as schools of jackfish. The coral reefs are
considered among the most diverse on the planet, and are
said to be even richer than the Great Barrier Reef in
Australia.
Our being part of the “coral triangle” explains why we
host the most diverse marine species in the world. We
should take pride in that!
It
was sheer joy to be back in the water. It was while
scuba-diving long ago, in the 1970s, that we were
educated and exposed to the environment and its crucial
role in our lives. It was our “baptism of water” to the
advocacy now being pursued for a lifetime.
I
remember when Presidential Decree No. 1219, known as the
“Coral Resources Development and Conservation Decree,”
was issued by then President Ferdinand Marcos. We
immediately went to Washington with Tom Garrett of the
Animal Welfare Institute and lobbied with US Sen. Warren
Magnuson to have Philippine corals included in the Lacey
and Black Bass Act. It was amended and signed into law
by US President Ronald Reagan in 1980, thus leading to
the ban on Philippine corals from entering the United
States.
In
those days, one could find Philippine corals being sold
as decor everywhere, from Paris to London to New York.
Unknown
to many, this was one of our greatest achievements:
Saving our corals and having them included as well in
the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (or CITES), with the
help of Dr. Ed Gomez of the University of the
Philippines’ Marine Science Center, which today is an
institute of great relevance.
Coral reefs, like mangrove swamps and estuaries, are vital ecosystems in the marine environment. Without them w