Adopt a Negotiator looking for a representative from the Philippines

Adopt a Negotiator offers 10 fellowships available for talented young people (ages 18 – 30) who are willing to actively contribute to the Adopt a Negotiator project between now and mid-2014, including attending the Warsaw UN Climate Change Conference this November. Read the information below and if you are up for the challenge, apply on our webpage by the 7th of September! Please feel free to share this opportunity broadly through your networks!

Philippine youth delegates – Adopt a Negotiator is hoping that they could find someone talented from the Philippines who could join their team for this year’s COP– given the importance of the country both as experiencing climate impact and taking some action to address the challenge, they would like to ensure that at least one of the fellows will be from the Philippines.

 

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*** The Opportunity ***

 

The Global Campaign for Climate Action is awarding Adopt a Negotiator (AaN) Fellowships to exceptional young people that we think possess the ability to effectively push their countries toward unlocking climate solutions nationally and internationally. AaN Fellows will have an opportunity to help shape their government’s role in solving climate change. They’ll join a team of passionate, dedicated and talented activists from around the world; participating in moments that will shape if and how the governments respond adequately to the climate challenge. Their efforts will build on a proud legacy of past ‘Negotiator Trackers,’ and make important contributions to the climate movement in a creative, challenging and exciting role.

Applicants must be 18 to 30 years of age; available to attend the Warsaw Climate Change Conference in Poland (from November 8th to November 24th, 2013); and able to actively contribute to the Adopt a Negotiator project as an activist and blogger from mid-September of this year through May of 2014.

LEARN MORE & APPLY FOR TO BECOME AN

ADOPT A NEGOTIATOR 2013/2014 FELLOW

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Here are some of the qualities we are looking for:

 

• You understand the landscape. Our Fellows should not only understand climate change, they are also familiar with their country’s national and international climate politics; preferably with the UNFCCC itself – its history, its inner workings, and its roles in addressing climate change.

• You are an excellent communicator. Our Fellows can quickly translate the complex and hard to communicate developments that happen during climate negotiations and other key moments into compelling, accessible, creative, actionable communications across multiple channels and mediums. Our primary tool is blogging – Fellows must be skilled bloggers – but the ability to leverage other communications tools and channels with strategic and/or large audiences via new and traditional media is also key to their success.

• You have informed empathy. Our Fellows seek out a deep understanding of how climate change affects people in different situations, in different ways, all over the world – security, health, livelihood, values, politics, business, etc – and can tap into that understanding to help them connect with with various audiences (including their negotiators).

• You are brave. In a short amount of time, each Fellow has to build relationships with experts in our partner network, members of the media, their country’s negotiators and other decision makers. Fellows need to quickly absorb and synthesize new information; take public stands on complicated issues; get their ideas and opinions out to fellow activists and media in their home country in meaningful ways.

• You are fast. Our Fellows are able to rapidly respond to events and opportunities inside climate negotiations and out.

• You are dedicated. Our Fellows understand the stakes involved in responding to climate change, and are dedicated to helping push for progress in spite of the many setbacks, challenges and complications we face along the way. While we expect to count on our Fellows’ full-time participation during the Warsaw Climate Change Conference, they also actively participate in the project throughout their Fellowship’s duration.

Are you looking for an incredible experience on the front lines of an essential fight in the effort to address climate change? Do you think you can excel in the Fellowship role? If so, we want to meet you. Apply here:

LEARN MORE & APPLY FOR TO BECOME AN

ADOPT A NEGOTIATOR 2013/2014 FELLOW

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Applicants must be:

• between 18 and 30 years of age

• available to attend the Warsaw Climate Change Conference in Poland (from November 8th to November 24th, 2013)

• committed to contribute to the project for the Fellowship’s duration

 

This Fellowship is a volunteer opportunity. However, support for participation in the Warsaw Climate Change Conference (transportation, accommodation and per diems) as well as continuous support and capacity building is provided by the Global Call for Climate Action.

For any questions, please contact Sébastien Duyck at sebastien.duyck@adoptanegotiator.org.

 

PhilYCM Director Anna Oposa is the 2011 Pitong Pinoy Awardee

Pitong Pinoy Profiles: Anna Oposa

By Yahoo! Southeast Asia Editors | 

Screengrab from Yahoo! Southeast Asia video

A lot of people claim to care for the environment but how many actually go out of their way to protect it? Meet Anna Oposa, the director of the Law of Nature Foundation. She’s an example of someone who has proven her love for Mother Earth by vigorously working to protect marine life. 

She initiated “Save the Philippine Seas,” spurred by recent reports of massive coral reef destruction in several parts of the country. Her initiatives sparked a social networking campaign which united Filipinos through a national blog day to save the Philippine seas. She is also lobbying to strengthen environmental protection laws, a long-term goal that she is passionate about.

“I feel the need to fight for the environment because I’m Filipino,” she says. “I don’t think what I’m doing is extraordinary. I don’t think it’s heroic. I just think I’m doing my duty living in a country with so many natural resources. I grew up with all of these and when you have a deep appreciation of the things around you, you’ll want to protect them.”

Many are astounded by Oposa’s passion and drive, which go well beyond her 23 years. “People always write to me asking what they can do, what NGOs they can apply for,” she says. “This is probably disappointing for them, but I always say you’ve got to start with yourself; improvement begins with ‘I’.”

She offers some tips for those who want to do more for the country. “First learn about [the Philippines]. I really believe if you first learn how blessed we are and how rich our natural resources are, you would be inspired and motivated to take better care of it. From there, you start with yourself. I know it sounds like a cliche, but it’s a cliche for a reason. You start by managing your wastes properly and talking to people about it, writing about it, if you’re a moviemaker then make films. Use your own skills and see how that connects and from there start volunteering for programs and tell people about it.”

Simple words from someone out to do extraordinary things.

 

Launching of Philippine National Renewable Energy Program

Have you ever entered class only to find yourself in complete shock to hear your teacher announce that you’re just about to take one of the biggest exams of the semester? You look around in class and everyone around you seemed to have known about the exam, but you on the other hand, are in astoundment, asking yourself, “Why didn’t I get the memo?” 

 

I had one of those moments today, except I wasn’t in class, and it wasn’t a test. I was at a pet store store with my siblings choosing fish for our house-pond when it dawned on me that I had missed an event that would have been (or so it seemed) one of the most historical moments of my life. Okay, well maybe I’m being just a tad bit dramatic, I could probably settle for, one of the biggest moments of my year, (and also one of the top moments for my country too).  

 

Over a month ago, I received an invitation from the Philippine Department of Energy Secretariat to attend the grand launch of the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) that honored Philippine President Benigno Aqunio III, to be held at the Makati Shangrila Hotel this morning. The invite had been sent to me twice, and the confirmation email of my attendance, sent to me over two weeks ago (as seen in picture below). The attire for the event was the native formal wear, a barong tagalog for men, and a filipiniana for women. Like every girl when it comes to “big” events, I already had an attire in mind– A filipiniana I’ve only had the chance to wear once, designed by Philippine fashion designer, Oliver Tolentino.  

Confirmation letter of Dept. of Energy Renewable Energy launch

 

As a sustainable solution junkie (call it, if I may), missing this event was a total tragedy for me. For those of you who do not understand why, I’d compare it to missing a first date with someone who’d you’d think would be a potential “love of your life,” or for a die hard soccer fan, missing the FIFA finals, which only happens every four years. The invite itself was a big deal for me. Having been told by my elders to “stop my passion,” by passion meaning my environmental advocacy, I had discontinued contact with most of my colleagues in the environment field over the past few months. It was encouraging to know that even despite my absence, there were people who still recognized my climate work in the Philippines, a government agency, to say the least. 

Invitation

In the next two weeks, I will start my studies at Yale Summer School studying an engineering course on “Green Energy” & a Physics course on “Energy, Technology and Society.” The NREP event would have been a great pedestal in providing me with the appropriate knowledge on the developments of renewable energy (RE) technology in newly industrialized countries, like my own. With members of the diplomatic corps, legislators and policy-makers, non-government organizations, RE developers, energy sector stakeholders, community leaders and members of the research and scientific communities in attendance, it would have also been a great opportunity to rub elbows with the “Who’s who” of renewable technology in my country. This also meant that the Republic Act 9513 “Renewable Energy Act of 2008,” of which my previous boss, Senator Legarda, was a co-author of, was being implemented. I recall campaigning for this legislation during the Philippine elections of 2010, the promulgation of the RA 9513 through the NREP was most definitely overwhelming.

Realizing my stupidity, I came home from the pet store, with fish in oxygenated plastic bag in my hand, and immediately googled the event. To those of us who missed the event, at least we get somewhat of a preview in this video:

Vote to include Philippines in New 7 Wonder of the World

MORE INFO CLICK HERE

Text from DigitalInquirer.com

Found 50 kilometers from the northern city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines, Puerto Princesa Underground River is among the elite 28 official finalists in search for the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III encourages everyone to vote through text and internet in order for PPUR to be part of worldwide memory forever and be named as the official new 7 wonders of nature. The President who made an appeal to Filipinos stated, “Some 80 million Filipinos have cellular phones and some two billion text messages are sent every day. We only need a billion votes – that is just half a day of texting for all Filipinos who have cellular phones.”

As PNoy extends his support for the quest to clinch a spot, he requests the cellphone subscribers to type PPUR and send it to 2861. Moreover, for those who have an access to the internet, the President said online voting is available to this website: www.new7wonders.com.

To make Puerto Princesa Underground River accessible to tourists, President Noynoy Aquino also announced that Zest Air will have a direct flight which will start in July.

Ambassado Alfred Yao, CEO and president of the airline reiterated that Zest Air will fly thrice-a-week from Shanghai to Puerto Princesa.

Considered to be the longest navigable underground river in the world, the 8.2 kilometer subterranean river, was declared a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site in 1999.

PPUR, also known as Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, features the most significant biodiversity conservation habitat as the river breezes through a cave before flowing down to the sea.

2010 Climate Heroes

In 2010,  Luntiang Pilipinas and PHILYCM (Philippine Youth Climate Movement)  travelled all over the Philippines to hold the “Climate Hero” forums to educate Philippine youth on Climate Change and award Climate Heroes. The young climate stewards were recognized for their efforts in making a difference in their communities and contributing to climate change solutions. Here’s a list of some of our “Climate Heroes.”

Mr. Elpidio Magante, President of Bohol State University
Mr. Emmanuel Albano, President UP-Ecological Society
Engr. Virginia dela Cerna, Academic Head, STI College, Lahug Cebu
Ms. Gemma Perez, Western Mindanao State University, NSTP Coordinator
Ms. Mark Popioco, President of Green Movement in WVSU/ Bayer Youth Awardee, West Visayas State University IloIlo
Ms. Rowena S. Cabahug, President, AMA Computer Learning Mandaue Cebu
 Erwin C. Andaya, President of the Student Council, University of Cebu
Nelson Nadela, Teacher of Natural Science
Dr. Benny A. Palma, President of ASU, Aklan State University
Aren Rubin, Future Leaders of the Philippines, President, Aklan State University
Adam Jesus Bering, FCC-NSTP Coordinator, Filamer Christian College
CMSC Green Iskul (Nestor Necesito), UP Visayas Ilo-Ilo
Father Raul L. Buhay, Vice President for Administration
 Aljoriz M. Dublin, Social Science Teacher (Recipient of Luntiang Pilipinas Seedling), University of Visayas
Francis Rey Padao, Faculty Member, University of the Immaculate Conception
Louis Quihada, SSG Vice President, Davao Oriental State College
Van Melchor Mariano, President, Environmental Alliance Club, Mati Polytechnic College

Official Youth Delegate Declaration

Official Youth Delegates Declaration

No decisions about us, without us

NEGOTIATING OUR SURVIVAL:

A picture of representatives from countries vulnerable to sea level rise sit at a negotiating table submerged in the waves. (from 350.org)

As official youth delegates of our country delegation at the UN Climate Change Conference COP16 in Cancun, Mexico, we have been given the opportunity to represent our country and the voice of youth. We came together and drafted and signed the Official Youth Delegate Declaration, to support other young people to become representatives of their country and encourage their governments to support them. As stakeholders, it is important for governments to fully consider the concerns of youth in negotiations that concerns our future.

 

OYD Declaration Final http://www.scribd.com/embeds/57149859/content?view_mode=list&start_page=1&access_key=key-21irltw8fxv6w4jy3nfi&

View this document on Scribd

 

Sena Alouka from Togo signing the Official Youth Delegate Declaration

Esperanza Garcia, delegate of the Philippines with Nene Manizana, delegate of Democratic Republic of Congo

Philippine Youth Delegation, Esperanza, Desiree Llanos Dee, Kester Yu, Vivienne Zerrudo, Anna Oposa (from 350.org)

video and text of PhilCYM Director Anna Oposa’s speech at the Senate

Photo by Tita Noemi “Stage Mom” Lardizabal-Dado

Saving the Philippines Seas: An Intergenerational Responsibility
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
9:30 AM-12PM
2nd Floor, Senator Jose P. Laurel Room
Senate of the Philippines

First of all, I would like to thank Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Chair of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, for giving me the opportunity to speak. I greatly appreciate your concern, immediate action on this matter, and willingness to listen to a young person fresh out of college.

I, along with a handful of individuals, have been actively researching about the collection and exportation of our marine species. This began after we were informed about the company Shell Horizons Inc. last month. This is a company that allegedly collects and exports shells and corals from the Philippines, including those protected by CITES, like the giant clams.

We immediately sought the assistance of concerned government agencies such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB), and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), because it says in the Wildlife Act, or RA 9147, that “the implementation of International agreement on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora, the management authorities for terrestrial and aquatic resources shall be of the PAWB, of the DENR and the BFAR of the Department of Agriculture.” The letter cited excerpts from several local and international laws: the Wildlife Act, the Fisheries Code, the Presidential Decree 1219, which protects Philippine corals, and the Lacey Act of the United States of America.

The DENR replied, with a letter signed by Atty. Annaliza Rebuelta-Teh, referring me to PAWB. The PAWB replied with a letter from Director Teresita Mundita Lim a week earlier than DENR did, referring me to BFAR. The Assistant Director of BFAR, Atty. Benjo Tabios, said he would look into it. A month later, I asked for an update, to which he replied, “Let me check it out.” There was absolutely no sense of urgency from any of our government agencies.

With help from our friends at the media, we were able to generate a small buzz online. Within a month, Shell Horizons replaced its source of products from the “Philippines” to “Indo-Pacific Islands.” Their product catalog now also states that none of their exotic corals are Philippine corals.

If it weren’t for the headlines splashed across our major broadsheets this week and last week, perhaps we wouldn’t have been taken seriously. It was only after an article entitled “Coral reefs twice size of Manila destroyed” was published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the government officials started acting upon this matter.

Now, there are about eleven resolutions urging the concerned Senate committees to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation on the status of our coral reefs, sea turtles, and other marine species. I strongly support SRN 424, introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, which directs the proper Senate Committee to conduct an inquiry on the proliferation of illegal wildlife trade and the need for a stronger enforcement of our laws to curb the incidents of animal smuggling. We need not look far—Cartimar is known to sell seashells and even black tip sharks. We have also discovered many more companies openly selling protected seashells and other marine species that are allegedly from the Philippines. Allow me to show screenshots from these websites:

1) Denis Brands

2) Top Sea Shell

3) The Shell Store

4) Top Sea Shells

5) Petra Aqua

Before the Senate creates new laws, we fervently request you to review and revise our existing ones. We urge the Senate to add a provision regulating the collection and exportation of seashells. As of now, there are no laws that protect non-endangered shells. Our online research has led us to ocean bill of lading samples from the company Orcullo Enterprises, which is based in Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines. One shipment, dated February 2011, had 8, 556 KG of shell and shell handicrafts, while another one, dated April 28, 2011, had 6, 982 KG of shell and shell handicrafts.

I would also like to respectfully invite your attention to Chapter VI, Sec. 91 of the Fisheries Code, which states that the penalty for a crime like this will be punishable by imprisonment from six (6) months to two (2) years and a fine from Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) to Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00). In Chapter V, Sec. 28 of the Wildlife Act, the penalty for engaging in trading wildlife is only imprisonment of ten (10) days to one (1) month and/or a fine of Two hundred pesos (P200.00) to Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00), if inflicted or undertaken against other wildlife species.

The punishments for the crime do NOT match the severity of the crime—just 2 years in jail for the criminal, but at least 2 decades for the coral reefs to recover. The amount of black corals and marine turtles seized by the Bureau of Customs this month was estimated to be worth at least PhP 35 million. The recent raid in Cebu confiscated marine species worth PhP 2 million, while another raid revealed sacks of black corals worth about PhP 15 million.

We, as Filipino citizens, are seeking your help as Senators of the Republic of the Philippines. Our online research only leads us to a limited amount of information. Senator Loren Legarda has introduced SRN 491, the resolution directing the concerned Senate Committees to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the reported poaching that ravaged 7,000 hectares of seabed within the Moro Gulf and Sulu Sea. We strongly suggest coordinating with agencies based abroad, such as the US Fisheries and Wildlife Service. As Atty. Oposa earlier said, this issue needs international cooperation, because we need to stop both supply and demand. We need to identify ALL the people behind the plunder of our seas, and the sites from which these marine species are being extracted for the sake of our country, our people, and our biodiversity.

While we are determined to enforce the Law, we also wish to extend the hand of cooperation. We are here to help spark the political will to promote compliance. From a handful of individuals who worked together last month, our number has grown exponentially. We have created a movement called Save Philippine Seas, which is currently conducting a marine resource watch, actively lobbying and researching on the amendment of penalties, enforcement of law, and keeping citizenry aware through social media. We have received an overwhelming number of messages from Filipinos and non-Filipinos from here and abroad offering their help. The bayanihan spirit is very much alive, Your Honor. The rape of our rich marine resources is not just of national concern, but INTERNATIONAL concern because of its global significance. We can organize a group of volunteer divers to help restore the reefs, or mobilize our partners in media for information dissemination.

Your Honor, we have entrusted you, and other decision makers and leaders of today, to be the guardians of our inheritance. You have the responsibility to ensure that we will still have the necessary sources of life that you had in your lifetime. These are the assets entrusted to you to conserve, protect, and restore. A violation of this trust will expose us, and generations to come, to irreparable injury and irreversible damage. My generation and the generations yet unborn have a right to inherit a country that has sustained your generation. It must continue to do so.

Maraming salamat po.

Speech for Pilipino American Unity for Progress (UNIPRO) Summit on PhilYCM

In my young life, having been engaged in many international affairs, it is always the things that I have done for my country, that I am proud about the most. The UniPro Summit, held in St. John’s University in New York from June 2 – 5 , brings young Filipino leaders together to promote unity in our community, and educating young Filipinos on who we are, and where we come from. I have had the honor of being asked to speak at the Summit on how young filipinos are engaging in international climate negotiations. Unfortunately, I am in the Philippines at the moment and unable to attend the summit, I have however made this short video to show at the summit to talk about “Youth Mobilization & Global Climate Politics.”

For more on the Unipro Summit, click this link.

Intervention by PhilYCM Director, Kester Yu, at the Spokescouncil

Intervention by PhilYCM Director, Kester Yu, at the YOUNGO (UNFCCC Youth Constituency) Spokescouncil Meeting at the UN Climate Change Conference COP16/CMP 6 in Cancun, Mexico.

UPDATE RIGHT NOW: PHILYCM Director speaking to the Senate

‎Philippine Youth Climate Movement Director, Anna Oposa is about to speak at the Senate committee hearing on the rape of our seas- lobbying for enforcement and amendment of environmental laws.

Follow her on Twitter: @annaoposa