Ecowarriors uses power of celebrity & social media

MANILA, Philippines - The Pilipinas Ecowarriors is utilizing star power and social media to push its environmental cause and crusade.

Joining former Sen. Migz Zubiri as lead convenors of the newly-formed movement are singer-songwriter Rico Blanco and TV host-athlete Chris Tiu, who are expected to amass support with their fanbase — both online and offline — as Ecowarriors targets one million volunteers for the first quarter alone of this year. Wildlife veterinarian Dr. Nielsen Donato, who also hosts the environmental show Born To Be Wild on GMA, is another convenor. The others are pure scientists out in the field, doing actual preservation and conservation work.

People can be wary of celebrity causes, ready to dismiss them as a mere PR stunt. In an interview with The STAR, Zubiri said that it’s not actually tough getting a famous face to front Ecowarriors, but Rico, Chris and Doc Nielsen were enjoined because they can help shine a light on green issues for being genuinely passionate about them.

What’s happening to the environment isn’t after all a problem du jour but a longstanding issue that calls for seriously committed people and not ones who “when you let them speak, they don’t know what they’re talking about.”

It helps, too, that Rico and Chris maintain a very active presence in social media networks, which Ecowarriors will be largely counting on. 

“We started the movement with the basic principle in mind of using social media networks. It’s so easy to upload pictures and videos nowadays. Pag meron nakikita na violations on environmental laws, they can join us by recording what is illegal and posting them on our website, Facebook and Twitter accounts. We have a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and we will report the violations to them,” said Zubiri, who authored/sponsored laws advocating environment, from renewable energy, biofuels, to wildlife protection, etc., during his political stint, as well as headed conservation efforts like the Deer Foundation and Katala Foundation in Palawan.

“DENR has promised immediate response. DENR has told us that they lack eyes and ears on the ground, so that’s where we’re coming in. Social networks are very powerful. Definitely, matatakot din yung DENR ‘pag di sila gumalaw. However, let us be circumspect by sending things that are authentic and not fake. We (at the headquarters) will be filtering the information.”

“This is the first time this is going to be done in the Philippines,” said Doc Nielsen. “You don’t have to be out there in the wilderness, or in the provinces (because even in cities) you can see and report illegal activities.”

Zubiri said that a survey in 2011 indicated how less of a priority environment is for Filipinos, with livelihood assuming top importance. But the magnitude of devastation caused not just on livelihoods but also on lives by recent disasters have chillingly shown us how much harm abuse of environment can bring upon us. It is for this reason that Chris got himself involved.

“I just came from Cagayan De Oro City and Iligan City to do relief work there. I was exposed to the devastation (caused by Typhoon Sendong), and they kinda explained that because of the illegal logging that’s why it resulted to such floods. The rivers were washed away, and when people were hanging on to their lives in thick mud water, all of a sudden, you have these big logs or troso na bigla nalang dadaanan sila, which cost a lot of lives. When you hear those stories, it makes you wonder, why wasn’t this taken care of, or prevented from happening? Do we still have to wait for disasters to happen again before we put our act together? I’m sad. That’s why I find it so important to be involved now,” explained the star cager, TV host and entrepreneur.

“That’s why I feel as a young advocate who wants to make a better country for everybody to be involved in Ecowarriors. A lot of us young people are active in the social media, airing complaints and frustrations at people or the government, but there’s no concrete direction. So instead of ranting randomly, through Ecowarriors, may silbi ang pag-co-complain,” Chris added.

The organization is online-based, so it’s easy to join, and once things are in full swing, the group plans on rolling out other proactive programs for members (i.e. coastal cleanups, tree-planting) and setting up an award-giving body to recognize everyday ecowarriors.

The Pilipinas Ecowarriors will be officially launched on March 16 at the Quezon City Memorial Circle. Rico, who will parlay his gift for anthemic songwriting to the group’s theme, will perform with other rock bands that volunteered to play for the cause. For details, visit www.ecowarriors.ph.