12 November 2009

Green groups call for US through its Secretary of State to pay its environmental crimes to the Filipinos

Reports have claimed that climate change and the show of support and solidarity with the victims of the recent typhoon of Pepeng and Ondoy are part of the agenda of Hillary Clinton in her one-day visit to the country. However, environmental groups remain skeptic as to the real intentions of US and just how genuine our supposedly superb foreign relations.

"If the US Secretary of State,  Hillary Clinton and her government genuinely want to show solidarity and help the Filipino people to address natural disasters in the Philippines, they should first and foremost pay its climate debt and significantly and drastically cut their greenhouse gas emissions," said Meggie Nolasco of Philippine Climate Watch Alliance (PCWA).

Scientists and environmentalists say that the increasing frequency and intensity of cyclones, droughts, and floods in the Philippines and around the globe have been attributed to the climate change and global warming.

"The US is the world's biggest polluter and top contributor to the greenhouse gas emissions and is largely responsible for the global warming we are suffering from.  It accounts for approximately 23% of global emissions and 42% of industrialized country emissions," Ms. Nolasco explained.

On December 7-18, 2009 the Fifteenth Conference of Parties (COP 15) will convene to have an post-Kyoto Protocol international agreement on how to address climate change. Most of the Third World countries including the Philippines are demanding a immediate and drastic reduction of global carbon emission particularly on industrialized countries.

The group cites that US remains one the few remaining countries which did not ratify the Kyoto Protocol and until now it does not commit for a binding and significant reduction of its carbon emission. While other industrialized countries have already signified their commitment to reduce their carbon emission from 20-25% by 2020 based on 1990 level while the US has so far committed a measly 5-10% carbon emission

"We are calling for Ms. Hillary Clinton and the US government to make strong and real commitments in combating climate change. This is a million times more beneficial to the Filipinos than the visits of US top officials and band aid solutions like relief,"expressed Ms. Nolasco.

Meanwhile, environmental activists group Kalikasan PNE join other militant groups in calling for the U.S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to own up and pay its country's crimes and injustices to the Philippines, among which are the environmental destruction and plunder brought by their government's policies, practices and activities in our country.

The environmentalists cite the toxic waste contamination generated by the military bases as one of the issues that needs to be settled and resolved.

"We are one with other groups in calling for the removal of their military troops and bases in the Philippines as it not only undermines our democracy and self-determination, it also causes much harm to the environment and the health of communities, " said Clemente Bautista of Kalikasan PNE.

From the use of weapons such as explosives, aircraft and naval vessel during military exercises even through other military activities such as the production, testing and maintenance of the weapons, all these create toxic and hazardous wastes according to studies. Toxic wastes include hazardous chemicals and substances that cause harm to humans and other living organisms as it spreads through air, soil and water.

"Toxic wastes have been proven present in the US military bases such as in Subic and the Clark Air Field in Pampanga and Zambales. These have caused health problems in the communities especially among women and children, yet until now these sites have been left unrehabilitated and contaminated," pointed Bautista.

When the Clark was abandoned in 1991, the refugees from the Mt. Pinatubo eruption that settled in the area discovered wells and landfills poisoned with wastes, insecticides, chemicals and other pollutants which include mercury, nitrates, dieldrin, lead, propylbenzene, asbestos and other solvents. This was confirmed by various studies conducted in the site and other bases.

"While showing support to the victims of recent disasters, the US until now failed to account for their responsibility in the toxic contamination, rehabilitate the former US military bases, and compensate the toxic contamination victims and their families. The Philippines must demand this to Ms. Clinton, otherwise, this visit would just be another slap in the face to our government and to our 'superb foreign relations' as we can't even get what is due to the Filipinos," ended Mr. Bautista.