GMA's SONA ignores climate change

Today, the President of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, delivered her state of the nation address. While there were a lot of impressive feats done by this administration, it is clear that climate change is not a top item of its agenda. The President highlighted 3 coal fired power plant installations to meet the future energy needs of this country. The mention of Jatropha and Wind Energy was in the context of energy security rather than Global Warming.

Every coal plant means 30 years of greenhouse gas emissions, not to mention the proximity pollution and radiation. It appears that we are continuing on a fossil fuel intensive, economic development model just as most of the world. We will most likely have a 5degC rise in global temperature by 2100. Ecosystem and agriculture collapse happen past 2degC. Millions of people will lose their food.

The SONA did not even mention any serious effort to put adaptation measures for Climate Change. Strategies still need to be defined to secure the lives of our citizenry from storm surges like milenyo and reming. No clear plans have been set forth to secure our food and agricultural capabilities in the next 3 decades.

Our President has "Green Philippines" as part of her 8 in 2008 agenda. How do you reconcile this with your SONA, Madame President?

Coal Again!!!

Just came from Iloilo to check out the site of a proposed coal plant of DMCI. This was granted an Environmental Compliance Cert by the DENR. The Mayor of the town ( Concepcion) says there is about 80% social acceptance but the truth is that opponents of the project were not allowed in the public consultations. Coal is as dirty as it looks...Everytime you turn on your lights or your airconditioner...think of the particulates that go into the lungs of the inhabitants near the plant...think of the mercury they eat everyday with their fish...think of uranium and thorium that settles on the grass cows/carabaos eat ( making milk and meat radioactive). Worst of all using coal is the main reason why we have GLOBAL WARMING!!! Every wasteful use of energy is an act of killing yourself.