OUR ECOLOGICAL TASK
by Gregorio V. Bituin Jr.
unpublished article for Greenlinks newsfeatures, 1997
I am with the Kamalayan, a revolutionary socialist youth organization, as its Basic Masses Integration (BMI) officer in 1994-95 when my interest in ecology developed. A year before that, I joined the Franciscan missionaries in their integration with the Muslims in Basilan in Mindanao. There I learned how retired Bishop Querejeta and the Basilan Green Movement prepared a funeral march on that fateful Earth Day celebration, April 22. The bishop invited us to join them in that funeral march. Although we did not participate because of our hectic schedule, their activity and their logic behind that event are unaltered in my mind.
It was in January 1995 when I met the organizers of the Environmental Advocacy Students Collective (EASC) and became a pioneer of this organization. I was elected logistics officer of EASC during its first NCR Congress held on October 23-26, 1995 that was attended by student environmental groups from different schools.
On August 21-25, 1995, five days before we turned over our leadership in Kamalayan to a new batch of student leaders, I attended the International Forum on the Environment held at Pangasinan, which was organized by Kalipi (Kabataang Liberal ng Pilipinas) and the Cosca-Lunsad of De La Salle University (DLSU) in Taft. I represented Kamalayan in that forum.
During the French nuke testing in Mururoa atoll on September 1995, together with students from FEATI University (my alma mater), we joined protest actions against the French nuke testing.
In June 1996, I joined the secretariat of the Greenpeace International in Manila, when the boat MV Greenpeace traveled far from New Zealand and made a campaign stop in Manila before going to China to protest the Chinese nuclear testing. I was in the office of the Earthsavers then when I saw in a manual the address of Greenpeace here in Manila.
On August 21-23, 1996, I attended an environmental seminar held in DENR, PAWB, and Pamitinan Cave. Wawa, Montalban, Rizal which earned me to be a DENRO (Deputized Environment and Natural Resources Officer).
This probably is my passport to be appointed as temporary head of the environmental desk of Sanlakas.
Although there are two activities (the April 22 International Earth Day and the June 5 World Environment Day) that was not pushed through, still the enthusiasm to lead this environmental desk did not vanished.
One of our activities so far is publishing the monthly Greenlinks newsfeatures magazine as well as organizing The Green Scribes (TGS), an alliance of youth environmental journalist within the NCR. We plan that in the next three months, Greenlinks newsfeatures is going national. I invited my friend from Koronadal, South Cotabato, to handle the papers' Mindanao Bureau. The Luzon and the Visayas Bureau are still in progress.
On the other hand, the TFS is planning to have a regional congress in November. We plan to go national next year, probably together with the formation of the Young Writers and Journalists Alliance (YWJA), an alternative alliance of campus journalists. We just hope that we will be stronger enough to meet the challenges of the times.
During the Sanlakas pre-congress on July 5, 1997, a resolution urging its congress to form an eco-desk was passed. Most of the delegates agreed, while some suggest to investigate thoroughly the MMDA, DENR, and other government and NGOs regarding corruption in implementing environmental and ecological guidelines. This resolution is a great leap forward if Sanlakas members will push it through.
Anyway, there are many issues of concern we should address. In the NCR alone, the garbage disposal is a real problem. We did not know if those who handle the garbage management are mature enough to do their job. They cannot even implement a simple solid waste management, although common sense is enough to understand this. Corruption? Even if the people in the area separated the biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste, the garbage collectors still mixed them with each other. We need to apply the solid waste management in every barangay, municipality, city, and any other places so that taxes we paid on the government regarding waste disposal will be minimized by at least 50%. Do the people need Sanlakas to lobby this simple mechanics? This is a vital issue of concern, so we should not neglect this.
The government wants to have incinerators in our country as the solution on the emerging garbage problem. But according to our friend from Greenpeace, "All incinerators, no matter how modern or efficient, emit toxic chemicals and substances such as heavy metals. Studies have shown that exposure to these compounds and heavy metals can cause cancer, birth defects and spontaneous abortions. The chemicals can also damage the kidney, liver and reproductive system, and cause behavioral problems among the people." He also said that the opposition against the construction of incinerators in our country is a part of international campaign for a worldwide suspension of constructing incinerators. Greenpeace investigation also showed that most of the foreign companies offering to help solve our power and garbage problems are actually international toxic waste dumpers from developed countries.
Sanlakas dream of a society where peace and social justice will reign. As we struggle for social progress with social justice, we should also look at the future. We should ask each one of us. What will the next generation inherit from us? A toxic environment? A nuclear radiation, such as Chernobyl? An unhealthy ecology, dirty lakes and rivers, pollution, etc.? I'll dare you to take up the challenge. Let's join hands to struggle hard and smart enough in protecting Mother Earth. This is our legacy to generations to come.
Lastly, we hope that you will continuously read and support our environmental magazine - the Greenlinks newsfeatures. Take good care of your family, your health and yourself always. See you next issue. I'll be back.
by Gregorio V. Bituin Jr.
unpublished article for Greenlinks newsfeatures, 1997
I am with the Kamalayan, a revolutionary socialist youth organization, as its Basic Masses Integration (BMI) officer in 1994-95 when my interest in ecology developed. A year before that, I joined the Franciscan missionaries in their integration with the Muslims in Basilan in Mindanao. There I learned how retired Bishop Querejeta and the Basilan Green Movement prepared a funeral march on that fateful Earth Day celebration, April 22. The bishop invited us to join them in that funeral march. Although we did not participate because of our hectic schedule, their activity and their logic behind that event are unaltered in my mind.
It was in January 1995 when I met the organizers of the Environmental Advocacy Students Collective (EASC) and became a pioneer of this organization. I was elected logistics officer of EASC during its first NCR Congress held on October 23-26, 1995 that was attended by student environmental groups from different schools.
On August 21-25, 1995, five days before we turned over our leadership in Kamalayan to a new batch of student leaders, I attended the International Forum on the Environment held at Pangasinan, which was organized by Kalipi (Kabataang Liberal ng Pilipinas) and the Cosca-Lunsad of De La Salle University (DLSU) in Taft. I represented Kamalayan in that forum.
During the French nuke testing in Mururoa atoll on September 1995, together with students from FEATI University (my alma mater), we joined protest actions against the French nuke testing.
In June 1996, I joined the secretariat of the Greenpeace International in Manila, when the boat MV Greenpeace traveled far from New Zealand and made a campaign stop in Manila before going to China to protest the Chinese nuclear testing. I was in the office of the Earthsavers then when I saw in a manual the address of Greenpeace here in Manila.
On August 21-23, 1996, I attended an environmental seminar held in DENR, PAWB, and Pamitinan Cave. Wawa, Montalban, Rizal which earned me to be a DENRO (Deputized Environment and Natural Resources Officer).
This probably is my passport to be appointed as temporary head of the environmental desk of Sanlakas.
Although there are two activities (the April 22 International Earth Day and the June 5 World Environment Day) that was not pushed through, still the enthusiasm to lead this environmental desk did not vanished.
One of our activities so far is publishing the monthly Greenlinks newsfeatures magazine as well as organizing The Green Scribes (TGS), an alliance of youth environmental journalist within the NCR. We plan that in the next three months, Greenlinks newsfeatures is going national. I invited my friend from Koronadal, South Cotabato, to handle the papers' Mindanao Bureau. The Luzon and the Visayas Bureau are still in progress.
On the other hand, the TFS is planning to have a regional congress in November. We plan to go national next year, probably together with the formation of the Young Writers and Journalists Alliance (YWJA), an alternative alliance of campus journalists. We just hope that we will be stronger enough to meet the challenges of the times.
During the Sanlakas pre-congress on July 5, 1997, a resolution urging its congress to form an eco-desk was passed. Most of the delegates agreed, while some suggest to investigate thoroughly the MMDA, DENR, and other government and NGOs regarding corruption in implementing environmental and ecological guidelines. This resolution is a great leap forward if Sanlakas members will push it through.
Anyway, there are many issues of concern we should address. In the NCR alone, the garbage disposal is a real problem. We did not know if those who handle the garbage management are mature enough to do their job. They cannot even implement a simple solid waste management, although common sense is enough to understand this. Corruption? Even if the people in the area separated the biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste, the garbage collectors still mixed them with each other. We need to apply the solid waste management in every barangay, municipality, city, and any other places so that taxes we paid on the government regarding waste disposal will be minimized by at least 50%. Do the people need Sanlakas to lobby this simple mechanics? This is a vital issue of concern, so we should not neglect this.
The government wants to have incinerators in our country as the solution on the emerging garbage problem. But according to our friend from Greenpeace, "All incinerators, no matter how modern or efficient, emit toxic chemicals and substances such as heavy metals. Studies have shown that exposure to these compounds and heavy metals can cause cancer, birth defects and spontaneous abortions. The chemicals can also damage the kidney, liver and reproductive system, and cause behavioral problems among the people." He also said that the opposition against the construction of incinerators in our country is a part of international campaign for a worldwide suspension of constructing incinerators. Greenpeace investigation also showed that most of the foreign companies offering to help solve our power and garbage problems are actually international toxic waste dumpers from developed countries.
Sanlakas dream of a society where peace and social justice will reign. As we struggle for social progress with social justice, we should also look at the future. We should ask each one of us. What will the next generation inherit from us? A toxic environment? A nuclear radiation, such as Chernobyl? An unhealthy ecology, dirty lakes and rivers, pollution, etc.? I'll dare you to take up the challenge. Let's join hands to struggle hard and smart enough in protecting Mother Earth. This is our legacy to generations to come.
Lastly, we hope that you will continuously read and support our environmental magazine - the Greenlinks newsfeatures. Take good care of your family, your health and yourself always. See you next issue. I'll be back.
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