Hanover and Tyke

CRISIS Module 2
GECCON
 GLIMPSE OF GLOBALIZATION AND
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ENVIRONMENT
• It has led to faster access to technology, improved
communication, and innovation.
• It has an important role in bringing people of
different cultures together.
• It has ushered a new era in the economic
prosperity and has opened up vast channels of
development.
• •Globalization has also led to an increase in the
transportation of raw materials and food from
one place to another.
• With globalization, people consume products
that have been developed in foreign countries.
• Globalization has created impact on the 03
environment.
• Globalization has led to an increase in the
consumption of products, which has impacted
the ecological cycle.
• Increased consumption leads to an increase in
the production of goods, which in turn puts
stress on the environment
• Globalization has helped in the immense
growth in international trade and finance
• •It has made countries to work more closely
with each other and has led to several
innovations in science and technology.
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WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL DEGREDATION?
Environmental degradation is a process through
which the natural environment is compromised in
some way, reducing biological diversity and the
general health of the environment. This process
can be entirely natural in origin, or it can be
accelerated or caused by human activities.

Development, especially economic development

was hastened by Industrial Revolution.
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INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
Industrial Revolution- also known as the First Industrial Revolution, was the
transition to new manufacturing processes in Europe and the United States, in
the period from about 1760 to sometime between 1820 and 1840. It is also the
period of human history that made possible the cycle of efficiency.

Efficiency means finding the quickest possible way of producing large amount
of particular product. This process made buying goods easier for the people.
Then there is an increased demand.
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INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
1.The earth atmosphere is damaged by more carbon
emissions from factories around the world.

2.Destruction of coral reefs and marine diversity as more and

more wastes are thrown into the ocean.
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CONSUMERISM
Consumerism is the idea that increasing consumption of goods and
services purchased in the market is always a desirable goal and that
a person's wellbeing and happiness depends fundamentally on
obtaining consumer goods and material possessions.

It was noted that neoliberals and environmentalist debate the

impact of free trade in the environment. Environmentalist argue
that environmental issues should be given priority over economic
issues.
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FOOD SECURITY
Global food security means delivering sufficient food
to the entire world population. It is therefore a priority
of all countries , whether developed or less developed.
The security of food also means sustainability of
society such as population growth, climate change ,
water scarcity and agriculture.
 SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES
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1.Challenges to food security - major problem is the destruction of natural habitats
particularly through deforestation ( Diamond, 2006) Industrial fishing has contributed to
the destruction of marine life and ecosystems ( Goldburg, 2008). Biodiversity and usable
farmland has also declined at a rapid pace.

2.Decline in the Availability of fresh water- the decline of water supply is because of the
degradation of soil or desertification has transformed what was once a public good into
privatized commodity. The poorest areas in the globe experience a disproportionate share
of water related problems. The problem is further intensified by the consumption of virtual
water wherein people inadvertently use up water from elsewhere in the world through
consumption of water intensive products.

3.Pollution- the use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) has led significant industrial
pollution ( Dinham,2007). Greenhouse gases, are gases who trap sunlight in the earth’s
atmosphere, contribute greatly to the global warming.
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INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION WORKING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
•Earth System Governance Project (ESGP).

•Global Environment Facility (GEF).

•Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

•International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

•United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

•World Nature Organization (WNO).

•Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

13

AN OPEN LETTER
What is Happening to Our Beautiful Land?
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
 INTRODUCTION
14 The Philippines is now at a critical point in its history. For the past number of
years we have experienced political instability, economic decline and growth in
armed conflict. Almost every day the media highlight one or other of these
problems. The banner headlines absorb our attention so much so that we tend to
overlook a more deep-seated crisis which, we believe, lies at the root of many of
our economic and political problems. To put it simply; our country is in peril.

All the living systems on land and in the seas around us are being ruthlessly
exploited. The damage to date is extensive and, sad to say, it is often irreversible.
One does not need to be an expert to see what is happening and to be
profoundly troubled by it. Within a few short years, brown eroded hills have
replaced luxuriant forests in many parts of the country. We see dried up
riverbeds where, not so long ago, streams flowed throughout the year.
 INTRODUCTION
The Philippines is now at a critical point in its history. For the past number of years we
14 have experienced political instability, economic decline and growth in armed conflict.
Almost every day the media highlight one or other of these problems. The banner
headlines absorb our attention so much so that we tend to overlook a more deep-seated
crisis which, we believe, lies at the root of many of our economic and political problems.
To put it simply; our country is in peril. All the living systems on land and in the seas
around us are being ruthlessly exploited. The damage to date is extensive and, sad to say,
it is often irreversible. One does not need to be an expert to see what is happening and to
be profoundly troubled by it. Within a few short years, brown eroded hills have replaced
luxuriant forests in many parts of the country. We see dried up riverbeds where, not so
long ago, streams flowed throughout the year.
Farmers tell us that, because of erosion and chemical poisoning, the yield from the
croplands has fallen substantially. Fishermen and experts on marine life have a similar
message. Their fish catches are shrinking in the wake of the extensive destruction of coral
reefs and mangrove forests. The picture which is emerging in every province of the
country is clear and bleak. The attack on the natural world which benefits very few
Filipinos is rapidly whittling away at the very base of our living world and endangering its
fruitfulness for future generations.
 As we reflect on what is happening in the light of the Gospel we are convinced that
15 this assault on creation is sinful and contrary to the teachings of our faith. The Bible
tells us that God created this world, (Gen 1:1); that he loves His world and is pleased
with it (Gen 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25 and 31); and that He created man and woman in His
image and charged them to be stewards of His creation (Gen 1:27-28). God, who
created our world, loves life and wishes to share this life with every creature. St. John
tells us that Jesus saw His mission in this light: "I have come that they may have life
and have it to the full" (Jn 10:10).

We are not alone in our concern. Tribal people all over the Philippines, who have seen
the destruction of their world at close range, have cried out in anguish. Also men and
women who attempt to live harmoniously with nature and those who study ecology
have tried to alert people to the magnitude of the destruction taking place in our
time. The latter are in a good position to tell us what is happening since they study
the web of dynamic relationships which support and sustains all life within the
earthly household. This includes human life.
 A CALL TO RESPECT AND DEFEND LIFE
16 At this point in the history of our country it is crucial that people motivated by religious
faith develop a deep appreciation for the fragility of our islands’ life-systems and take
steps to defend the Earth. It is a matter of life and death. We are aware of this threat to
life when it comes to nuclear weapons. We know that a nuclear war would turn the whole
earth into a fireball and render the planet inhospitable to life. We tend to forget that the
constant, cumulative destruction of life-forms and different habitats will, in the long term,
have the same effect. Faced with these challenges, where the future of life is at stake,
Christian men and women are called to take a stand on the side of life. We, the Catholic
Bishops of the Philippines, ask Christians and all people of goodwill in the country to
reflect with us on the beauty of the Philippines land and seas which nourish and sustain
our lives. As we thank God for the many ways He has gifted our land we must also resolve
to cherish and protect what remains of this bounty for this and future generations of
Filipinos. We are well aware that, for the vast majority of Filipinos, the scars on nature,
which increasingly we see all around us, mean less nutritious food, poorer health and an
uncertain future. This will inevitably lead to an increase in political and social unrest.
 SEE THE BEAUTY AND THE PAIN OF THE EARTH
17 As you read this letter or listen to sections of it being read, scenes from your barrio may
come to mind. In your mind’s eye you may see well laid out rice paddies flanked by
coconuts with their fronds swaying in the breeze. Or you may hear the rustle of the cogon
grass on the hills behind your barrio. These scenes mean so much to us and are beautiful.
Yet they do not represent the original vegetation with which God has blessed our land.
They show the heavy hand of human labor, planning and sometimes short-sightedness.
For generations the hunting and food gathering techniques of our tribal forefathers
showed a sensitivity and respect for the rhythms of nature. But all of this has changed in
recent years. Huge plantations and mono-crop agriculture have pitted humans against
nature.
There are short-term profits for the few and ever substantial harvests, but the fertility of
the land has suffered and the diversity of the natural world has been depleted. So our
meditation must begin by reflecting on the original beauty of our land, rivers and seas.
This wonderful community of the living existed for millions of years before human beings
came to these shores.
 THE FORESTS
When our early ancestors arrived here they found a country covered by a blanket of
18 trees. These abounded with over 7,500 species of flowering plants, not to mention
animals, birds and insects. These were watered by the tropical rains which swept in
from the seas and gradually seeped down through the vegetation and soil to from
clear flowing rivers and sparkling lakes which abounded in fish and aquatic life
before completing the cycle and returning to the sea. An incredible variety of
insects lived in the forest and were busy with all kinds of tasks from recycling dead
wood to pollinating flowering plants. The community of the living was not confined
to creatures who walked on the Earth. Birds flew through the air, their bright plumes
and varying calls adding color and song to the green of the forests. Birds are also the
great sowers. They contributed greatly to the variety of plant life which is spread
throughout the forest. Finally, small and large animals lived in the forest and feasted
on its largesse. Our land born out of volcanic violence and earthquake brought forth
a bounty of riches. We stand in awe at the wisdom of our Creator who has fashioned
this world of life, color, mutual support and fruitfulness in our land.
 OUR SEAS
The beauty did not end at the shoreline. Our islands were surrounded by blue seas, fertile
19 mangroves and enchanting coral reefs. The coral reefs were a world of color and beauty
with fish of every shape and hue darting in and out around the delicate coral reefs. Perlas
ng Silangan (Pearls of the Orient) was an appropriate name for this chain of wooded
islands, surrounded by clear seas and studded with coral reefs.

CREATION IS A LONG PROCESS

You might ask: Why is it important to remember the original state of our land? First of all,
it reminds us of how God, in His wisdom and goodness, shaped this land in this part of
the world. It did not happen overnight. It took millions of years of care and love to mold
and reshape this land with all its beauty, richness and splendor, where intricate pathways
bind all the creatures together in a mutually supportive community. Human beings are
not alien to this community. God intended this land for us, his special creatures, but not
so that we might destroy it and turn it into a wasteland. Rather, He charged us to be
stewards of his creation, to care for it, to protect its fruitfulness and not to allow it to be
devastated (Gen 1:28). By protecting what is left of the rainforest we insure that the
farmers have rain and plants for the food that sustains us.
 OUR FORESTS LAID WASTE
20 How much of this richness and beauty is left a few thousand years after human beings
arrived at these shores? Look around and see where our forests have gone. Out of the
original 30 million hectares there is now only 1 million hectares of primary forest left.
Where are some of the most beautiful creatures who used to dwell in our forests? These
are God’s masterpieces, through which he displays his power, ingenuity and love for his
creation. Humans have forgotten to live peacefully with other creatures. They have
destroyed their habitat and hunted them relentlessly. Even now many species are already
extinct and destruction of species is expected to increase dramatically during the next
decade as the few remaining strands of forest are wiped out by loggers and kaingineros
(slash and burn farmers).

What about the birds? They used to greet us each morning and lift our spirits beyond the
horizons of this world. Now they are silenced. In many places all we hear now are cocks
crowing. Where is the soaring eagle circling above the land or the colorful kalaw
(hornbill)?
21 THE HEMORRHAGE OF OUR LIFE BLOOD

After a single night’s rain, look at the chocolate brown rivers in your locality and
remember that they are carrying the life blood of the land into the sea. The soil,
instead of being the seed bed of life, becomes a cloak of death, smothering, retarding
and killing coral polyps. Soil specialists tell us that we lose the equivalent of 100,000
hectares of soil one meter thick each year. We are hardly aware of this enormous loss
which is progressively eroding away our most fertile soil and thus our ability to
produce food for an expanding population. Any comprehensive land reform must
address this most serious threat to our food supply.
22 DESERTS IN THE SEA
How an fish swim in running sewers like the Pasig and so many more rivers
which we have polluted? Who has turned the wonderworld of the seas into
underwater cemeteries bereft of color and life? Imagine, only 5% of our corals
are in their pristine state! The blast of dynamite can still be heard on our
coastal waters. We still allow muroami fishing methods which take a terrible toll
both on the young swimmers and the corals. Mine tailings are dumped into
fertile seas like Calancan Bay in Santa Cruz, Marinduque where they destroy
forever the habitat of the fish. Chemicals are poisoning our lands and rivers.
They kill vital organisms and in time they will poison us. The ghost of the
dreaded Minamata disease hangs over towns in the Agusan River basin and the
Davao Gulf .
 RECENT DESTRUCTION CARRIED OUT IN THE NAME OF PROGRESS
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Most of this destruction has taken place since the beginning of this
century, a mere wink of an eye in the long history of our country. Yet in that
same time we have laid waste to complex living systems that have taken
millions of years to reach their present state of development. We often use
the world progress to describe what has taken place over the past few
decades. There is no denying in some areas our roads have improved and
that electricity is more readily available. But can we say that there is real
progress? Who has benefited most and who has borne the real costs? The
poor are as disadvantaged as ever and the natural world has been
grievously wounded. We have stripped it bare, silenced its sounds and
banished other creatures, from the community of the living.
 Through our thoughtlessness and greed we have sinned against God and His
24 Creation. One thing is certain: we cannot continue to ignore and disregard
the Earth. Already we are experiencing the consequence of our
shortsightedness and folly. Even though we squeeze our lands and try to
extract more from them, they produce less food. The air in our cities is heavy
with noxious fumes. Instead of bringing energy and life it causes bronchial
illness. Our forests are almost gone, our rivers are almost empty, our springs
and wells no longer sparkle with the living water. During the monsoon rain,
flash-floods sweep through our towns and cities and destroy everything in
their path. Our lakes and estuaries are silting up. An out-of-sight out-of-mind
mentality allows us to flush toxic waste and mine tailings into our rivers and
seas in the mistaken belief that they can no longer harm us. Because the
living world is interconnected, the poison is absorbed by marine organisms.
We in turn are gradually being poisoned when we eat seafood.
 WE CAN AND MUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT
25 It is already late in the day and so much damage has been done. No one
can pinpoint the precise moment when the damage has become so
irreversible that our living world will collapse. But we are rapidly heading in
that direction. Even now there are signs of stress in every corner of our
land. As we look at what is happening before our eyes, and think of the
horrendous consequences for the land and the people, we would do well to
remember that God, who created this beautiful land, will hold us
responsible for plundering it and leaving it desolate. So will future
generations of Filipinos. Instead of gifting them with a fruitful land, all we
will leave behind is a barren desert. We, the Bishops, call on all Filipinos to
recognize the urgency of this task and to respond to it now.
 As Filipinos we can and must act now. Nobody else will do it for us.
26 This is our home: we must care for it, watch over it, protect it and love
it. We must be particularly careful to protect what remains of our
forests, rivers, and corals and to heal, wherever we can, the damage
which has already been done. The task of preserving and healing is a
daunting one given human greed and the relentless drive of our
plunder economy. But we must not lose hope. God has gifted us with
creativity and ingenuity. He has planted it in our songs and poetry. We
can harness our creativity in the service of life and shun anything that
leads to death.
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End of Module 2