Save the environment!

[jon_prez]

the $80 was mostly to shut politicians and noisy activists up. it cost less than 50 million pesos to seal and cement that drain tunnel through which the mine tailings leaked out.

Interesting... $79 million out of $80 million dollars to pay people off and only $1 million to 'fix the problem'.

mining is a grassroots industry in our country so developing it has little to do with the problems malacañang is facing right now.

You mean how the government is severely strapped for money and how a few hundred billion dollars worth of incoming investments will not help solve it?

When greed comes into the picture, people really do selectively turn off large portions of their brain.

and just what livelihood are they talking about? they're just landless layabouts who try to fish, plant vegetables and grovel why the mine won't hire them.

I guess when you apply the term 'landless layabout' to someone, all of a sudden their fishing and planting vegetables does not count as a means of sustenance anymore. Like I said in the preceding paragraph...

[jon_prez]

the $80 was mostly to shut politicians and noisy activists up. it cost less than 50 million pesos to seal and cement that drain tunnel through which the mine tailings leaked out.

Interesting... $79 million out of $80 million dollars to pay people off and only $1 million to 'fix the problem'.

mining is a grassroots industry in our country so developing it has little to do with the problems malacañang is facing right now.

You mean how the government is severely strapped for money and how a few hundred billion dollars worth of incoming investments will not help solve it?

When greed comes into the picture, people really do selectively turn off large portions of their brain.

and just what livelihood are they talking about? they're just landless layabouts who try to fish, plant vegetables and grovel why the mine won't hire them.

I guess when you apply the term 'landless layabout' to someone, all of a sudden their fishing and planting vegetables does not count as a means of sustenance anymore. Like I said in the preceding paragraph...

[jon_prez]

mining is a grassroots industry in our country so developing it has little to do with the problems malacañang is facing right now.

Wow, mining... a 'grassroots' industry... talk about twisting the truth 180 degrees... of all the things you've said so far this is just about the most baldfaced fallacy.

[mac_bolan00]

maybe you don't know an iota about mining. filipinos have been mining and quarrying since the ming dynasty. in 1987, when gold reached a high, the philippines produced 34 tonnes of pure gold. of that, those giant mining operations accounted for 26 tonnes.

the remaining 8 tonnes? it was contributed by an estimated 120,000 panners and small-scale miners scattered around the country. can you picture 8 tonnes of gold? and can you picture 120,000 people digging, panning and selling gold at roadside stalls, following LME prices? now if that isn't grassroots, then what is?

[spindoctor]

^76% of the country's total gold output is accounted for by large-scale mining operations and you consider the entire industry grassroots? Wow, let's hear it from jon_prez again:

of all the things you've said so far this is just about the most baldfaced fallacy.

[tianak_me]

By output maybe but in terms of (self)employment and area of coverage, Mac's right. Spin, it's obvious that Mac's posts are all you have to go on with regard to mining. I think the same goes for everyone here cept moi.

[nowhereman]

you don't drink muddy water, regardless of metal content, right?

the $80 was mostly to shut politicians and noisy activists up. it cost less than 50 million pesos to seal and cement that drain tunnel through which the mine tailings leaked out.

the river is back to normal. what the USGS report means is that the inactive marcopper mine still has more than a million tonnes of copper-lead-zinc tailings that 'might' finds its way to boac river 'again'.

Marcopper and the Marinduque provincial government had to bring in potable water, food and medicine, not because just "a portion of the river got muddied," but because at least 5 barangays had to be evacuated due to the flash flood created by the leakage of mine tailings. It wasn't just a case of the river being "muddied".

If they did spend US$80 million just to hush up the disaster and Php50 million to seal the leak, then it just goes to show that Marcopper and Placer Dome didn't really live up to their obligations under the law, which included funding a rehabilitation plan for the Boac River. This is a fine example of how mining companies, through the use of bribes and the cooperation of corrupt individuals, can get away with serious violations. That's scary, considering that the mining industry is looking at opening up around 120 sites throughout the country.

The Boac river is back to normal? Sources please?

[dalawa_puso_ko]

I for one can't believe the $80 million figure. It wasn't at all that big an accident.

[gUy^]

mas ok pa logging, bastat walang illegal loggers. big logging com. in auroa has reforestation prog namn.. kaya lang nagkaganon ang kagubatan ay dahil sa mga mamayan ** aurora at quezon. nde yung mga companya na nag logging. ang tanging kabuhayan ng tao doon ay pagkakahoy. ang pagmimina kase doon ayaw nila dahil mas nalalamog ang kagubatan. isipin mo nlang ito kung ang logging puputulin mo ang puno, pag mining bubungkalin mo ang kagubatan.. ang puno na naputol tutubo uli, ang kagubatan na binungkal ba maibabalik mo pa?

[mr. yotsuya]

theoretically, most mining companies submit an EIA (environmental impact assessment) to DENR before starting any operations or building their sites (actually i think all industries are required to submit this, and not just mining). it should be indicated there any expected environmental impact and equivalent penalties that the company would pay in case of environmental damage. the government should be able to easily penalize erring companies based on this. of course, i can't comment on the corruption in DENR since i don't have facts as to its extent. but supposedly, this is how industries comply with any country's environmental regulations (which i might comment is quite lax in the philippines)

IMO the bigger problem is illegal logging as it is difficult (and often dangerous) to monitor. local governments should play a big part against illegal logging and not depend on the DENR.

[sleepymind]

i think as long as there's sustainable development in an area, we don't have to abolish mining. because like any endeavor, it gives helps our economy. i think DENR should exert more effort in doing their job to check on the companies, see if they're complying with the set standards.

[tianak_me]

When mining and legal logging were going full blast, our forests and mountains were as good as any in the WHOLE WORLD. It was only when people grew up to PEXing age when opposition against legal mining and logging grew. That allowed all those useless upland farmers and squatters to denude our forests just to cook their evening meals.

[boogeyman]

When mining and legal logging were going full blast, our forests and mountains were as good as any in the WHOLE WORLD. It was only when people grew up to PEXing age when opposition against legal mining and logging grew. That allowed all those useless upland farmers and squatters to denude our forests just to cook their evening meals.

i agree. and as i've said in another thread here, the big foreign investors interested in the mining industry will be more likely to follow international standards because they have the resources to do so. it would be in their interest to keep the industry sustainable. for one thing, it would ensure profitability for a long period of time, and for another, if they don't address environmental concerns, their business reputation would be ruined internationally.

wise utilization of our resources for the benefit of the economy is certainly far preferable to leaving our forests for resident kaingeros to ravage unscrupulously, or our rich mineral deposits to stagnate.

[tagaAplaya]

great na madami palang tao na they care about their environment - NOT

napakaraming hypocrite - trying to be PC..
tanong ko lang - when yoy take a dump do you ever think na saan pumupunta ito - sewage treatment facility - bago dump sa pristine MAnila bay
meron ba sewage treatment ?
mga tae ng aso may pumupulot ba..? si JAmby madrigal environmentalist kuno how many SUV's ?

pilipinas ka ilan ka magbabago

[Jak_as*s]

buy hybrid cars instead of those suv's

[mellowscream]

Plant trees on campus, DepEd orders all schools

June 22, 2008 05:58:00
Nancy C. Carvajal
Philippine Daily Inquirer


MANILA, Philippines--Beginning this school year, all public and private schools nationwide will be required to plant trees on their campuses as part of the Department of Education's contribution to the effort to lessen the effects of global warming, according to a DepEd circular.

"All public and private schools nationwide are directed to plant trees and make sure they're taken care of, as the department takes concrete steps to mitigate the effects of global warming," Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said in a statement.

Lapus stressed that the global warming phenomenon required more than lip service. "It requires us to take solid, concerted action to arrest the continuing decline of our environment," he said.

The directive contained in DepEd Order No. 33 also prohibits the cutting of trees on school grounds.

In the continuing effort to combat climate change, Lapus also directed school officials to conduct "extensive tree-planting, tree-growing and tree-caring activities" on their campuses and nearby communities throughout the school year.

In his order, Lapus also instructed school officials to convert empty lots on their campuses to mini-forests and plant nurseries.

As part of the school's service to the community, all schools nationwide were likewise directed to carry out activities like forums, symposiums and other related undertakings to create wider public awareness of the state of the environment, Lapus said.

Lapus also asked school-based organizations to do their share in the fight against climate change and directed school administrators to provide assistance to the groups.

"I also urge school-based organizations such as the Supreme Student Government, Supreme Pupil Government, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Youth for Environment in Schools Organization to lead the tree-planting and tree-caring activities as part of their civic duty," Lapus said.

He particularly encouraged the planting of trees endemic to the Philippines such as narra, molave, Philippine teak, acacia, kamagong, lawaan and fruit-bearing trees.


http://www.inquirer.net/specialrepor...0080622-144098

[Busilak]

This is a good move by the Dep Ed Sec.

The DILG Sec. should also instruct LGUs to plant trees or develop vegetable patches in vacant lots.

[mellowscream]

Greenpeace launches Energy Revolution in Boracay

06/21/2008 | 01:50 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Various stakeholders in Boracay have launched an initiative to make the famous island a "climate friendly" destination.

This will require the collective implementation of energy efficiency measures among resorts, restaurants, bars and other establishments in the area.

International environmental organization, Greenpeace, launched "Save the Climate, Save Boracay" project, which is meant to decrease the island’s carbon footprint and promote awareness of climate change and solutions that can be implemented by the tourism industry.

"Save the Climate, Save Boracay" is a partnership between Greenpeace, the municipality of Malay where Boracay is located, the Department of Tourism, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Boracay Foundation Inc., the Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Mother Earth Foundation.

A manifesto was signed by all stakeholders. It requires the inclusion of energy efficiency measures and promotion of renewable energy use as part of the environmental management plans for the island especially in the construction or expansion of establishments; the provision of regular energy audits and workshops amongst establishments on energy and water conservation, as well as ecological waste management; and the provision of energy efficiency workshops for tourists and visitors; to campaign for the immediate approval of the Renewable Energy bill.

The Philippines is vulnerable to sea level rise and extreme weather caused by climate change. Greenpeace research in 2007 showed that a sea level rise could cause the inundation of 700 million square kilometers throughout the country, including the island of Boracay, as well as low-lying areas of Sulu, Camarines Sur, Palawan, and Zamboanga, among others. — Ava Kashima K. Austria, BusinessWorld


http://www.gmanews.tv/story/102454/G...ion-in-Boracay

[krumpff]

hello everyone!
just a very important public announcement. please take some time to look at it.

it solely concentrates on AKLAN for the reason being that the province does not get sufficient media coverage for other people worldwide to notice and give direct support to.

this little effort can help raise awareness on the state of urgency the province is in.



more information can be found here:
http://kidsahoy.multiply.com/journal...UR_HELP_NEEDED

for those who know anyone working for the press, please encourage him/her to constantly follow-up on the situation in the province of aklan.

this is one way the government will be able to increase the emergency funding which all the towns, constituting aklan, desperately needs.

kindly repost/pass this along. thank you for your time.

[mellowscream]

E-jeepneys take over 2 Makati villages’ routes

July 05, 2008 22:07:00
DJ Yap
Philippine Daily Inquirer


SLEEK, COLORFUL and environment-friendly, the electric powered or “e-jeepney” finally made its commercial debut at the Makati central business district early this month, drawing plaudits from Earth lovers everywhere.

A year after the pilot test of the project on Ayala Avenue, environmentalists and city officials rolled out the first batch of 14-seater e-jeepneys that were assigned separate routes around Legaspi and Salcedo Villages in the financial district.

“We consider this a historic event. This will revolutionize the transport sector in the country,” said environmentalist Von Hernandez, executive director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

Milestones

“This is a milestone in the history of motor vehicles in the Philippines,” said Land Transportation Office chief Alberto Suansing. “We shall soon see electric-powered vehicles in other places.”

The e-jeepney project is a venture of Green Renewable Independent Power Producer Inc. (GRIPP), which originated from Greenpeace and other groups, and the city of Makati.

Costing P500,000 each and running on batteries charged via electrical sockets overnight, four e-jeepneys will service office employees in the two villages for the meantime, an operation that is subject to further plans of expansion.

For the first week, commuters rode the brightly painted e-jeepneys with designs by artist Toym Imao, son of National Artist Abdulmari Imao, free of charge.

Later, they will be run like any ordinary jeepney with comparable passenger fare rates, city officials said.

The campaign is part of GRIPP’s Climate Friendly Cities Project, a multipronged program for mitigating climate change that promotes transport and waste management initiatives through renewable energy-based technology.

The projected benefits include the following:

• the reduction of greenhouse gases and air pollutants
• the containment of leachate that contaminate groundwater
• the displacement of fossil fuel
• the treatment of organic waste, and
• the improvement of local air, health and safety.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay said the rather delayed introduction of the e-jeepneys—a consequence of technical and bureaucratic issues—was a blessing in disguise.

“If we had officially introduced the e-jeepneys a year ago, we would hardly feel the need for it. But because of the rising cost of fuel, and the problem of air pollution, these vehicles are now very timely options,” he said.

Ferdie Raquel Santos of the Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (MVPMAP), the local assemblers of two of the four units, said the e-jeepneys “are a true Filipino vehicle with 90 percent local content.”

“It runs from 40 to 60 kilometers per hour with six to eight hours of charging time. Each charge would last 90 kilometers,” he said, citing “conservative estimates.”

A single charge will cost just P158, amounting to a P3 per kilometer expense as opposed to the prevailing P8 per kilometer rate among diesel engines, Santos added.

Furthermore, a single charge will allow a driver to go all the way to Lipa City from Magallanes in Makati City, he said.

Translated into transportation terms, charging the battery overnight will allow a driver to make about 10 to 15 round trips on a three-kilometer route for two to three days, the organizers said.

Electrocution

MVPMAP also allayed fears that riding the e-jeepney could lead to electrocution in case of heavy floods, saying the battery would only run the risk of dying only when submerged in floodwater. Otherwise, it would work fine even during heavy rains.

For now, the e-jeepneys can only be charged via wall sockets, but plans are already afoot for the second phase of GRIPP’s Climate Friendly Cities Project, which involves the establishment of biogas digesters to power the e-jeepney batteries.

Savings on costs

GRIPP chair Athena Ballesteros said the use of biogas digesters, which converts biodegradable waste from households and restaurants, into gaseous energy, would theoretically save costs.

“If we’re not going to use electricity from Meralco (Manila Electric Co.) and start using the biogas digesters, we can still save up to one peso per kilowatt hour,” she said.

She added that Makati City and other local governments were already in the process of developing biogas power plants for the project.

Hermenegildo San Miguel, the city’s department of public safety director, said operations of the e-jeepneys start at 7 a.m. and end at 7 p.m.

Binay said the city government would study the viability of fielding 50 more e-jeepneys in the business district.

“In Makati, we have started with e-jeepneys in the hope that when it becomes commercially viable, it will address the problems of rising fuel costs, promote the use of alternative fuels and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming,” he said.


http://www.inquirer.net/specialrepor...0080705-146696