Concern for the Environment has become a catchall attitude today. Many groups are into a activities aimed towards the expression of this concern. In fact, this concern permeated current popular culture, that is would be surprising to find anyone who would not be aware of the need to protect and conserve the Philippine Eagle, the Tarsier, Dolphins, Sea Turtles and Dugongs.
But important environmental issues are issues that far from cute and cuddly and majestic animals living in the wild. Environmental issues are also issues that affect the economy of our country, the livelihood of thousands and -more far reaching- the lives of incoming generations.
When environmental issues that affect the economy, investments and livelihood are discussed, they are no longer cute and cuddly. They become scary and uncomfortable.
When we use our resources, jobs are created, wealth is generated and -ideally- the fruits of our labors shared with other members of our community. This is the essence of every business undertaking that embarks on intensive utilization of our natural resources.
Government on the other hand intervenes by setting up policies that provide guidance on how resources are to be utilized and managed. Ideally, agencies are tasked to see to it that these policies are implemented judicious.
But the gap between what is real and the ideal is so large. This gap has caused battle lines to be drawn between advocates for the sound utilization and protection of our resources and those who are interested in using these resources for job generation and wealth creation. Between these two factions stand people in government, while community residents are caught in the crossfire.
The recent pronouncements by the grouped tasked to investigate the recent mine accident in Mt. Diwalwal is a case in point. The closure of 3 companies engaged in mining operations in the area has been recommended. The body further recommended the strict implementation of regulations so explosives would not be able to enter the mining area.
The policy that the investigation body is proposing in an ideal. But can the ideal be reached considering the harsh realities present in the area. Will the policy be really implemented to the letter?
The need to thoroughly study the situation in Mt. Diwalwal is imperative. Knee jerk reactions to mining accidents will not settle the core issue and solve the problems that beset the area.
Everyone knows that there is Gold in those mountains. Many people, rich and poor alike would like to have their share of that Gold, no matter what the cost. Is government strong enough to impose its presence in the area without fear or favor from any vested interest in the area.
Unless government acts with determination, countless lives will be lost in those mountains. And while those lives are sacrificed, the hope of small miners in attaining the dream of having a comfortable life slowly slips away, while only a chosen few benefit from the gold. And before we know it, the whole area becomes a long lasting monument of government ineptness and dysfunction. Then the gold will be gone forever and we have nothing to show to the next generation.
We may never attain the ideal in Mt. Diwalwal. The reality that hounds residents of the mining community living there bites so deep. We need to put in place practical policy solutions that can be sustained and supported. The present set up of the Mine and Geosciences Bureau of the region needs to the strengthened. Even the current search and rescue capability of emergency response teams in the area need very serious upgrading. Monitoring agencies likewise need to be properly installed.
Unless practical solutions that can be enforced by adequately equipped personnel who have the proper support are put in place sooner in Mt. Diwalwal, the Gold that is taken out of the mountains there will not be enough to pay for the countless lives wasted on mining accidents that will keep coming.
Children- the future- of dead miners will end up losers. Their fathers would have been better off just dreaming about the gold.
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Thursday, November 17, 2005
THE BIODIVERSITY INDEX
In 1992United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro defined biodiversity as "the variability among living organisms from all sources, including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems, and the ecological complexes of which they are part: this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems".
The Philippines is one of the Biodiversity Hotspots in the world. Meaning, our country has one of the highest diversity of living organisms in the planet. It earned the “hotspot” title since we are losing that diversity fast.
A possibly unidentified species of rafflesia, a rare flower known for having the world's largest bloom, has turned up in a forest in Compostela Valley, according to a team of botanists headed by Dr. Domingo Madulid, a curator at the National Museum's botany division.
The exact location of the flower has not been disclosed. The team fears that avid plant collectors might go to the area and collect the bloom. Local officials and residents of the area disclosed that the flower is common in the area. In fact, they are waiting for other buds to bloom.
The main “attraction” (if we may call it that) aside from its large size its very pungent odor when it blooms. The odor is comparable to that of a rotting or decomposing small animal. I recall a conversation with a tribal leader in one of the towns located along the eastern coast of Mindanao who disclosed to me last summer the presence of a similar flower in their forest. It seems that this flower is resident in our forests.
Another characteristic of the Rafflesia is its “parasitic” nature. It only grows on the Tetrastigma vine, which crawls on rainforest floors. Rainforests in Mindanao are usually old growth dipterocarp forests. The existence of the Rafflesia therefore depends largely on the presence of the dipterocarps.
No dipterocarp, no vine. No vine, no Rafflesia.
The National Museum, Botany Division is excited about the find. This will be the fourth species of the Rafflesia found in the Philippines. This increases our Biodiversity Index.
But there are other people who see the ipterocarp forest as a source of good lumber. In fact, some officials have made representations with national government agencies to lift the log ban in Southern Mindanao so dipterocarps can be harvested. The logic behind this is: The money earned from the sale of the logs can contribute to the national economy.
Now we have to make a choice. Rafflesia or Lumber from dipterocarps.
How much can a large, smelly flower possibly earn, compared to 60 to 80 year old harvestable dipterocarps? If you were to make the choice what would it be? What would you do?
Till next week. ;-)!
The Philippines is one of the Biodiversity Hotspots in the world. Meaning, our country has one of the highest diversity of living organisms in the planet. It earned the “hotspot” title since we are losing that diversity fast.
A possibly unidentified species of rafflesia, a rare flower known for having the world's largest bloom, has turned up in a forest in Compostela Valley, according to a team of botanists headed by Dr. Domingo Madulid, a curator at the National Museum's botany division.
The exact location of the flower has not been disclosed. The team fears that avid plant collectors might go to the area and collect the bloom. Local officials and residents of the area disclosed that the flower is common in the area. In fact, they are waiting for other buds to bloom.
The main “attraction” (if we may call it that) aside from its large size its very pungent odor when it blooms. The odor is comparable to that of a rotting or decomposing small animal. I recall a conversation with a tribal leader in one of the towns located along the eastern coast of Mindanao who disclosed to me last summer the presence of a similar flower in their forest. It seems that this flower is resident in our forests.
Another characteristic of the Rafflesia is its “parasitic” nature. It only grows on the Tetrastigma vine, which crawls on rainforest floors. Rainforests in Mindanao are usually old growth dipterocarp forests. The existence of the Rafflesia therefore depends largely on the presence of the dipterocarps.
No dipterocarp, no vine. No vine, no Rafflesia.
The National Museum, Botany Division is excited about the find. This will be the fourth species of the Rafflesia found in the Philippines. This increases our Biodiversity Index.
But there are other people who see the ipterocarp forest as a source of good lumber. In fact, some officials have made representations with national government agencies to lift the log ban in Southern Mindanao so dipterocarps can be harvested. The logic behind this is: The money earned from the sale of the logs can contribute to the national economy.
Now we have to make a choice. Rafflesia or Lumber from dipterocarps.
How much can a large, smelly flower possibly earn, compared to 60 to 80 year old harvestable dipterocarps? If you were to make the choice what would it be? What would you do?
Till next week. ;-)!
Friday, November 11, 2005
THREADS OF SEEMINGLY UNRELATED EVENTS
Item 1: Birds from the north migrate to tropical areas of the planet and bring the threat of the Bird Flu Virus. Health agencies around the world and in the Philippines react by disseminating warnings about the avian threat. Chicken prices plummet in Negros Occidental because of a false alarm.
Item2: Green Peace members symbolically storm a coal fired power plant in Masinloc, Zambales recently. Guards in the power plant react violently by beating some of them black and blue. The protesters charge that the power plant is a threat to the environment. Yet, at the very moment that the group breached the perimeter fence of the plant, employees were planting mangroves on the beach a few meters away from them.
Item 3: A motel in this city initiates to improve the beach front near their establishment by filling up the beach with earth-fill to construct a bay walk, a without proper permits from authorities. Legislators and executives from the city state that the project is illegal and threaten to demolish or expropriate what has been constructed. Other people in the know comment that if government execute the threat, then all illegal structures in the public domain must suffer the same fate.
Item 4: An explosion occurs in a tunnel in Mt. Diwalwal in Compostella Valley. The number of casualties until now is uncertain. What is only sure is this: An explosion occurred and there were casualties. For sure, close to ten bodies were recovered.
The four events listed above are testaments of an interaction between us and our surroundings. In the first case, it is nature seemingly putting pressure on humans. In the next, it’s one group claiming to protect nature from what we humans have created. The third, is a case of “good intentions” running afoul with government procedures. While the last, another mining accident we will all forget about in a few months.
This corner will attempt to find the threads that connect these events to each other and to our daily grind. I invite you to post your comments so we can have a dialogue about THE interaction between us and our surroundings.
Item2: Green Peace members symbolically storm a coal fired power plant in Masinloc, Zambales recently. Guards in the power plant react violently by beating some of them black and blue. The protesters charge that the power plant is a threat to the environment. Yet, at the very moment that the group breached the perimeter fence of the plant, employees were planting mangroves on the beach a few meters away from them.
Item 3: A motel in this city initiates to improve the beach front near their establishment by filling up the beach with earth-fill to construct a bay walk, a without proper permits from authorities. Legislators and executives from the city state that the project is illegal and threaten to demolish or expropriate what has been constructed. Other people in the know comment that if government execute the threat, then all illegal structures in the public domain must suffer the same fate.
Item 4: An explosion occurs in a tunnel in Mt. Diwalwal in Compostella Valley. The number of casualties until now is uncertain. What is only sure is this: An explosion occurred and there were casualties. For sure, close to ten bodies were recovered.
The four events listed above are testaments of an interaction between us and our surroundings. In the first case, it is nature seemingly putting pressure on humans. In the next, it’s one group claiming to protect nature from what we humans have created. The third, is a case of “good intentions” running afoul with government procedures. While the last, another mining accident we will all forget about in a few months.
This corner will attempt to find the threads that connect these events to each other and to our daily grind. I invite you to post your comments so we can have a dialogue about THE interaction between us and our surroundings.
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