[Press Release] Towards sustainable development GREEN CONVERGENCE URGES AQUINO TO TAKE CHARGE

Towards sustainable development GREEN CONVERGENCE URGES AQUINO TO TAKE CHARGE Reminding President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III of his avowed ‘Social Contract’ and policy statement during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) that promised the protection of the environment, members of the Green Convergence for Safe Food, Healthy Environment and Sustainable Economy (Green…

Human Rights Online Philippines

July 18, 2011

3–5 minutes

Benigno Aquino III, environment, ESCR, Philippine, Press Release, Renewable energy, Right to food, State of nature, State of the Nation Address, Sustainable Development

Towards sustainable development
GREEN CONVERGENCE URGES AQUINO TO TAKE CHARGE

Reminding President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III of his avowed ‘Social Contract’ and policy statement during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) that promised the protection of the environment, members of the Green Convergence for Safe Food, Healthy Environment and Sustainable Economy (Green Convergence) yesterday urged the President to take charge and make true his promises to lead the nation towards the path of sustainable development by conserving and protecting the country’s natural resources.

In an annual gathering of Green Convergence through its State of Nature Assessment or Green SONA, the group said Pres. Aquino may be partly fulfilling his “contract” through the promulgation of some executive orders and programs but either they are not implemented adequately or are contradicted by other major policy directions.

They cited that while PNoy issued a moratorium on the cutting of trees in natural forests the executive order exempted areas for mining and those to be prepared for plantations. Furthermore, illegal logging remains largely unabated in the Sierra Madre. Though he inaugurated the Renewable Energy Program to fight climate change he also inaugurated coal-fired power plants which are highly contributive to climate. Though the Department of Agriculture under the present leadership has promoted organic agriculture the official policy remains anchored on modern biotechnology moving towards genetically engineered crops. Green Convergence also strongly urged PNoy to forcefully enforce the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

“The President has to take charge and honor his environmental commitments to the nation that he has explicitly stated all too often. As we have surely not taken him out of context because of the straight-forwardness and simplicity of all his articulations, we expect him to oblige,” emphasized Dr. Angelina P. Galang, founder of the Green Convergence.

As members of the Green Convergence recited their incisive assessment of President Aquino’s positive inputs that are matched against the wider contradictory policies, they enumerated their following demands that should be the contents of his social contract in protecting the environment:

“Mr. President: We ask that there be a moratorium on mining applications and approvals until a national industrialization plan is formulated that would rationalize the industry in terms of what and where minerals should be mined;

• We ask for strong forest protection and economic programs for forest communities that will make them stakeholders in forest protection;

• We ask for meaningful engagement with Indigenous Peoples with acknowledgement that their culture makes them the best stewards of the forest;

• We ask for a complete stop to Bt corn planting and field testing of genetically modified crops until and when they are proven safe for humans and the environment;

• We ask for rejection of nuclear power with finality. Transition to 100% renewable energy which has been shown to be able to supply all our energy needs way into the future;

• We ask for correct and vigorous implementation of RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act;

• We ask for enactment of the National Land Use Management Act, Forest Resources Bill and Minerals Management Bill; and

• We ask for a review of the Philippine’s involvement in the Clean Development Mechanisms and REDD + until and when this carbon trading schemes show their effectiveness in reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and not just increasing profits of rich nations.

Green Convergence is composed of more than 50 networks and groups from the environmental, social and religious movements.–end–

Green Convergence for Safe Food, Healthy Environment & Sustainable Economy

PRESS RELEASE
July 18, 2011