ACTIVITY REPORT
GLACCIER-Activity Report.doc
Presentation of Lory Tan, WWF President
LORY GLACCIER.ppt
Presentation of Bebet Gozun
bEBET GOZUN - mitigation and adaptation - jan 30 bgg.ppt
Presentation of Tony Oposa
GLOBAL LEGAL ACTION ON CC-WRITESHOP.ppt
Presentation of Nong Rangasa (for Gov. Joey Salceda)Rangasa3-A2C2.ppt
Rangasa-Sarangani2.ppt
Global legal action on climate change
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/opinion/view_article.php?article_id=186990
By Gloria Ramos
Cebu Daily News
Posted date: February 02, 2009
Watch out! As envisioned, 2009 is an “Action Year” to turn around
the growing tide of public indifference and bureaucratic
inefficiency that have made this megadiversity country merit the
shameful distinction as the “hottest of the hot spots” in species
and habitat loss and destruction. A green and potent brew is being
concocted not just by the country’s best legal minds that have the
golden heart for our home planet, but also by our icons in the
scientific community and the leading lights in the nation’s
environmental movement.
“When people of shared vision get together, there is magic in the
air.” Not my quote (how I wish!) but Tony Oposa’s, which pretty
well describes the January 30-31 workshop on Global Legal Action on
Climate Change (GLACC) held in Tagaytay. Using the majesty of the
law as a tool for change, and in close coordination with the
stakeholders, the GLACC will spark a legal revolution to help
transform the country into a climate-solution leader soonest.
Upon the invitation of the host, “legal anarchist” Tony Oposa’s Law
of Nature Foundation, the monumental GLACC event involved the
powerhouse team of environmental lawyers and eco-stalwarts: the
multi-awarded and the best secretary the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR) ever had, Bebet Gozun; Dr. Jurgenne
Primavera, one of Time’s 2008 Heroes of the Environment; Odette
Alcantara, the original Miss Earth; DENR Undersecretary Lucille
Sering; Ombudsman Prosecutor Francine Longid; the past president of
the Philippine Bar Association, Linda Jimeno and her hubby; Save
Tañon Strait Citizens Movement (STSCM) co-conveners and law
professors, Ben Cabrido and Liza Osorio; Tanggol Kalikasan’s Asis
Perez and Marina Rabe; Glynda Bathan of the Clean Air Initiative;
the young mayor of St. Bernard (Leyte) and representatives of mayor
Hagedorn of Puerto Princesa and Albay Governor Joey Salceda; World
Wildlife Fund’s Lory Tan and Yeb Sano; Liza Antonio of Philippine
Business for the Environment; young lawyers Karen Sarinas, Liza
Michelle Ramos and Santiago Ortiz; and Raissa Oposa and her
teammates.
Joining the group later were Neric Acosta, who sponsored the
Wildlife Act bill in Congress; Dr. Ed Gomez, one of the icons of
the marine science world, who said that coral reefs are stressed
with high temperature and ocean acidification, which threaten
likewise the Philippine reefs; and incoming Integrated Bar of the
Philippines national president Rolly Vinluan, who vividly remembers
that, in the distant past, kingfishers would dive into the clean
estero (creek) of Paco, Manila, for fish. He promised to accord the
highest priority to environment and institutionalize the setting up
of active environmental teams in all IBP local chapters nationwide.
Consolidating the wisdom, experiences, knowledge and expertise of
the GLACC team members, the Legal Tool Kit was produced. This “tool
kit” is intended, in the words of Tony, “to be made available to
our co-workers, both lawyers and non-lawyers alike, to advance the
cause of conserving, protecting, and restoring our sources of Life
of Land, Air, and Water (a.k.a. the environment). As we all know,
anything that we do for the environment is something that we do for
climate change.”
These action plans and empowering templates – such as petitions,
letter interrogatories, and notice to sue – that citizens may use
in their locality to ensure compliance with the various
environmental laws by the enforcement agencies will be posted in
the GLACC website. The Manila Bay Ruling of the Supreme Court,
Executive Order No. 744 issued by President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo, and Republic Act 9485, the “Anti-Red Tape Act,”
and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, among other laws, are
the much-needed shot in the arm to boost the campaign for a
healthier environment. They are potent tools for empowering action
by the citizens to stem the disastrous impact of climate change.
Tony Oposa adds: “We are trying to do this in order to spark the
needed political will to address the clear and present dangers of
climate change with a sense not just of urgency but with a sense of
emergency.”
The financial and biological meltdowns that are pushing the planet
and us on the precipice of destruction should already force us,
humans, to reduce our carbon footprints and drastically change
lifestyles and behavior. Addiction to oil and carbon-emitting
substances is causing the climate crisis. There is no more debate
on that.
Yet, while the rest of the world and lately the United States,
under President Barack Obama’s stewardship, are shifting to clean
energy, on this side of the planet, government agencies and local
government units, together with the corporate entities that refuse
to instill sustainability in their production and operation, still
pretend climate crisis is not happening.
The business-as-usual mindset is no longer a viable option. It is
far from smart thinking.
Our people, especially the young, must now discard the apathy. We
need more passionate fighters on issues that affect and afflict
humankind and our planet. We need more people to have the stamina
and the persistence to face the climate challenges and be prepared
to be tough, resilient, open to changes, challenges and new ideas
and be willing to learn each second of her or his life.
Lest many will be discouraged, an advocate’s life is not at all
times as serious as it seems. When people with shared passion are
together, there is laughter in the air. Always, a positive feeling
that one is not alone in dreaming big prevails. Ways and approaches
in effecting campaigns might differ but the strategies point to the
same direction, hopefully leading to the realization of shared
goals.
The week just passed gave me the wonderful opportunity to reconnect
with fellow advocates in gender, human rights, health and
environmental concerns. Renewing friendships, meeting interesting
personalities, learning from their insights and experiences,
sharing small successes, knowing first-hand the story behind the
news, and getting doubly inspired and energized are certainly the
blissful perks of an advocate’s life.
May there be more of us on this battle. If you are interested to
know more about GLACC, a media briefing will be held on Thursday,
February 5 at 10:30 a.m. at the IBP Lounge, Capitol, Cebu City. We
invite all, especially young citizens, to be at the forefront of
the GLACC campaign.
