Say you want a [r]evolution?

Lately there’s a lot of clamour for energy sources that can meet our electrical needs in the face of catastrophic climate change.

At the same time, this has also been taken up by the nuclear lobby in order to push forward their nuclear agenda on Philippine soil.

However, we here at Greenpeace believe that quick fixes, PR and rehash of old problems fall short of taking ‘genuine’ actions. Thus in the face of climate change, we here from what is known as the most-vulnerable least-prepared countries for climate impacts would like to push forward for a revolution!

An Energy [R]evolution!

I will return to share what I learnt here … We can make change…

I am very grateful to be selected as one of the Greenpeace University (GPU) students 2010. There are only nine of us representing Indonesia and Malaysia. Of course that makes me proud. I’m proud to be here among those who came from various regions in Indonesia; Didit, Mayang, Novi, Rika, Sheila, Silka, Viktor, and Simpson from Malaysia. You are all my great friends.

From the beginning I promised myself that I would open my mind to accept all the materials that we would be given at the Greenpeace University. Many people didn’t agree with my choice to take part in GPU. They said things like “Greenpeace is eco-fascist”, “Greenpeace is not the organization that fights for the prosperity of communities”, “You should stay at home, you will learn more here…” But may people also supported me, congratulating me on being one of the chosen few to be a GPU student. I also asked to return to Aceh and help with their advocacy work after the graduation. Their motivation made me believe I will be able to become a better campaigner in future.

SONA reflection on the state of water in the Philippines

Every year the President of the Republic of the Philippines, opens the resumption of the joint session of the Congress to report on the status of the nation in what we call the State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Early this morning a handful of Greenpeace volunteers and concerned citizens together with Fr. Robert Reyes, Former Representative Nereus Acosta and Former Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary, Bebeth Gozun braved Commonwealth Avenue, in Quezon City all the way to Batasan Pambansa, starting their march from Quezon City Hall, where Fr. Reyes was able to speak about the ‘real state of the nation’ in as far as the water crisis that Metro Manila and nearby provinces in Luzon are experiencing as the Angat Watershed’s dam reached a historical low of 157.55 masl last July 16 despite the rains, triggering interrupted water supply in Metro Manila.  Prompting water utility companies to implement a water rationing scheme to address the dwindling volume of water in the reservoir.

On-Street Fundraising Venues for | July-August 2010

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July 15-31

• Robinsons Place Forum, Mandaluyong
• Park Square 1, Makati
• Quezon City Hall, Quezon City

August 1-31

• St. Francis Square, Mandaluyong

August 1-15

• MRT Magallanes Station, Makati

August 16-31

1. MRT Ayala Station, Makati

World Environment Day: Bearing Witness Trip- Angat Watershed

From Solar Generation – Pilipinas

Where does water come from?  A question that has been asked of me unexpectedly in one of the meetings I’ve attended for a cause.  I was taken aback for it was actually the first time that I heard someone asked that kind of question.  I then began formulated uncertain answers such as “from the faucet?” or “from the purified water station near our apartment?” or rather “from the sea?”  Could be, right?  And from that moment on, I keep on asking myself, “where does water really come from?”  This is the question that all of us ought to know the answer.

Putting Obama’s Arctic drilling announcement in perspective

Originally posted by Greenpeace US.

The news today out of Washington has been somewhat promising, but these are small steps in a very long march towards a clean energy economy — an economy with none of the potential for massive ecological destruction such as we’ve seen in the Gulf.

Minerals Management Service (MMS) Director Elizabeth Birnbaum submitted her resignation letter this morning. Also today the Obama Administration renewed a moratorium in the pristine Beaufort and Chukchi seas in Alaska for the next 6 months, canceled the pending lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and Virginia, and suspended action on 33 wells in the Gulf of Mexico. Greenpeace welcomes any and all investigations of the root causes of the BP Deepwater Disaster. Furthermore, Greenpeace welcomes the President’s call to develop clean, renewable sources of energy. These are all positive steps.

Mr Hayward – this is not a ‘tiny’ matter…

Paul Horsman is a Greenpeace campaigner, currently in Louisiana to assess the destruction from the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Read his previous Deepwater Horizon blog here.

In a clear attempt to downplay the impacts of BP’s latest oil spill, chief executive, Tony Hayward, recently said “The Gulf of Mexico is a very big ocean. The amount of volume of oil and dispersant we are putting into it is tiny in relation to the total water volume.” His comment shows a cynical disregard for the reality of what is happening here to the environment, wildlife and communities who live and work here on the southern coast of the US.

I’m not sure whether Hayward and the folk at BP are just being arrogant or ignorant – or maybe both.   On Monday I stood in gloopey thick oil accumulating on the beaches at the end of the Mississippi River – at the low water mark and below, the oil was 20-25 centimetres (9-10 inches) thick. Maybe Mr Hayward would care to join me and watch as BP’s oil oozes from the high tidemark to form thick brown streaks down the short beach; or perhaps he could come to the breakwater rocks and see the splattered mess.

Face to face venues for May 2010

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May 1 to 31- Walkway 1 Makati
May 1 to 16- Citywalk 2 Eastwood
May 4 to 10- ABS CBN (Dolphy Plaza)
May 21 to 23- The Supersale Bazaar at The Grove by Rockwell (along C5 near Ortigas Avenue (across Tiendesitas) from 11am-10pm)
May 9 to 22- Robinsons Place Manila

New Zealand’s biggest protest march in living memory

Biggest protest march in living memory - March Against Mining

We expected 20,000. We HOPED for 30,000. We got nearly double that. In the biggest protest march in living memory in New Zealand, 50,000 turned out in Auckland to march against Government plans to mine coal and other minerals in national reserves.

When the New Zealand Government announced its intention to open coal mines in the country’s prime conservation land, including some of its matchless National Parks, Greenpeace New Zealand set about mobilizing supporters, celebrities, and opposing politicians to say “no.”

Lucy Lawless, best known for her role as Xena the Warrior Princess, teamed up with Robyn Malcolm, a popular television and theatre actress, to call the decision “19th century thinking in a carbon-constrained world” and created a video of tourist reactions to the proposal in one of New Zealand’s parks.

BP Deepwater Disaster and Gulf Oil Spill

The Deepwater Horizon accident and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a disaster unfolding before our eyes. Eleven lives were lost in the initial explosion, and that incalculable loss is compounded daily as oil continues to flow.