Ozone Layer Protection: The Mission Goes On

Photo from Linked.in

The DENR recently distributed ozone awareness kits to selected high school students in Manila to raise awareness about the ozone layer. This was part of the global celebration of the International Ozone Day last September which had the theme Ozone Layer Protection: The Mission Goes On. These efforts to partner with learning institutions are part of the country’s commitments under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, which was first ratified by 24 nations on September 16, 1987.

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone layer is an agreement among 196 countries to decrease and eventually eliminate the production and consumption of ODS (ozone depleting substances) such as chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) and hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC).

Ozone layer instructional readings have been around ever since I was in elementary (which was around the time that dinosaurs still roamed the earth). It would be nice to see a KAP (Knowledge, Attitude, Practices) research study on the IEC (Information Education Communication) materials on the students if it actually does achieve the effect it wants: to galvanize the youth to become green consumers and be active participants in the fight against the destruction of the environment.

For the meanwhile, here's an easy to do list for greenistas to help protect the ozone layer:

• Unplug electronics from the wall when not in use
• Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs
• Buy fresh organic (pesticide free) produce at your local farmer's market
• Use energy efficient appliances
• Avoid using aerosols and sprays (uh, hairspray anyone?) composed of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)
• Keep your house aircon clean
• Dispose of old refrigerators and appliances properly
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Upcycle
• Carpool, go bike or walk instead of driving
• Plant! Start a backyard garden or join tree planting activities
• Ensure that your car's aircon does not have leaks
• Educate yourself and spread the word to other people about ozone depletion effects

For more information, interested readers can check out the Philippine Ozone Desk.

Hollywood A Listers Who Are Greenistas

Alec Baldwin says he is passionate about green energy and hopes that the UN Climate Summit will make Americans understand that the US needs to catch up with other countries with regards to wind and solar power.

Yoko Ono and her son with John Lennon, Sean Ono-Lennon, have been campaigning against fracking and even came up with a somewhat weird video for it. Fracking or hydraulic fracturing is the process of drilling and injecting fluid into the soil at a high pressure to release the gas inside shale rocks.

Most recently, Leonardo DiCaprio gave an impassioned speech to light a fire under the leaders of the world indicating how humankind has treated climates issues like fiction when it is not. "I pretend for a living. But you do not". You can watch the rest of the speech below.

Some of the most famous people in the movie industry are taking a firm stand on environmental issues. How about our Philippine stars? Might as well make use of all those Twitter followers and advocate green energy. Any takers? Kuya Germs, maybe? :)

The Pushing Boundaries Challenge for Youth who Care about Nature

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) invites young people around the globe to enter submissions in the form of documents, video, art, stories, songs or anything inspiring creativity and representing her/his project to participate in the Pushing Boundaries Challenge. The Pushing Boundaries Challenge is designed to provide an outlet for passion and creativity that highlights how young people are using inspiring and innovative solutions to keep our world wild and protected.

The prizes are listed below.

For the top 2 winners:

1. Mentorship, support, and direction to create a 2-3 minute professional video highlighting their work to be shown at the World Parks Congress in Sydney, Australia in November 2014,
2. A featured profile on the CoalitionWILD website and Challenge website.
3. A feature in the CoalitionWILD newsletter and WCPA newsletter.
4. Become a CoalitionWILD Ambassador.

To top 10 winners

1. Exposure via the CoalitionWILD, IUCN, WCPA and World Parks Congress websites and on site at the World Parks Congress via posters and/or multimedia display, including in a dedicated session under Stream 8 – Inspiring a New Generation.

Two ‘People’s Choice’ winners will

1. A prize of either a one year subscription to Vimeo Plus, or a one year Dropbox Premium account.

Eligibility Criteria

• Participants must be under 35 years of age at time of submission.
• Entries can range from local to global in scope, and will be evaluated on impact, creativity, innovation and its ability to be replicated.
• Submissions can be in the form of documents, video, art, stories, songs or anything that inspires creativity and successfully represents the participant’s project. Participants can submit their work as an individual, as a group, or as a part of (under) an organization or business.

For more information, visit their website here. 

SONA 2014: Greenista Review

Yesterday, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III gave his fifth State of the Nation Address to the Filipino people, his "Boss".

The speech was well-written and well-delivered to much applause. But at the end of the day, how was the substance?

He started off by acknowledging the depths that the nation had sunk to and then proceeded to describe what his administration had done. The President talked lengthily about education and employment, getting testimonials from the graduates of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

According to P-Noy (as the President is affectionately called as a nod to the Filipino people moniker, Pinoy and his nickname Noynoy), the poverty rate had decreased from 27.9% to 24.9% wherein the three percentage points are equivalent 2.5 million Filipinos who have crossed the poverty line. Well and good. But now that the Philippine population has officially reached 100 million, what does that mean?

A whopping 24,900,000 million Pinoys who are still left languishing in poverty. I, for lack of a better word, 'appreciate' the decrease of poverty in numbers. But whenever I go out of my house, my fellow Filipinos are still all over the street---toddlers peddling sampaguita flowers, adults struggling to eke out a living.

He talked about tax collections, debt management, tourism, labor issues, supposed good governance, the Mindanao rebels, Typhoon Yolanda and a number of issues that his administration could provide an example of the good that they've done. I applaud that. But the truth is, the problems of the Philippines cannot be solved on ONE President's term. Six years? The problem in the country has been ingrained, inscribed, etched in our minds ever since the time of the Spaniards. A relatively young country, we're still trying to shake off the cultural rape of colonial rule, literal rape, and identity rape. If this was the court, we'd be charged with being a willing victim..

But I did appreciate several things that Pnoy pointed out. I love the fact that the country's investment grade status has been upgraded by three of the major world credit rating agencies---Moody's, Fitch, Standard and Poor's. As a fledging start up social entrepreneur myself, this helps paves the way for more entrepreneurs to rise up, which in my humble opinion, the Philippines desperately needs so. An excellent affirmation of this was our hosting of the World Economic Forum on East Asia this year.

Pnoy mentioned about "kickbacks nor overpricing is not condoned" in the context of the Department of Public Works and Highways. It is not condoned---yet it still prevails. I need not mention examples here as any individual Filipino (and I mean any random Pinoy) knows a story of a local municipality or a politician who has skimmed off public funds. We need to get the Freedom of Information Bill (FOI) passed!!

He did not mention any of the green bills, the FOI or the hot pot of politicians that have been involved in the PDAF! We also need serious water governance, which we will feature in this blog in future posts.

What did you think of the President's SONA?

You can read the whole transcript of the speech here.

Coca-cola: The Resurrection

Unlike cats who have nine lives, most household items are usually used but once, then thrown out. Coke has come up with an ingenious way of using their bottles in a new and innovative way. Greenistas will be happy to learn that Reuse, Reduce and Recycle can be seen in this new Coca-cola campaign called 2nd lives. 

 

Save the Date! Green Philippines 2014

Greenistas all over the country, get set for the country's biggest total green exhibition and conference! Green Philippines 2014, the 4th Philippine International Total Green Movement Exhibition and Conference is going to be held on September 25-27 at the SMX Convention Center.

From construction to energy, manufacturing and lifestyle---various industries and sectors of the country converge for the goal of sustainability. The green movement has been growing rapidly and efficiently in the Philippines, proving its capability in the global scene. The event seeks to provide an avenue for green products and services to raise awareness on the current status of the environment and provide tools for people to live more sustainable lifestyles.

So if you consider yourself a greenista, a planeteer, a treehugger, or just someone who cares about Mother Earth, head on to Green Philippines 2014 to check out a one-stop shop for cost-efficient and sustainable products and services for a better tomorrow. Green Philippines 2014 will include Green Living and Lifestyle 2014 (Eco Products and Services for a Sustainable Future), Green Manufacturing 2014 (Sustainable Manufacturing, Production Technologies, Waste management and Recycling Processes and Solutions) and Enviro-Tech 2014 (Enivironmental Management Technology, Air, Energy, Water and Waste Control System, Equipment and Services).

You may visit the exhibits for free, just make sure to dress appropriately :) Business attire is preferred while flipflops, sandos and shorts are not allowed. Pre-registration is until September 20, 2014 at 4:00pm so register early!

For further information, check their website http://globallinkmp.com/greenphils/ or contact the event organizers, Global-Link MP Events International Inc. at (02) 750-8585 or info@globallinkmp.com.

See you there!