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Holy
Week is a time for prayer and reflection. And it’s an
opportune time as well to reflect on the state of the
planet.
On March
21, 1970, the city of
San Francisco
observed the first Earth Day.
The
celebration of Earth Day was conceived by John McConnell
to allow people of every creed and culture to rededicate
themselves to the care of Mother Earth. He timed it to
coincide with the March equinox, nature’s special day of
equilibrium, and also with the first day of
spring—nature’s symbol of renewal and new life. Since
then, countries around the world have marked Earth Day
to ask people to act as Earth Trustees to address not
only pollution and other forms of environmental
degradation, but also poverty, injustice and conflict.
Our own
celebration of Earth Day started in 1990, when President
Corazon Aquino issued Proclamation 553 mandating April
22 of every year as Earth Day in the Philippines.
This
year, the observance of Earth Day from March 26 to April
22 is being led by the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) and Earth Day Network
Philippines, with various activities lined up by the
organizers.
This
year’s theme: “Tubig ay buhay ating pagyamanin at
linisin,” highlights the importance of water
conservation. Environment Secretary Lito Atienza has
asked local government units to take an active part in
Earth Day activities, the better to raise the awareness
of ordinary citizens in environmental conservation.
The
monthlong activities start on March 26 with a forum on
the state of Philippine rivers at the DENR main office
in Quezon City. The dialogue with stakeholders seeks to
gather views that can be inputs in drafting a road map
for the rehabilitation of our river systems.
The
formal kick-off of pre-Earth Day activities takes place
on March 31 with the DENR secretary leading a people’s
caravan, an 18-day intensive information and education
campaign that will go to various provinces, cities and
towns nationwide to explain DENR programs and projects
to the people.
Sandiwang 2008, or Isang diwa sa pagdiriwang para sa
kalikasan, an ecumenical Mass, will take place in
Peacebell, Quezon City Memorial Circle, on April 20.
This seeks to promote cooperative and positive
interaction between people of different religious
traditions and faiths, so that they can come up with a
common platform to protect the environment. Sandiwang
activities will include prayers, indigenous rituals,
feeding program, art and organic farm exhibits in
addition to the main program.
Cycling
enthusiasts/environmentalists will surely delight in
taking part in the 10th Tour of the Fireflies, which
reels off on Earth Day itself with the theme “I Bike!
Clean Air and Livable Communities.” This will start in
Tiendesitas, Pasig, and pass through Pasig, Mandaluyong,
Makati, Pasay, Manila, Quezon City and Marikina. The
annual Tour of the Fireflies covers 50 kilometers and
promotes cycling as an alternative means of
transportation that is cheap, efficient, environmentally
sensible and good for one’s health. It is organized by
the Firefly Brigade, a volunteer group that advocates
clean air, with the DENR as co-partner. This year’s
event will include synchronized Clean Air rides in Metro
Manila and other key cities, including
Davao City,
Cebu City, Bacolod City, Tarlac City, Cagayan de Oro
City, Batangas City and Baguio City.
Then
there’s also a fluvial parade and Padyak Para sa
Kalikasan (paglalayag at paglalakbay) that will formally
open Earth Day ceremonies on April 22. Other activities
during Earth Day itself are the “Pagtitipon At
Pagpapahayag,” which will highlight Secretary Atienza’s
Earth Day’s “Call to Action” keynote address; the
relaunching of “Industrial Eco Watch Program,” a
public-disclosure program that rates industries in color
codes of gold, silver, green, blue, red and black; and
the announcement of the winners of the “Search for Model
Barangay” in implementing Republic Act 9003, or the
Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
Earth
Day has come a long way since its launching 38 years
ago, with more people now aware of environmental issues.
This year, we should take the commemoration of Earth Day
worldwide as an opportunity for people to celebrate life
and reaffirm our common responsibility to take care of
the planet we live in.
SDK book
launched
On
Thursday former leaders and members of the Samahang
Demokratiko ng Kabataan (SDK), a radical youth and
student organization in the 1970s, gathered at the
College of Arts and Sciences of the University of the
Philippines
in Diliman to launch a book entitled Militant but
Groovy: Stories of the Samahang Demokratiko ng Kabataan.
The book was conceived way back in 1994, but the editors
managed to put it together and have it published by
Anvil only late last year. Those who lived through
martial law will certainly know what SDK stood for, but
I doubt if the younger generation will be even remotely
familiar with it. Here’s what the martial-law
declaration said about the organization: “The Samahang
Demokratiko ng Kabataan, another militant and outspoken
organization of the radical Left, has also increased the
number of its chapters from an insignificant number at
the end of 1970 to 150 at the end of July 1972, and has
now a membership of 1,495 highly indoctrinated,
intensely committed and almost fanatically devoted
individuals.” The publication consists of personal
reminiscences by 18 contributors, including this writer,
of the organization and the times during which it stood
in the frontlines of street protests against the Marcos
regime. The book is available at bookstores for P395,
and part of the proceeds goes to humanitarian projects
of the Sadeka Foundation. |
