Various Artists Offered 'A Sound Relief' to the Victims of Ondoy

Internet-based musician around the globe compiled a digital album entitled A Sound of Relief to help out victims of typhoon Ondoy and make a difference.

Never Forget the Cause is part of the said compilation.

This album must belong to your collections, readers. Listen to it and
download now..

With the simple act of downloading, you will be able to help victims of typhoon Ondoy for the proceeds of all paid downloads is for the uplifting of the conditions of Filipinos affected by the typhoon.

So, readers, what are you waiting for? Download now and make a difference

Blog Action Day: Climate Chages Fast, Let Us Act Fast for Our Survival

"We are fighting for our survival," said Secretary Heherson Alvares - Presidential Adviser on Climate Change and Guest Speaker to the green carpet gala screening of the Age of Stupid.

Scientists already concluded that global warming triggered climate change effecting most environmental phenomenon and catastrophe.

No doubt, typhoon 'Ondoy' and 'Pepeng' are clear evidences of abnormal weather and climate conditions. These also proves how vulnerable and less prepared the country is to the threat of climate change. In the previous typhoons, we literally fought to survive. Hundreds had lost the battle. Many are still suffering and fighting at the evacuation centers.

The birth of civilization, slowly started the globe to warm.  our quest for a good convenient life increased the greenhouse gas emissions, slowly brought some species to extinction, melted the ice and advanced shorelines and sea levels.

When the human race started the "war for resources" and territories, the environment became devastated. Consumption increases as the population increases. Greedy people just cannot get enough. Manufacturers produced more than what is really needed, abusing the resources, sacrificing environmental protection in pursuit of huge profit.

Indeed, global warming that changes our weather and climate conditions are caused by human. So, we are all responsible for bringing back justice to our climate.

Now, we must act fast for our climate. We must fight for our survival and the generations next to us. Let us not make them ask, "Why didn't you stop climate change for us when you still had the chance?"

On December 7-16, 2009, G8 leaders will meet for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark. Their decision to the ugly truth about climate change will shape the future of the planet. Let us demand that:

1. Industrialized countries commit to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% below 1990 level.

2. At least USD 140 billion every year be committed to support clean energy and other mitigation activities, forest protection and adaptation in developing countries.

3. A funding mechanism must be established to end gross deforestation and associated emission in all developing countries.

4 Developing countries should strive to achieve 15-20% deviation from business-as-usual growth.

In 2010 we will have our national elections. Let us now demand our Presidentiables to declare to us their visions and programs on climate change.

Everyone is responsible to the scientific demand to climate change. We must bargain for our future and survival.

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Join the virtual march to Copenhagen by signing the YoU Turn the Earth Petition.

Kindly endorse to your society the Global Campaign for Climate Action.

Age of Stupid: We Need to Act Faster than Climate Change

Greenpeace held the green carpet gala screening of the Age of Stupid last night at Glorietta 4, Cinema 3.

The movie premiered in the Philippines on September 22 at Tanghalang Manuel Conde of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), simultaneous with other more than 50 countries around the globe.

The movie is about an old man living in the devastated world of 2055, watching archive footage from 2008 asking ,"Why we did not stop Climate Change when we had the chance?"

The movie is a disturbing reality.

We should do what is needed to be done now. And we should do it fast. We should do it faster than Climate Change.

Typhoon Ondoy Gives Filipinos Extra Ordinary Saturday

Life was still normal last Saturday morning. I went to the office with a clear plan for the day. It was a rainy morning due to the typhoon Ondoy, but I was not suspecting Metro Manila and Central Luzon will be under flood waters.

Everything was normal in the first few hours in the morning. One cannot notice the heavy downpour of rains when he is inside the office.

We actually noticed the flood when it was almost time for lunch. Our caterer did not come on time because they were already stuck somewhere. We learned from the Internet that flood water was already waist-high in most areas. In some areas, it was even deeper.

I got worried when I received a text message from my cousin at around 12 pm. He said, "Di na po yata ako makakauwi. Hanggang bintana na ng jeep ang tubig. Lamig na lamig na ako."

He was stranded somewhere at Kalentong on his way to P.U.P. According to him the water had risen so fast it almost reached the window of the jeepney he was riding, in two hours that they were stuck in a traffic. There was no way that they can get out of the jeepney because of the too strong current of water. I advised him to stay inside the jeepney and wait for the flood water to go down. It was more dangerous if he will walk through the rushing water. My cousin sent me a message again. He said that he was already chilling and hungry. It was past 1 pm. He was still inside the jeepney - almost filled with flood water. There was no way to buy food.

In the office, everyone was also hungry and worried. Our caterer had not arrived yet. Everyone was receiving calls or text messages from their respective families. My manager's husband told her that their area was already deluge with flood waters- for the first time. Flood waters filled their first floor and they were already at the second floor.

Our HR Officer led a game to lessen our worries and hunger. But my worries for my cousin just grew stronger. I already lost contact with him. I learned from the Internet and videos that a great part of metro manila already submerged with flood waters.

I tried to call all the government emergency numbers to report that my cousin and others were stranded in a jeep almost filled with flood waters and to ask for a rescue. To my frustration, all the numbers I dialed were busy.

Our CEO instructed one of our managers to order food from the nearby Jollibee outlet. The store was closed because flood waters were already knee-high inside. However, the crew accommodated our order and cooked burgers and fries for us, in a kitchen with knee-high flood water. We appreciated our office mate Joel and our utility man Dodoy who walked through the chest-high flood water so that we can have burgers and fries to eat. Finally, our caterers arrived. We had our lunch at 2 pm.

We were instructed not to leave the office until the water goes down and it was safer for us to walk. My cousin was not yet responding to my texts and calls.

The Long Journey Home with Flood Waters

Our Pet Inday

We only left the office at 3:30 pm. Gamboa st was already passable. We walk through Ayala to EDSA. To our dismay, EDSA was crowded with stranded vehicles. We decided to walk again, rather than be stranded in traffic.

For the first time in my 13 years of stay here, I walked through flood waters. It was awkward at first. Then I felt the thrill for this first time experience. I was walking with my officemate and we just tried to enjoy the experience. We were able to help an old woman when we crossed an intersection with deeper and stronger current flood waters.

I was silently praying for my cousin. I was not worried for my siblings because I was sure that they were safe. One of my brothers has an overnight work schedule, so I knew he was safe inside his office. The other one was also in the office and safe. My sister Ingks was home.

My officemate’s house was just somewhere in Malibay, Pasay. From there I walked alone with the hundreds of people who were also walking on their way home.

Walking alone (with the hundreds), I became more conscious of the dirty, muddy, dark flood waters. I became more conscious of the stuffs flowing with the waters. There were lots of scrap papers and cartoons, plastic bags, plastic cups and bottles. When I crossed Taft Avenue, the water was deeper- almost chest-high. Used diaper came rushing in front of me. Horrible! Those horrible things are clogging our drainage.

On September 19 - a week before Ondoy hit the country – Greenpeace Southeast Asia headed a clean up drive somewhere at Laguna de bay and collected 2,195 liters of various wastes, mostly plastic bags, in just two hours.

This extra ordinary flood is a clear evidence of climate change. The wastes are clear evidence that we are responsible. PAGASA reported that more than a month’s worth of rainfall fell in just six hours, thus the flash flood.

I was only at Baclaran at around 7:00 pm. It was dark. I was walking slowly – no carefully – afraid that my next step would be to an open manhole or something sharp that may injure me. I was already tired of walking for more than three hours and wrestling with the too strong current of flood waters. My muscles were aching. I stopped from time to time, at the middle of flood waters, to rest. I focused to the thoughts that I have to go home. I have to walk through the flood waters rather than to be stuck somewhere – cold and hungry.

I checked my phone. I had one miscall from my Tito in Bicol. Still, there was no message from my cousin. I continued my journey with the flood water. This time, it was only knee-high. While reaching home, I was already imagining of the comfort that was waiting for me. I thought I will disinfect and pamper myself.

The Journey Is Not Yet Over



It was dark all over when I reached our gate. To my disappointment, the water in our compound was also knee-high. I entered our home, illuminated by candle

Has the flood followed me?




The flood water inside our home was also knee-high. My goodness! It was also the first time.



What’s amusing was my sister Ingks managed to put all our appliances at the second floor.

Adrenaline rush.

I cannot manage to put a regular-sized refrigerator at our second floor on ordinary situation.

My younger brother was home too. He also walked through flooded EDSA and was able to help a pregnant woman who was also walking in chest-high flood water.

At around 10 pm I received a message from my cousin that he was already in a bus, still stuck in traffic, yet slowly moving already. He assured me that he will be home at around 12 midnight. I knew he was cold and hungry yet I was relieved that he was safe.

We tuned in to AM Radio station the whole night and were moved by the news reports. We were far luckier than many. We were safe inside our home while others were drowned, dead, missing, or staying cold and hungry on the roofs. We have food to eat and water to drink while many, from all walks of life, had nothing to consume.

I realized, in times like this, we are all nothing. We are all just human – helpless without God.

Everyone suffered. The masses. The affluent. The celebrities. The Authorities.

The powerful became powerless.

We can really do nothing except to pray.

It was reported at DZMM that Greenpeace helped in the rescue, using its inflatable boats, at Quezon City. I felt proud to our trained boat team. I felt proud to the organization I am supporting.

Heroes Are Made

It is moving, touching and inspiring to hear the stories after this calamity. Everyone exerted efforts to help. Everyone is a hero. A man was reported to lose all his belongings to save lives. Soldiers lost lives during rescue. Many had opened their homes as temporary shelter to those who lost theirs. A friend from Korea told me that the Filipino community there is organizing to send relief, in any kind, to the country.

I am sure many stories of kindness and heroism remain untold.

Still, it is never late. Everyone can still shape his or her own story of kindness and heroism for many still needs help at the evacuation centers.

Times like this make us Filipino.

Times like this make us humane.

Times like this awaken the hero in us. For, how can we say no when our brethren are crying for help?

Don't Be Stupid

Come to the movies with Greenpeace!

Greenpeace have teamed up with the film makers behind the new docu-drama-animation 'Age of Stupid' to deliver the world's biggest film premiere on September 21 in the USA and September 22 to other 40+ countries.

Everyone is invited to watch the movie.

Age of Stupid stars Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite as a man living alone in the devastated world of 2055, looking back at 'archive' footage from 2007 and asking: "Why didn't we stop climate change when we had the chance?"

The global premiere will feature a Green Carpet in New York, where actress Gillian Anderson will lead notables including Kofi Annan, Mary Robinson and James Hansen in a discussion about how we can stop catastrophic climate change.

Greenpeace will be contributing live feeds from the front lines of climate change, and is backing efforts to get the film seen by as many politicians and diplomats as possible.

Do not be stupid.

Watch the movie and learn why climate change matters so much.

This film will make everyone a climate activist.



Find the screening near you here.

Research Say 59% Will Go for Green Car

Almost 60% chose to buy green car over a dream car. Fifteen percent said they will buy a new car in the next 12 months. This is the result of Synovate research conducted across 18 countries in March 2009.

Here's some of what Synovate global research found.

Dream, green or in between?
Is green mainstream? Can the lure of the environmentally friendly vehicle outweigh the desire for all the raw power of the petrol engine? Synovate asked respondents to forget about money for a moment and tell us whether they would buy green, dream or in between.

The top answer across all 18 markets, if money were no object, was to buy a green car, with 37% of respondents saying this would be their preferred purchase. Thirty-one percent said they would buy their dream car and a further 22% claimed that 'my dream car is a green car'... meaning that 59% - or very nearly six in ten - showed the desire to go green.

"Car makers are producing more and more options that will appeal to this fast-growing group of green-inclined people," says Synovate's CEO of Motorsesearch, Scott Miller.

"But we cannot forget that cars are the ultimate product when it comes to an emotional connection with people. What you drive says more about you than you think. There will always be a group of people who do not want to compromise on dream cars for green reasons. The answer? The 22% who want both are the way of the future. Car makers will produce vehicles that are dream and green."

Some of the highest results for 'green' (adding 'green car' to 'dream car is a green car') were Thailand at 77%, Korea at 76%, China at 75% and Brazil at 72%.

Synovate's Director of Motoresearch for China Kelvin Gin, says it's not a surprising result for China.

"Last year's Olympic Games really highlighted issues with China's air quality, plus the Government has made concessions for both green car manufacturers and the people who choose to buy and drive them. In fact there is RMB10 billion (approx US$1.5 billion) up for grabs for investment in manufacturing greener cars."

Similarly the Brazilian Government provides incentives for people to buy greener vehicles.

"By law, all cars now have to be flex-fuel which has quite quickly made 'green' cars part of behaviour and thinking in Brazil," says Ari Gonzalis, New Business Director for Synovate Motoresearch in Brazil.

"Brazilians are also proud that the nation is a leader in developing alternative fuel that is cheaper and pollutes less. By making 'green' de rigueur, the Government has actually created a scenario where people's dream cars are green by definition."

Despite the 'fantasy' element of the question where money is no object, Synovate Korea's Motoresearch Head, ByeongHwan Je, puts the Korean lean towards green down to economics.

"Green or hybrid cars are more fuel efficient and, together with pollution concerns, this economical issue would be a big part of why Koreans put green over dream."

The nation most likely to simply elect 'green car' was Germany, with 58% choosing the environment over their dream cars.

So where can the dreamers be found? Overall, 31% of people would still choose their dream car green-be-damned, 35% of men and 27% of women. The single biggest result for dream car came from South Africa where over half of all respondents (53%) would go for their fantasy vehicle.

South Africa-based Richard Rice, Director of Global Motoresearch Sales & Marketing for Synovate, says that, in South Africa, the car is probably the closest product that comes to a visible expression of who a person is.

"Here a car is emotional. People love their cars... for the freedom, for the image they create, for what it says about their status. Consequently, that image is far more important than how environmentally friendly a car is.

"Compounding this is that many car buyers in South Africa are the first family members to even be able to buy a car, so in the excitement, green considerations will fall by the wayside. We'll go with however much power we can afford."

Similarly, 47% of Indians say they would go dream, something that Sumit Arora, Head of Synovate's Motoresearch group in India explains is due to the 'new' India.

"The Indian auto market is vibrant. Every year new 'dream' models are launched and major world players arrive. Luxury cars have started hitting good numbers.

"And what's driving this is ambition and aspiration. People now have more money; more choices and they are willing to spend. Ownership of big-ticket items is a reflection of success and conspicuous consumption is celebrated. These numbers will only rise."

In the United States (US), 35% would buy a dream car, 23% chose green and 19% say their dream car is a green car.

Purchase intention: Brakes on or gearing up?
Yes, we are all living in interesting times... many individuals are dealing with financial challenges, Governments are trying to manage copious economic challenges and car companies are facing make-or-break times. But through all this, there are still car buyers out there...

Overall, 15% of respondents across 18 diverse markets say they will buy a new car in the next 12 months. The new car purchase intenders were topped by India at 38%, Egypt at 24% and Turkey at 23%.

US-based Vice President of Motoresearch, Tim Englehart, says this is an indicator of where we are economically around the world.

"This clearly shows that car companies have great opportunities in the emerging markets of the world. It needs to be noted that this survey was conducted across urban people from the large cities so, while the results are not representative of the general population of the country, they are absolutely representative of people the car companies may wish to target.

"Many of these people will be first-time buyers and they may not be intending to buy a large family car. For example, a third of urban respondents in India saying they intend to buy a new vehicle is not surprising but this number would be growing with the introduction of a US$2,000 Tato Nano. This car has the entire industry buzzing."

In the case of Egypt, Tamer El Naggar, Managing Director and auto research specialist for Synovate in Egypt agrees there would be a large proportion of first-time buyers in the 24%.

"The dream of car ownership is being achieved by more and more middle-class Egyptians. There are more opportunities now as smaller and cheaper Chinese cars are making inroads in the market."

Least likely to be buying a new car are Australians and Germans with only 6% saying they will in the next year.

Peter Riley, Account Director of Motoresearch in Australia, says "One explanation for the low purchase intentions for new vehicles in Australia could be that just prior to the global financial crisis Australia posted record new vehicle sales. This is likely to have pushed the replacement cycle out. There is also a polarisation in the market between consumers who want to take advantage of low interest rates and great deals on offer, and those who prefer to remain cautious with their spending."

A further 6% of survey respondents across the 18 markets say they will buy a used car in the next year.

Englehart says the 6% is relatively small but car companies have an emerging opportunity in this market.

"There's a strong chance for a second bite at the cherry when it comes to their branded cars. Our survey showed that over half of all respondents (53%) agree they would be happy to pay more for a used car if it came with a manufacturer certification and warranty."

The highest agrees came from Turkey (79%), Korea (70%) and South Africa (69%).

You can see full result here.

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Disclosure: I thank the Synovate In:Fact Team for granting me the permission to publish the above articles in this website. The above articles were first publish here.

GPSEA Energy Revolution Bikeride

I was all set to join the Greenpeace Southeast Asia's (GPSEA) three-day Energy Revolution Bike Ride but changes happened in my work and schedule. I didn't able to join.

The 200-kilometer Energy Revolution bike ride which was started from Morong, Bataan was held on May 23, 24 and 25 concluding with a call to congress to reject Nuclear Energy.

Prior to the event Greenpeace generated more than 5,000 signatures in the petition condemning a nuclear future

As always, it turned out that the activity was a success. Some members of the congress are now, allegedly, not sure of supporting the revival of BNPP. Some have already withdrawn their signature from the list of BNPP supporters.

As thousands of our countrymen have already sent their messages to the congress to reject the proposal for nuclear power, it is our responsibility to watch, wait and take further action if necessary. We should uphold the massive uptake of renewable energy.

The bikers covered Congress gates with banners with the message “No to Nukes” and 1,000 pinwheels symbolizing renewable energy. The petition, which calls upon the representatives to reject the proposal to revive the BNPP, has been signed by five thousand people in last five days.

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Reference and photo credits to: Greenpeace
Southeast Asia

Anti BNPP Veterans Out To Support Nuclear-Free Philippines

Chuck Baclagon- the new Media Campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia in the Philippines shared to me this video from Nuklus Band one of the veterans of the anti Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

NukLus band is an alternative and progressive rock band during the 80's.
They composed the song "Dambuhala Sa Morong" in 1980, that became the
battle-cry of the No Nukes Movement at that time, spearheaded by Nuclear-Free Phils
Coalition.

"It seems that the BNPP revival move in Congress is drawing more and more anti-BNPP veterans out into the broad opposition to the BNPP," said Chuck.

"It is our hope here at Greenpeace that the Philippine Congress would head the call to stop the madness of reviving the BNPP."

GPSEA Lighted 2,000 Candles in Commemoration of Chernobyl Disaster

We just have a solemn, symbolic candle lighting ceremony last night in commemoration of the Chernobyl disaster - the worst nuclear power plant disaster - 23 years ago.

Greenpeace supporters, volunteers, allies and friends lighted more than 2,000 candles at Bantayog ng mga Bayani ground in Quezon City last night as part of the protest to the revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.

The activity was also part of this month's Greencafe and celebration of Earth Day.

There was a photo exhibit of the Chernobyl disaster for Greenpeace supporters and friends at 4 pm.

The attendees watched the Zero Hour - a Chernobyl disaster documentary video of Discovery Channel

It was raining while we were watching the video. It still was when we started to light the candles. But after watching the video I was more convinced that we do not need a risky, expensive technology as a source of energy.

We offered a moment of silence for the immediate victims of the disaster and to its "continuing legacy of deaths, cancers and contamination."

The candles were wet. The grass were wet. My back was getting wet. But it seemed everybody was moved to light the 2,000 candles.

Few more minutes and it was done. We spelled "NO NUKES."

Please see photos here.
Please see Greenpeace blog here.

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Photo credits: Greenpeace South East Asia

Earth Hour: The Philippines Ranked as This Year's Number One

The country ranked as number one in this year’s Earth Hour with 647 cities and municipalities participating in the event.Greece was the second with 484 cities and municipalities.

I was at the Mall of Asia last night waiting for a friend who was also my buyer of the book 12 Steps to Build Wealth on Any Income. I waited for him for more than an hour. I was at the mall waiting until past 8:00 so I observed the Earth Hour there. The mall closed more than 50 percent of its lighting. All the street lights in the vicinity were closed.

GMA News Report of Earth Hour in the Philippines

A friend from Bicol who is a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) member called when it was 8:30. We were talking about the event, sharing the happenings in Naga City and in Manila for half an hour.

My friend who bought the book arrived few minutes before 9:00.

Then the Earth Hour was over.

Metro Manila was alive again.

Greenpeace Activists Call for Global Climate Bail Out

More than 300 Greenpeace activists, wearing a bright yellow Greenpeace emblazoned
jacket, from 20 different countries are taking an action during the EU Finance Ministers meeting today. "Greenpeace activists are demanding that finance ministers 'Bail out our planet!' and blocking the entrances to the building where ministers are meeting."

One of the activists twittering live from the action said, "EU finance ministers need to bail out the planet before we are willing to let them out of the meeting!"

Thomas Henningsen - climate campaigner for Greenpeace International - said,“Our finance ministers are giving billions of taxpayers’ money to failed banks and their managers. We are here to make sure they put money on the table to tackle climate change. If the planet were a bank they would bail it out.”


Video of the inspiring action today in Brussels. More than 340 activists, from 20 different countries, were arrested and the activists were able to block the exits of the building for more than 2 hours. All of the activists have been released from jail and while some of the activists need to be hospitalized because of police brutality, there we no serious injuries.

The activists have sealed the entrances and are refusing to let the politicians leave until they committed to 'Save the Climate'and 'Bail out the Planet', thus to encourage a good decision from the finance ministers.

The decisions to be made at today's finance meeting will directly influence Europe's position at the UN Climate summit in December 2009.

Police vans carrying police in riot gears have already arrived in the area and arrests are being made.

Vice President Joe Biden, alledgely, is coming in to have lunch with the ministers who are currently trapped inside their own finance meeting by Greenpeace activists.

Please see the first related story here.

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Reference and Photo Credits: Greenpeace International

Philips: A New Green Leader in the Electonics Industry

After several actions and 47,000 messages from Greenpeace supporters in the past two years, Philips finally agreed to take full financial responsibility in recycling its own products.

Philips used to dump electronics waste in landfills or burned in smelters. Some is exported from developed to undeveloped countries.

Philips now intends to create global take-back system for its e-wastes in some countries. It also made commitments to its own greenhouse gas emissions and support a 30% emission reduction to industrial nations by 2020.

Philips, now, is an example of how electronics companies can be truly green.


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Reference:
Greenpeace International

Hundreds Formed No To BNPP Human Banner

Hundreds of Greenpeace volunteers, supporters and allies formed a giant ‘human banner’ spelling “No to BNPP” at the University of the Philippines, as a message of solidarity opposing a House bill to revive the mothballed nuclear plant.


Greenpeace South East Asia was able to mobilize about 800 people yesterday, February 22, 2009, in a first big public gathering of organizations opposing the rehabilitation of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) at the University of the Philippines Sunken Garden.

Almost half of the participants were Greenpeace volunteers, supporters, family and friends. There were also attendees from Indonesia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Malaysia and India.

The program started at 9 AM. Greenpeace campaigner, FDC chair and former Akbayan partylist representative Etta Rosales, Akbayan Partylist rep Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, Cong. Erin Tanada, Malaysian MP Charles Santiago and Indonesian activist Khalisah Kalid of Koalisi Anti Utang gave their speeches. Beau Baconguis read the solidarity message from Bishop Soc Villegas of the Diocese of Bataan.

After the program, the human banner was formed. Everyone held up one orange A4
sized paper to give more color and movement to the banner. The photo shoot took about half an hour. By 10:30 the crowd had completed the action. The energy was very high and almost everyone was happy with the outcome.



Today, 20 Greenpeace volunteers and supporters will join the church-organized mobilization in Balanga, Bataan.

Please see more photos here.

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Photo Credits to Greenpeace South East Asia

End Notes:
Beau Baconguis
Campaigner-GPSEA

GPSEA To Join Hundreds Who Will Stand Up Against BNPP on Sunday

The Greenpeace South East Asia will join hundreds who will make a difference this Sunday February 22, 2009 at Sunken Garden, University of the Philippines in Diliman Quezon City.

It could be remembered that the Philippine Congress recently proposed a House Bill to restore the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

"Nuclear power is the most dangerous and most expensive source of electricity. And it is not the solution to climate change."

This coming Sunday GPSEA will say NO TO BNPP by creating human banner as a symbol of solidarity with the people of Bataan.

The visual images of human banner will also serve as a solidarity message to the people of Bataan who will have a mass action on February 23 in Balanga. This action shall likewise serve as a statement of GPSEA's position on the proposal by Rep. Mark Cojuangco when the Committee on Appropriations House of Representatives meets on this legislative measure for the third time on February 24.



Greenpeace's position paper on House Bill 4631 and Senate Bill No. 2665, and other materials available here.

Climate Change is Real: Camarines Norte hit by Floods

It was in the news over the weekend. Floods hit Camarines Norte and many parts of Bicol were underwater.

As far as I can remember, it is the first time that my hometown is declared under the state of calamity because of provincial-wide floods.

I think it is already a clear evidence of a changing climate pattern. My own hometown Labo in the province of Camarines Norte is flooded.

My skin crawl upon seeing the video footages in television.

GPSEA's Esperanza is touring Indonesia, calling for forest defenders

Esperanza, one of Greenpeace’s ships is touring Indonesia to highlight the rampant deforestation of its forest.

Indonesia loses at least 1.8 million hectares of forest per year. It is faster than any major forested country – making Indonesia the third largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world.

Forest destruction in Indonesia causes floods, drought and climate pattern that also risks food security.

Along with the Esperanza’s tour is the call to become forest defender. You can answer this call by signing here.

Philippine Houses took a step closer to legislate a much-needed Energy Revolution

I just received a triumphant e-mail message from Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

The Philippine senate and House of Representatives signed on October 7, 2008, the Renewable Energy Bill – adopting the senate version after the deliberations at the Bicameral Conference to resolve the versions of both houses. “The feed-in tariff provisions was accepted without questions. The questions raised were more on the exemptions, tax holidays, and incentives”

Greenpeace “found a last minute insertion of Section 31: adoption of Waste-to-Energy Technologies which included gasification – a form of incineration.”

Greenpeace wrote a position paper asking for the deletion of the word ‘gasification’ “to protect previous gains from its works on incineration.”

Greenpeace proposed the following wordings instead: “consistent with the provisions and intent of the Clean Air Act and the Ecological Solid Management Act”

“Except for the deletion of ‘gasification’, Greenpeace got the rest of the wordings in.”

Below is the Greenpeace Statement on the Approval by the Bicameral Conference Committee of the Renewable Energy Bill on October 7, 2008.

" Greenpeace congratulates the Philippine Senate and the House of Representatives for finally coming together in moving the country a step
closer in legislating a much-needed energy revolution. We expect malacanang to sign the Renewable Energy bill into law very soon.

Once enacted, this landmark legislation is expected not only to end our dependence on climate changing fossil fuels, but also help propel the Philippines towards a low carbon path of economic prosperity and genuine sustainable development. Through this law, we hope to see less and less development of dirty coal power plants and more investments in clean, renewable energy systems.

Greenpeace's Philippine Energy Revolution scenario, has calculated that it is possible for the country to generate as much as 70% of its electricity needs from renewable energy by 2050 with wind, biomass, geothermal and solar energy contributing 58% of its capacity.

We now call on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to immediately sign the bill into law and ensure that the law's Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) to be developed by the Department of Energy and other affiliated agencies, do not, in any way, weaken the spirit and intent of the law."

Von Hernadez
Executive Director
Greenpeace South East Asia



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Reference:
Beau Baconguis
Toxics Campaigner
Greenpeace Southeast Asia