Filed under: Philippines, Stop climate change | Tags: c2c, Climate Change, Copenhagen, Floods, greenpeacebuzz, Manila, Storm surge, Typhoon Ketsana, Typhoon Ondoy
a photo of our house surrounded by floodwater
Note: I was supposed to publish this yesterday but the power in our area went out and was not able to get back until this morning, but I was not able to get online due to the many things that needs to be fixed and cleaned here at home. What’s written in this account is but a minor thing compared to the extent and degree of damage that was done by the floods in other places. People who’re willing to share their stories are more than welcomed to share theirs by commenting on this post with their personal account of the floods.
The term ‘most vulnerable and least prepared’ comes into mind as we experienced 48 hours of heavy precipitation. Although I must say that I should consider our family one of the lucky ones…
This is the first time that it has gotten this high, I remember during my younger years that the floodwater surge at the back of our house didn’t go as high as 5 inches, but now it is over 3-feet already.
We’ve spent most of the morning putting important stuff on top of tables and such, and then a few minutes later we’re forced to stack them higher up again. Cockroaches are everywhere because even their homes are already submerged in water. We had to turn off the electricity because the sockets are already underwater.
The whole morning we’re getting calls from our other relatives and friends saying that their houses are starting to get flooded as well. I have an aunt who lives in Antipolo, saying that her entire basement is already submerged and that the 1st floor of their house is already waist-deep in floodwater. My brother who lives in Makati also called to tell us that the first floor of their house is already underwater.
It took me half a day to get through the busy telephone lines to reach my girlfriend where I learned that the entire 1st floor of their house is already submerged in floodwaters that are still rising.
The PAGASA website where we are supposed to get info on the weather is down, probably due to the heavy volume of traffic that its getting at the moment. By noontime news broadcasts have yet to show television footages of the floods.
I’m writing this now hoping that by the time that the electricity is back I might upload this so that the world may read and see, that this is the first time that such flooding has happened in our house eversince we’ve moved here 24 years ago. Also to attest that this account is but one among the minor stories of people who expererienced the flooding, not to mention to speak about the ever increasing intensity and frequency of typhoons and storm surges that we have been experiencing here in the Philippines.
Climate experts say that unless decisive solutions are immediately put on the table, the worst is yet to come. Greenpeace is demanding industrialized countries, which account for most of the world’s carbon emissions – the greatest contributor to climate change – to take responsibility and show leadership towards genuine solutions in Copenhagen this December. Countries like the US are expected to commit to greater reductions in their carbon emissions and to put up a US$140 billion fund for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
True enough, what happened yesterday might very well be an omen of worst days ahead if no action is taken with serious urgency.
Climate change is real, science no longer denies that extreme weather events are directly linked to drastic changes in the oceans’ surface temperature.
Click here to read about Typhoon Ondoy
Chuck Baclagon
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[...] Ondoy « Greenpeace Southeast Asia greenpeacesoutheastasia.wordpress.com/2009/09/27/ondoy – view page – cached September 27, 2009 at 3:11 pm · Filed under Philippines, Stop climate change ·Tagged c2c, Climate Change, Copenhagen, Floods, greenpeacebuzz, Manila, Storm surge, Typhoon Ketsana, Typhoon Ondoy — From the page [...]
Pingback by Twitter Trackbacks for Ondoy « Greenpeace Southeast Asia [greenpeacesoutheastasia.wordpress.com] on Topsy.com September 27, 2009 @ 5:06 pm..Global warming has been attacking us,we must be aware of it,
Comment by kristine tan September 28, 2009 @ 6:46 amwe can save our planet in just simple ways by have such self-disipline in ourselves… lets save our planet!!
Climate change has been the product of greed. Greed by politicians for power and greed by businesses for mass production using non-renewable resources. Plus the improper disposal of wastes in the environment. Ondoy is just one of the wraths of nature to come against mankind and we shall reap what we sow. Right now we should stop using non-renewable resources and use sustainable resources like solar energy, hydro, and even geothermal energy.
Comment by Edward Dy September 28, 2009 @ 11:31 amThank you for posting this! I think the more people that become aware of this situation, the better. We need more people to step up to the plate. We are all part of this planet and we need to work together. It’s not all up to our government, it’s also up to individuals and grass roots initiatives. WE ARE the people we’ve been waiting for.
Comment by Shyra September 28, 2009 @ 11:59 amIts really devastating. I have almost cried upon seeing the people crying out for help. I would compare this calamity that happened in the US during hurricane Katrina.
Comment by bon_dat September 28, 2009 @ 1:22 pmNo one to be blamed. ask yourselves. Act now! Save our planet.
Comment by Anthony September 28, 2009 @ 7:06 pminstead of blaming i think its time to unite, lets help inform the world the devastation ONDOY gave to our land, you can visit http://www.richglobal.blogspot.com to donate something for the victims and be updated with news, photos and videos
Comment by aiza September 29, 2009 @ 9:40 amIt is destined to happen.We cannot blame God,we cannot blame our government and of course,we cannot blame ourselves anymore.It is too late for that,we need to act now and we need to ask for a little consideration from
Comment by Maricon G. Dimatulac October 13, 2009 @ 11:19 amGod who created the world for us to live in.We failed him and we have to make amends.On what way, i do not know.I just pray and ask for mercy.