Warning!

This was my paper submitted when I applied for JENESYS back in my freshman years. My policy paper.

BATCH 2 - PHL0102086

Phoebe Joy M. Pacut

Warning!

“Ensure environmental sustainability”.

                One of the United NationsMillennium Developmental Anti-Poverty Goals is hoped to be achieved by 2015.  Herein includes the implementation of laws that should be followed to reduce the risk of losing the environmental resources, reduce half of the distribution of population without support of safe drinking water and primary health sanitation, and to achieve progress for the economic stability of over 100 million slum dwellers.

                Have we really done our part as a concerned citizen in our province or our country as a whole in achieving this goal? We may pretentiously answer yes but the reality is, most of the time, it is a big NO. 

                Last December 2009, a huge flood covered some parts of our province and in our country.  Rushing on the muddy Iponan River in Cagayan de Oro City where I used to study in high school, were logs.  I was curious where those logs were coming from.  As an investigation was done, it was found out that in the upper portion of the area was an intensive deforestation being operated by illegal loggers.  Forests were still under threat of agriculture and urbanization.  Thus, when reducing the number of trees in the forests, there will be a greater risk of severe soil erosion and more threatening of the province’s abundant biodiversity.  This brought a great concern for the extinction of species which are dependent on the forests.  Discrepancy in making laws, unsuitable rule, ineffective enforcement and lack of funds are the reasons why forest conservation is barely been solved.

                Pollution is a never-dying problem of our province.  According to my readings, only 10% of sewage in the Philippines is disposed of properly.  The remaining 90% were not treated exactly and were carried back to nature – usually to the sea.  In this situation of poor household waste management and rapid growth of population, water pollution is evident in rivers and coastal areas.  Industrial materials with elements harmful to the water bodies were found.  These problems were developed due to poor planning, ineffective management and enforcement of rules and regulations.

                Converting coastal areas into a developed beach resorts were continually harmful to the marine environment particularly to corals, mangroves and seaweeds.  Due to rapid growth of population, there is a great need for space and construction materials.  Coastal conversion has found out to be risk for the corals to be extracted for the building-up of coastal villages.  Mangroves were greatly affected by this thus reducing its number compared to the past few years.

                Leff in 1978 states that the underlying idea is that conscious organisms such as human beings are part of nature and we are in a sense mere extensions of our environment.  Thus, it certainly opens up the idea that there is a human-nature relationship.  And the most significant challenge is to find out the core answer to our problems.  I firmly believe that the answer depends on us.  First and foremost, the citizens should be fully aware at the environment’s most dreadful situation.  The effects regarding the problems are taking so slow that we barely notice it just like a frog gradually heated in a beaker.  Most of the citizens have lack of knowledge about the hazardous effects that common household products bring.   Secondly, people should gain initiatives on making techniques for an effective action on how to make changes.  They should have that skill in order to take an action suitable to be an answer to the problem in order to avoid wasting time and money.  People should be strongly motivated in solving the problems.  We must have a sound reason and that is to save Mother Earth.  No matter how hard we try in doing it and were not motivated, it’s just like we’re stuck in quick sand.  Lastly, we must not be easily be blocked by outside forces (e.g. money).  This may be hindrance to our self-regulation in solving the problems.  We must balance our economy stability and environmental sustainability.  A rich country with fewer natural resources is still nothing because when natural disasters occur, it will be spent for medical purposes, relief goods and damaged properties and livelihoods of the citizens.

                As we made solutions to a problem, we must consider its advantages and disadvantages.  We must examine its worth not just to mankind but to the world.  We must carry out a plan.  I believe that in saving Mother Earth there will be no such thing as plan B’s.  It would always be plan A and that is to take our best shot on where to put our efforts, design strategies and take an action in promoting more environmentally accountable and continuous behavior.

                This is not just a challenge for the scientists alone, but everyone to impart for the most significant challenge in where our future lies on.

                Again, let me remind you. It’s a WARNING!