Philippine short film premieres in Paris climate talks

MANILA, Philippines – A film festival organized on the sidelines of the climate conference in Paris on Monday featured a short film produced in the Philippines detailing the health impacts of coal-fired power plants on communities.

“The Big Show,” a short doc- umentary produced by Health Care Without Harm-Asia (HC- WH-Asia), was screened at the Cost of Coal Film Festival in Paris.

It is accessible on YouTube at https://goo.gl/euPDez.

The film shows the health impacts as perceived by Filipinos in towns hosting coal-fired power plants.

“Through the interviews of health experts and renewable energy advocates, the film also underscores how the health effects of coal do not stop in the community. The Philippines is now one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change,” HCWH-Asia said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, the irony is that the Philippines is still yet to cut its addiction to coal, which is climate change’s leading driver,” it added.

Renzo Guinto, a campaigner for the health energy initiative of HCWH-Asia, said many communities are now experiencing coal’s grave social, environmental and most especially health impact.

“Globally, countries are shut- ting down their coal plants. Un- fortunately, in the Philippines we are building more,” he said in the film.

Based on data from Global Coal Plant Tracker, at least 31 new coal plants are under development in the Philippines, while another three have started operating since 2010.

Eleven of those under development are under construction while three have secured permits. Ten are in pre-permit stage, while another seven have been announced.

“We know that coal is affecting human health in many different ways, through contaminating drinking water with heavy metals to polluting the air leading to respiratory dis- eases and other ailments,” said Guinto.

“We must tackle the causes of the causes. And that means cutting our addiction to coal and shifting out resources to renewable,” he added.

The film also highlighted the country’s untapped renewable energy potential, and featured health sector leaders – including Philippine Medical Association president Minerva Camalig and Ang NARS party-list Rep. Leah Paquiz – calling for the promotion of healthy energy.

Films produced in South Africa, Australia, Russia and China, which are also among the largest coal producers in the world, were also featured in the festival.

Coal in Philippines

Earlier, various climate advocates have criticized President Aquino for supporting the construction of new coal-fired power plants.

“The government remained deaf, mute and blind to the impacts of coal to the communities,” Gerry Arances, national coordinator of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice, said.

In an interview with BBC, Aquino defended the construction of new coal-fired power plants, saying other options – particularly gas and renewables – are still not the best option for the country.

He cited the lack of gas- importing facilities and the high cost of renewables.

“What we’re trying to do is ensure that we have the most modern coal plants that are in existence,” he was quoted as saying.

Gina Lopez of ABS-CBN’s Bantay Kalikasan said the cost of coal on the environment and people’s health and livelihood has never been taken into ac- count when the government speaks of coal as a cheap energy option.

“Coal has never been and will never be clean or cheap,” she said.

Phase out

HCWH-Asia earlier urged the Department of Health (DOH) to take a stand against the construction of new coal plants in the country.

“Because the health sector will bear the brunt of climate change, it is therefore our utmost responsibility to not just treat the symptoms but also to address the ‘causes of the causes,’ one of which is our addiction to coal,” a petition addressed to DOH Secretary Janette Garin read.

“Make a clear statement call- ing for the phase out of coal and transition to renewable energy in the Philippines coming from a public health perspective,” it said.