Give Earth back its primal strength
Apr 30, 2006
From one of the most infamous symbols of environmental destruction in the world, an apology to Mother Earth and a reprimand to humanity rang out yesterday.
(Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 23, 2006) "Give the earth back its primal strength by respecting the laws of nature instead of abusing its bounty for greed and profit," Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said in his homily at Manila's Smokey Mountain, once a massive heap of trash that stood for years as a symbol of poverty in the country.
Rosales led environmentalists, businessmen and government officials, including President Macapagal-Arroyo, in celebrating Earth Day at the former mountain of shame, which is now a resettlement site.
Rosales blamed human greed for destroying the balance in nature and endangering future generations.
"The earth does not belong to humans; humans belong to the earth. And if they need to protect and prolong their lives, they must, of necessity, protect and prolong the life of their home, the planet, the Earth," Rosales said.
He called on the people to preserve the environment by planting trees, reviving watersheds, replenishing aquifers and disposing of their garbage properly.
"God has shown humans, through tragic experience, that nature has a way of fighting back, if only to protect them and their future," Rosales warned.
The Lasallian Institute for the Environment has pledged to plant one million trees all over the country by 2011 while the Manila Seedling Bank committed to give 10,000 saplings to those who want to plant trees.
This year's theme for Earth Day is "Mea Culpa, A Call to Repentance and Reflection," a takeoff on the disasters caused by environmental degradation.
A 150-member choir from evangelical and Catholic churches sang during the Mass, backing an interpretative dance performed by the youth of Mga Anak ni Inang Daigdig (MAID).
Simultaneous Masses
About a hundred priests simultaneously celebrated Earth Day Masses in their parishes in the Manila archdiocese, according to Earth Day Network, lead coordinator of the activities.
The Cardinal, an anti-illegal logging stalwart when he was a bishop in Mindanao, blamed avarice for the destruction of the country's environment.
In a recent pastoral statement, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has asked the government to repeal the Mining Act of 1995 and revoke all mining permits.
Malacaang has endorsed a review of the mining law and declared a moratorium on the issuance of new mining permits in the Bicol region, where mine spills have caused fish kills and a drop in tourism.
A threatened future
"It is human greed that destroys the balance in the distribution, sharing and the use of the earth's resources," Rosales said. "It is human acquisitiveness and avarice that threaten the supply and availability of resources destined also for the future generations.
"To destroy and overuse the earth's supply today is like stealing from the mouths of your grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They and their needs were also in the mind of God when He created this earth," he said.
Politics not far behind
Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, Rosales said the world's resources were enough to provide for humanity's needs but would never suffice to fill one man's greed.
With Ms Arroyo around, the subject of politics was not far behind.Laban ng Masa convenor Randy David , one of those who read a prayer, almost walked out when he saw the President arrive at around 6 a.m.
He was prevailed upon to stay by Earth Day Network convenor Odette Alcantara.
"I did not expect her to be here because she would be seeing the poverty of her people and that would be a slap on the face if you were the President," said David, who was detained by police last month during an anti-Arroyo rally in Quezon City.
Forest in every barangay
In a press statement, former Sen. Loren Legarda urged Filipinos to help establish at least one forest park in each of the country's 41,943 barangays to protect the environment and solve the problems of pollution and recurring floods.
Legarda is chair of the Luntiang Pilipinas movement, which encourages volunteerism in the establishment of forest parks, especially in urban areas. It has planted over two million trees all over the country.
"Each of us must do our share if the badly damaged Philippine environment is to be rehabilitated," said Legarda.
Legarda said a recent study ranked the Philippines 126th among 145 countries on environmental sustainability owing to the unabated denudation of its forest cover, the destruction of coral reefs and the death of its many river systems.
"At the rate we are going in destroying the environment, the next generations would have nothing but concrete jungles," she said.
KMU blames capitalists
The militant labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno called on companies to comply with environmental regulations in order to protect jobs, as it recalled last week's closure of a Pasig City chocolate factory that lacked the required anti-pollution devices.
KMU spokesperson Prestoline Suyat said that many factory owners often neglected environmental compliance, affecting the welfare of workers and communities where the factories are located.
"Capitalists often scrimp on expenses for environmental compliance, workplace safety standards, (and) personal protective equipment, not to mention wages, to keep their profits up," he said.
"As a result, workers' security of tenure gets imperiled and they fall victim to their employers' negligence," he added.
A 2004 Philippine environment monitor showed that annual economic losses caused by water pollution were estimated at P67 billion while health costs of exposure to air pollution in major urban centers were estimated to be over P21 billion.
Give Earth back its primal strength