Positive eco-news

There were three inspiring eco-news published yesterday. The first noted the International Environmental Law Award to be given to Atty. Tony Oposa on April 21, the second mentioned the possible filing of charges vs. LGUs related to their failure to implement the Solid Waste Management Act by Atty. Oposa and Atty. Golly Ramos of the Global Legal Action Against Climate Change, and the third, the launching of a contest for eco-friendly schools.

Congratulations to Atty. Tony Oposa for winning the International Environmental Law Award from the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) at a luncheon ceremony in Washington on April 21. Those who have met or heard Atty. Oposa cannot help but be inspired by his relentless and courageous crusade and advocacy to treasure our earth, to love and protect Mother Nature. We are very happy to know that his great work has again been recognized and acknowledged yet again.

It is also good to know that there are awards awaiting those who sincerely work to protect our earth and organization like the CIEL, founded in 1989 and based in Washington, that “use international law and institutions to protect the environment, promote human health, and ensure a just and sustainable society.

Part of the advocacy of Atty. Oposa, together with Atty. Golly Ramos and the Global Legal Action Against Climate Change, an international network of environmental lawyers, is ensuring that local government units effectively implement the Solid Waste Management Act.

According to recent news, two months from now and in time for the World Environment Day in June, Atty. Tony Oposa and their network including the one in Cebu led by Atty. Golly Ramos will soon file formal charges against LGUs. Specifically, Cebu City may be “named respondent in the complaint if operations of the Inayawan sanitary landfill will not live up to standards set by Republic Act 9003,” according to Atty. Golly Ramos.

For the health and safety of residents, we hope the LGUs will ensure the immediate and effective implementation of the Solid Waste Management Act through a thorough check and upgrading of their waste management initiatives and facilities.

Finally, the third news announced the launching of a competition for sustainable and eco-friendly schools by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Education , the Commission on Higher Education, and Smart Communications.

Throughout our campaign for alternative waste management, we have always maintained that our schools are our best hope to raise citizens who will practice effective, inexpensive, eco-friendly resource management. The sooner the students are educated and allowed to develop and practice effective resource management attitudes and behavior, the better for the protection and sustainability of our natural resources, of our world.

Worth mentioning are the PREP (paper recycling project) at Garing National High School, the DEO (daily eco-offering) practiced by Ms. Lisa Escutin in schools where she was assigned, the organic gardens that Bob Bajenting have organized in Boys Town and other areas, the energy conservation project of Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival and the recycled toy project of Tess Fernandez and her Lihok Filipina staff.

We are happily looking forward to knowing what other eco-practices other schools are doing now or from now on. We hope too that these school eco-practices will be sustainably continued and not launched only to win the recently-announced contest.

We are also eagerly looking forward to more positive eco-news.

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