Environmental groups launch 12-day campaign for climate change justice

Environmental groups on Monday launched a 12-day campaign asking the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other concerned government agencies to make genuine moves to address the adverse impacts of climate.

The Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) said in a press conference at the Quezon Memorial Circle (QMC) in Quezon City that the “Depensahan, Taumbayan at Kalikasan” series of coordinated people's actions is appealing for climate change justice.

PMCJ officials said the activities are to be conducted in key cities and provinces nationwide and will run throughout the 12-day 16th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC/COP 16) in Cancun, Mexico from Nov. 29 to Dec. 10.

The moves aim to provide venue and opportunities for the people, the most vulnerable communities and sectors to raise their demands for immediate survival against the adverse impacts of climate change, which are hardly heard and addressed genuinely by those accountable for the climate crisis –- the wealthiest, overly-consuming nations and the government.

PMCJ said it considers the situation of the Philippines, being one of the most vulnerable, as already a matter of urgent survival for many of its communities, natural resources and ecosystems, and economy.

This requires defending the rights of the marginalized communities and sectors, the indigenous peoples, and the women who are among the most vulnerable.

Some of the people’s urgent demands revolve around the same critical issues that are to be tabled at the Cancun climate negotiations.

During the Cancun talks, the 192-member states will define the direction of the agreements on the very critical issue of climate finance, reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) and other financing/flexibility mechanisms.

In a brief presentation of Milo Tanchuling, secretary-general of the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) and lead convener of PMCJ, he mentioned what is likely to happen in the UNFCCC/COP 16 negotiations and the possible implications of its results on the issues of climate finance and flexibility mechanisms.

Read More

Alvarez, environmentalist group call for Christmas toys inspection

An environment group has pressed the Bureau of Customs to carefully inspect holiday toys and goods shipped from China to ensure that these are not made of toxic materials.

Ecowaste Coalition, in a statement, said Customs should publish the brand names, photos and other product specifications of toys that the Bureau had rejected due to high levels of lead and other harmful chemicals, to guide the public.

With the holiday season looming, the organization also urged Customs to inspect imported fruits and other food stuffs for pesticide residues and other contaminants.

“We support the more careful inspection of these Christmas shipments to ensure that dangerous goods such as toxic toys, substandard lights and perilous firecrackers are not put up for sale in the local market,” said Roy Alvarez, President of the EcoWaste Coalition.

“The stringent scrutiny by our customs officers is needed to thwart any attempts by crooked traders to make profits from the sale of dangerous products that could jeopardize public health and safety,” he added.

“We urge the BOC to make these toxic toys known to the consumers through the BOC website and the popular media in order to inform and protect the public, especially the children,” said Thony Dizon, coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Project PROTECT (People Responding and Organizing against Toxic Chemical Threats).

The group's call came after Customs officials recently placed an alert on 15 container trucks filled with toys, firecrackers and fruits from Hong Kong and China.

The Customs said the alert was issued pending verification of permits from various government agencies on the contents of the containers.

Customs examines toy shipments by obtaining samples of products from the lot and sending the samples to an independent private laboratory for analysis. Toys that failed the tests are issued warrants of seizure and detention.

Toys containing lead and lead-based paint are dangerous because they expose children to this brain-damaging chemical, which could be transmitted through the mouth. Health experts believe there is no defined safe level for lead as they can be toxic to children even at low levels, according to the group.

Read More

Green groups conduct ‘waste audit’ of Manila Bay

ENVIRONMENTAL groups conducted a “waste audit” of Manila Bay to mark the ninth “Global Day of Action” against waste and incineration.

Greenpeace, EcoWaste Coalition and the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) led the audit as they call on Filipinos to “Stop Trashing the Climate”.

GAIA, which claims to have 650 members from 92 countries, urged people, industries, and governments to formally commit to “Zero Waste” policies.

The group said it would mean designing waste out of the system with prevention, reduction, reuse, recycling and composting, instead of resorting to dirty and unsustainable technologies like incineration and landfilling.

GAIA cited toxic pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and high costs of incineration among the reasons for shifting to Zero Waste approaches.

“Manila Bay is only one of the innumerable examples where our dependence on disposable stuff such as plastic bags is choking the life out of our living environment,” said Gigie Cruz of GAIA.

Greenpeace toxics campaigner Beau Baconguis said Manila Bay and its estuaries have for a long time been symbolic of all the trash people throw in waters.

“We can clean visible trash, but toxic discharges which are actually more harmful remain invisible. In line with Zero Waste principles, Greenpeace is calling for a mandatory pollution disclosure system that will be the first step to eliminate these hidden toxics in our waters,” she said.

The waste audit was also conducted as part of the 10th anniversary of both GAIA and Greenpeace Southeast Asia (GPSEA).

Greenpeace’s flagship “Rainbow Warrior” is in Manila as part of its “Turn the Tide” tour of the region to highlight solutions to the threat of climate change.

In 2006, Greenpeace, GAIA, EcoWaste, and other groups also conducted a waste audit in Manila Bay where 1,000 liters of waste were collected. Results revealed that plastic bags composed 51.4% of the discards recovered.

“Ten years of working together across continents has made it clear that Zero Waste is a much better alternative for the climate, the environment, our health and our economies,” Cruz said.

“Zero Waste has significant climate benefits since it conserves resources, saves energy, and cuts greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, it creates many jobs and strengthens economies,” she added.

Read More

Toxic Xmas goods

A non-government environmental organization hailed customs authorities for clamping down on toxic and hazardous goods flooding the country as Christmas approaches.

The EcoWaste Coalition welcomed the move by the Bureau of Customs at the Manila International Container Port and Port of Manila to defer the release of 15 container vans loaded with imported plastic toys, firecrackers and other goods from China and Hong Kong until after rigorous examination.

Reports quoted Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez as saying “we have to keep a more vigilant watch and conduct thorough inspection of all vans to ensure the safety of the consuming public during the holidays,” while Customs Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Filomeno Vicencio, Jr. described their action “as part of the risk management measures of the Bureau.”

“We support the more careful inspection of these Christmas shipments to ensure that dangerous goods such as toxic toys, substandard lights and perilous firecrackers are not put up for sale in the local market,” said Roy Alvarez, president of the EcoWaste Coalition.

“The stringent scrutiny by our customs officers is needed to thwart any attempts by crooked traders to make profits from the sale of dangerous products that could jeopardize public health and safety,” he added.

To safeguard the health of toy-loving children, the EcoWaste Coalition urged the BoC to publish the brand names, photos and other product specifications and the test results of toys that the Bureau had rejected due to high levels of lead and other harmful chemicals.

The BoC supposedly examines toy shipments, obtaining samples of products from the lot and sending the samples to an independent private laboratory for analysis. Toys that failed the tests are confiscated.

“We urge the BoC to make these toxic toys known to the consumers through the BoC website and the popular media in order to inform and protect the public, especially the children,” said Thony Dizon, Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Project PROTECT (People Responding and Organizing against Toxic Chemical Threats).

Toys containing lead and lead-based paint, Dizon pointed out, are dangerous because they expose children to this brain-damaging chemical through their common hand-to-mouth activity. Health experts believe there is no defined safe level for lead as they can be toxic to children even at low levels.

With respect to firecrackers, the EcoWaste Coalition sought the help of BoC in strictly enforcing Section 6 of Republic Act 7183, which prohibits the importation of finished firecrackers and fireworks.

Additionally, the EcoWaste Coalition urged the BoC to strictly examine food imports such as holiday fruits and delicacies, ensuring they do not contain hazardous levels of pesticide residues and other contaminants.

A non-government environmental organization hailed customs authorities for clamping down on toxic and hazardous goods flooding the country as Christmas approaches.

The EcoWaste Coalition welcomed the move by the Bureau of Customs at the Manila International Container Port and Port of Manila to defer the release of 15 container vans loaded with imported plastic toys, firecrackers and other goods from China and Hong Kong until after rigorous examination.

Reports quoted Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez as saying “we have to keep a more vigilant watch and conduct thorough inspection of all vans to ensure the safety of the consuming public during the holidays,” while Customs Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Filomeno Vicencio, Jr. described their action “as part of the risk management measures of the Bureau.”

“We support the more careful inspection of these Christmas shipments to ensure that dangerous goods such as toxic toys, substandard lights and perilous firecrackers are not put up for sale in the local market,” said Roy Alvarez, president of the EcoWaste Coalition.

“The stringent scrutiny by our customs officers is needed to thwart any attempts by crooked traders to make profits from the sale of dangerous products that could jeopardize public health and safety,” he added.

To safeguard the health of toy-loving children, the EcoWaste Coalition urged the BoC to publish the brand names, photos and other product specifications and the test results of toys that the Bureau had rejected due to high levels of lead and other harmful chemicals.

The BoC supposedly examines toy shipments, obtaining samples of products from the lot and sending the samples to an independent private laboratory for analysis. Toys that failed the tests are confiscated.

“We urge the BoC to make these toxic toys known to the consumers through the BoC website and the popular media in order to inform and protect the public, especially the children,” said Thony Dizon, Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Project PROTECT (People Responding and Organizing against Toxic Chemical Threats).

Toys containing lead and lead-based paint, Dizon pointed out, are dangerous because they expose children to this brain-damaging chemical through their common hand-to-mouth activity. Health experts believe there is no defined safe level for lead as they can be toxic to children even at low levels.

With respect to firecrackers, the EcoWaste Coalition sought the help of BoC in strictly enforcing Section 6 of Republic Act 7183, which prohibits the importation of finished firecrackers and fireworks.

Additionally, the EcoWaste Coalition urged the BoC to strictly examine food imports such as holiday fruits and delicacies, ensuring they do not contain hazardous levels of pesticide residues and other contaminants.

Read More

Voyage of Greenpeace flagship may be over, but not its causes

The voyage may soon be over for Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior. But definitely not for the environmental causes which the international volunteer organization has been fighting for.

The ship, which is set to retire next year, arrived in Manila Saturday for the final stop of her “Turn the Tide” tour of Southeast Asia, promoting solutions to the threat of climate change.

To welcome the ship’s arrival, more than 500 Greenpeace volunteers conducted a “March for Renewable Energy” at the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex in Pasay City as they called on the Philippine government to commit to a target of 50 percent renewable energy by 2020.

They also urged President Aquino to set an example for the rest of the world by signing the country on to an Energy Revolution road map.

In response, Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Amor Amorado said the government supports the group’s campaign.

“The government supports the development of renewable energy. The government believes that there is no other way but through renewable energy if we hope to survive further in this kind of environment. We have seen the ill-effects of coal plants, that’s why we support Greenpeace in their endeavors,” he said.

Greenpeace is known for its attention-grabbing campaigns to make people aware of the abuses suffered by Mother nature. The Rainbow Warrior is the ship the organization uses to visit mainly countries in Asia and the Pacific.

The ship’s arrival also coincided with the 10th anniversary of Greenpeace operations in the region.

Greenpeace Southeast Asia, which was established in 2000, has been campaigning to protect forests, promote renewable energy, advocate sustainable agriculture and to stop water pollution.

Key battleground

“Southeast Asia is one of the key battlegrounds where the fight to save the planet will ultimately be won or lost. The furious pursuit of economic growth at all costs by Southeast Asian countries over the last 10 years has resulted in some of the worst case of environmental abuse and destruction we have ever seen. This makes Greenepeace’s mission to protect the region from further ecological ruin and to be a rallying point for awareness and action even more critical,” said Greenpeace Southeast Asia executive director Von Hernandez.

According to JP Agcaoili, Greenpeace media campaigner, the organization is now in the process of building the new Rainbow Warrior—a purpose-built environmental campaigning ship—as the current ship is heading for retirement after 52 years at sea.

The ship that visited the Philippines is actually the Rainbow Warrior II. The original vessel (Rainbow Warrior I) was sunk in 1985 by agents of the French government in an attempt to foil protests of their nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific.

In 1989, Greenpeace was able to get a hold of another ship, a former fishing vessel, which they converted into the Rainbow Warrior II.

The vessel’s name was inspired by a North American Indian prophecy “which foretells a time when human greed will make the Earth sick, and a mythical band of warriors will descend from a rainbow to save it.”

The Rainbow Warrior II has had a long and colorful history of campaigning, supporting people in their fight to have a cleaner, safer environment.

It not only acts as Greenpeace’s messenger, sometimes it is at the core of risky operations like blocking the path of a nuclear warship or a ship known to be carrying toxic wastes.

Arguably, Greenpeace said, the ship’s greatest moments were in her decades-long struggle to end nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific.

“Despite being rammed, bombed and subjected to every form of intimidation and opposition imaginable, she carried on the fight for a nuclear-free Pacific,” the group said.

The new ship will be purpose-built and better equipped to tackle the great environmental threats of our time, according to the Greenpeace’s official website.

Read More

Aquino urged to become ‘renewable energy champion’

Local members of the international environmental group Greenpeace on Saturday urged President Benigno Aquino III to become a “renewable energy champion" by committing to increase the use of clean energy sources in the country to 50 percent by 2020.

Greenpeace Philippines’ Climate and Energy campaigner Amalie Obusan said Aquino should express his administration’s intent early enough to promote renewable energy sources in the country, such as sunlight, wind, tidal movement and geothermal heat.

“The President’s mother is known for the People Power Revolution. I think he can leave a very good legacy to the country if he starts an Energy Revolution during his administration," she said in an interview during Greenpeace Southeast Asia’s tenth anniversary celebration in Pasay City on Saturday.

Committing to the use of renewable energy sources will help the country decrease its dependence on imported petroleum products, Obusan added.

“If the government starts an Energy Revolution, we can have energy security. We will not be held hostage anymore to importation," she said.

She added that the use of renewable sources will allow far-flung communities to have access to energy.

‘Turn the Tide’ tour

The use of renewable energy is one of the actions Greenpeace Southeast Asia is urging governments in the region to undertake during its tenth year anniversary this month.

As part of its activities, the environmental group’s flagship “Rainbow Warrior" has been sailing to Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines in the past four months—in what it dubbed as the “Turn the Tide" tour—to promote climate change solutions that span the three countries.

The ship arrived in Metro Manila on Saturday and is expected to leave by Sunday afternoon.

To welcome the Rainbow Warrior’s arrival, Greenpeace Philippines held a program, a storytelling session and a concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex in Pasay City on Saturday.

Optimistic

Obusan said that she is optimistic that President Aquino will heed Greenpeace’ call for greater use of renewable energy sources in the country.

“Naniniwala kami na mami-meet ang objective na ito. Naniniwala kaming papakinggan kami ng Pangulo," she said. (We believe that this objective will be met. We believe that the President will listen to us.)

She added that she is “pleased" that the government is currently “very open" to demands from non-government organizations.

“Sa ngayon, bukas ang gobyerno sa pakikipagtrabaho sa civil society organizations. Malaki ang pagkakaiba ngayon kaysa noon," she said. (The government now is open to working with civil society organizations. This is a big difference with the present administration compared with the past one.)

Obusan added that she hopes the legislature will also do its part in its coming sessions by crafting laws to further promote the use of renewable energy sources in the country.

Read More

Phl green groups join global campaign to “stop trashing the climate” and for “zero waste”

An international coalition of citizens’ groups conducting waste audit in Manila Bay Sunday called to “Stop Trashing the Climate” as part of their 9th Global Day of Action against Waste and Incineration.

The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), comprising of over 650 members from 92 countries, urged people, industries and governments to formally commit to “Zero Waste” policies.

That means designing waste out of the system with prevention, reduction, reuse, recycling and composting, instead of resorting to dirty and unsustainable technologies like incineration and landfilling.

GAIA cited toxic pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and high costs of incineration among the reasons for shifting to Zero Waste approaches.

Joining GAIA and Greenpeace in collecting discard samples on and in offshore areas of Manila Bay are its partners EcoWaste Coalition, Ban Toxics, Buklod Tao, Ecology Ministry of the Diocese of Caloocan, Earth UST, Health Care Without Harm, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, Mother Earth Foundation, Sagip Pasig Movement, Samahan ng Muling Pagkabuhay Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Sining Yapak, and Zero Waste Philippines.

“Manila Bay is only one of the innumerable examples where our dependence on disposable stuff such as plastic bags is choking the life out of our living environment and we’re already experiencing its effects, so we have to start rethinking our throw-away lifestyles,” said Gigie Cruz of GAIA.

“We hope that the people, industries and government will heed our call to “Stop Trashing the Climate,” support “Zero Waste for Zero Warming,” direct mitigation funds in the waste sector toward recycling and resource recovery projects and support global efforts in making landfills and incinerators obsolete,” added Cruz.

“Manila Bay and its estuaries have for a long time been symbolic of all the trash we throw in our waters. Thankfully, there have been improvements due to much-needed enactment of environmental laws. But more needs to be done: we can clean visible trash, but toxic discharges which are actually more harmful remain invisible. In line with Zero Waste principles, Greenpeace is calling for a mandatory pollution disclosure system that will be the first step to eliminate these hidden toxics in our waters,” said Beau Baconguis, Toxics Campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

The waste audit was also conducted as part of the 10th anniversary of both GAIA and Greenpeace Southeast Asia (GPSEA), with the participation of boats and crew from the Greenpeace flagship, Rainbow Warrior, which is in Manila as part of its “Turn the Tide” tour of the region to highlight solutions to the threat of climate change.

GAIA was founded in South Africa in 2000 to mobilize grassroots action against incinerators and other dirty waste technologies and advance sustainable and just solutions such as Zero Waste and Clean Production.

The regional Greenpeace office, on the other hand, was established 10 years ago following the visit of the Rainbow Warrior for the “Toxics Free Asia Tour” in the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.

In 2006, Greenpeace, GAIA, EcoWaste and other groups also conducted a waste audit in Manila Bay where 1000 liters of waste were collected.

Results revealed that plastic bags composed 51.4 percent of the discards recovered.

Along with other plastic products like composites and polystyrene, they made up 76.9 percent of the total waste, while biodegradables comprised 12.9 percent. Rubber completed the remaining 10.2 percent.

“Ten years of working together across continents has made it clear that Zero Waste is a much better alternative for the climate, the environment, our health and our economies,” Cruz added. “Zero Waste has significant climate benefits since it conserves resources, saves energy, and cuts greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, it creates many jobs and strengthens economies.”

GAIA also expressed support to the developments in the House of Representatives Committee on Ecology, particularly HB No. 651 authored by Rep. Sonny Angara, and HB No. 2109 co-authored by Reps. Rufus Rodriguez and Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. which are respectively mandating the use of recyclable or biodegradable materials for the packaging of consumer products; and banning the use of plastic bags in groceries, restaurants and other establishments.

“These timely bills reinforce the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and provide crucial steps toward Zero Waste,” Cruz points out. “It is our hope that they get enacted as laws soon.”

Read More