Earth Day: the Philippine State of Nature Assessment.
By Rodne Galicha
April 20, 2013

Presidential Proclamation No. 1482 was signed in 2008 declaring that year as Year of Planet Earth and the month of April every year thereafter as the Month of Planet Earth in the Philippines. The following year, the United Nations adopted a resolution designating April 22 as International Mother Earth Day.

Originally, Earth Day was conceptualized in 1969 at a global conference in the United States and proposed March 21, 1970, the first day of spring – the equinox, which was then adopted by the United Nations. The following month, another Earth Day movement was founded by American senator Gaylord Nelson after witnessing the Sta. Barbara oil spill environmental disaster. With the aim of teaching students and communities environmental conservation, the senator was “convinced that all we need to do to bring an overwhelming insistence of the new generation that we stem the tide of environmental disaster is to present the facts clearly and dramatically.” Earth Day was then celebrated April 22, 1970 with over 20 million people participating. With Earth Day Network leading the global activity, Earth Day has been observed by many national governments and civil society movements.

Is there need to celebrate? Celebrating the existence of our planet is recognizing our dependence on its abundance. Participation in this annual activity means acceptance of the full responsibility and accountability to bring back the original role of human beings in the grand preservation of harmony and order in nature. But how can we celebrate if Mother Earth weeps?

This year’s Earth Day challenge is to reflect on the theme: The Face of Climate Change. Earth Day Network stresses that ‘climate change can seem like a remote problem for our leaders, but the fact is that it’s already affecting real people, animals, and beloved places. These Faces of Climate Change are multiplying every day. Fortunately, other Faces of Climate Change are multiplying too: those stepping up to do something about it.’

How has climate change affected you? What are you doing to be part of the solution?

The Philippines is the most vulnerable to typhoons and Manila is the second most at risk from climate change.   We have experienced series of catastrophes due to irresponsible environmental management largely induced by climate-risk industries implemented by the government.

What are the problems? What is the state of the Philippine environment?

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