The problem of solid waste is in the headlines again.

With stories like the Baguio (Irisan) trash slide, the Olongapo trash slide and the flooding in Metro Manila and central Luzon aggravated by the fact that our rivers and canals are full of trash, the problem of solid waste is being confronted once again, both at the local and national level.

Sadly, instead of promoting ecological alternatives (there are plenty of success stories out there), certain groups and even media personalities are promoting fake solutions to something that is not even a problem in the first place.

The things that we throw away are not waste, they are resources if we only manage them properly.

Sadly, people are after quick "solutions" like incineration. MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said he is open to reviving incineration as a way to address the problem of waste. DENR Secretary Ramon Paje is said to be to open to discussing it (thou he claims he was misquoted).

Ms. Karen Davila of ABS-CBN has been promoting it as a "practical solution," calling groups against it as "idealist." But are groups who are against incinerators really just idealist?

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21 September 2011, Quezon City.  Environment health leaders commended the Manila City Council for unanimously passing yesterday a resolution that effectively nipped in the bud proposal to burn Metro Manila’s trash.

Through a resolution sponsored by Councilor Numero Lim of Manila’s second district, councilors from various political blocs  expressed "strong and vehement opposition" to the use of incinerators as proposed by the Metro Manila Development Authority for  garbage disposal.  

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Sept 5, 2011, Quezon City- A week after the tragic “garbageslide” in Baguio City that claimed six lives and left houses in disrepair, residents from different communities affected by existing dumps, together with health and environmental groups, gathered in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to demand the immediate closure and rehabilitation of more than 1,000 illegal, toxic dumpsites all over the country.

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Tukayo (variation: tokayo)
English Definition: (noun) namesake; person having the same first name as one's self
(Source)

You share a name, now know his story.

I first saw the website as a Google ad on my blog, but since I can't click on my own ads, I wasn't able to visit it at that time. And then, while watching GMA News TV this morning, I saw the ad again and I finally visited the site.

The project is called "Tukayo Campaign Against Impunity" and their website is at http://speakup.com.ph. When you go to the site, you'll see a listing of names. You can click on a name to know the story behind it. Or, you can enter your name and see if you share a name with anyone of them. I entered  my name and I got to know Atty. Froilan Siobal.

This is his story:

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Below are some of the government agencies and non government organizations working on child's rights and the prevention of child abuse. Telephone numbers, fax, email and website are provided when available.

Please leave a comment if you know of any group that should be added on this list. Thank you!

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1.  To be born. To have a name and nationality.
2.  To be free. To have a family who will take care of me.
3.  To have a good education.
4.  To develop my potentials.
5.  To have enough food, shelter, a healthy and active body.
6.  To be given the opportunity for play and leisure.
7.  To be given protection against abuse, danger and violence brought by war
     and conflict.
8.  To live in a peaceful community.
9.  To be defended and assisted by the government.
10. To be able to express my own views.

Patuloy na umiibig sa Pilipinas,
At naniniwala sa galing ng Pilipino,


Froilan Grate | GreenMinds
www.NoBystanders.net

Proclaimed by United Nations General Assembly resolution 1386 (XIV) of 20 November 1959

DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

Preamble

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have, in the Charter, reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights and in the dignity and worth of the human person, and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas the United Nations has, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, proclaimed that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status,

Whereas the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth,

Whereas the need for such special safeguards has been stated in the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child of 1924, and recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the statutes of specialized agencies and international organizations concerned with the welfare of children,

Whereas mankind owes to the child the best it has to give,

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Q: What is the Price Tag Law under R.A. 7394?

A: The Price Tag Law, as embodied in R.A. 7394, requires that all consumer products sold in retail to the public shall bear an appropriate price tag, label or marking indicating the price of the article. Such consumer products shall not be sold at a price higher than that stated therein.

Q: Why is there a need for Price Tag?
          
A: The price tag is need for the following reasons:
- To provide buyers with adequate information and guide to enable them to compare quality and prices of goods and patronize stores selling quality products at low prices.
- Its presence will discourage and minimize haggling which is a waste of time, money and energy of both buyer and seller.
- It also expedites transactions and enables both the buyer and the seller to use the time and energy for more productive endeavors

Q: What is a Price Tag?

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1.    The Right to Basic Needs

The first consumer right is the right to basic needs which guarantees survival, adequate food, clothing, shelter, health care, education, and sanitation.

You may look forward to:
The availability of basic and prime commodities to consumers at affordable prices and of good quality.

What to do:
* Prioritize your needs;
* Look for quality, not quantity;
* Be quality conscious, not brand conscious;
* Do not engage in panic-buying; and
* In time of crisis / calamity, be vigilant in ensuring that basic commodities are available in the market.

If you are not satisfied:

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Two seconds from impact, and all I can think of is "Is this it?" 

I was at peace.

A few minutes after 12 noon today, July 24, 2011, as I was riding a jeepney from Katipunan to UP, I was looking at a white L300 van going on full speed towards the jeep I was riding as we were making a left turn towards UP.

Then it was all a blur. Sounds of metal hitting each other, aluminum twisting and glass breaking. It was as if time stood still for a brief moment. I remember being thrown on the floor, a hand or an elbow hit my left eye, and I felt weight on top of me.

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Below is a compilation of statements and documents related to the child abuse incident on the March 12, 2011 episode of the show Willing Willie by Mr. Willie Revillame on TV5.

In the said episode, also posted on YouTube (now deleted) , a six-year-old boy named Mike (not his real name) was shown dancing “ala-macho dancer," much to the delight of the host and the studio audience. As seen in the video, however, the boy was clearly distressed and humiliated by the said experience as evidenced by his crying while supposedly “entertaining” Mr. Revillame and his audience.

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Last July 8, 2011, I met with the representatives of Unilever Philippines to discuss what they have done and what they plan to do in the coming weeks with regards to protecting the rights of children (and women) as contestants and viewers of live game shows on Philippine TV. The points discussed during this meeting is summarized in their recent statement. (Click here to read their statement.)

For the benefit of those who are not familiar with this story, allow me to share some of the highlights:
(Note: A complete timeline can be found on this GMA News piece.


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On April 8, Unilever, in response to the issue on children appearing in live game shows programs, has taken the following measures:

1.    Temporarily withdrew its ad placement in all live game shows across all networks
2.    Together with PANA, led a review of the current TV guidelines involving children in top 3 TV networks

Prompted by Unilever’s action, PANA lead discussions with top advertisers, TV Networks and the KBP and came up with a list of recommendations on  program content involving children focused on 3 critical concerns : exposure to violence, appearance and involvement in situations and activities not appropriate to children and use of offensive language. PANA has submitted this to the KBP and to the top TV stations for their respective action. 

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This incident happened four years ago, July 2, 2007.  I am re-posting this to remind myself, and again share with everyone, the lesson that I have learned from this experience. 

***********************

Youngblood
Hold-up 
By Froilan Grate
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:25:00 08/18/2009

I was in shock. I couldn’t believe it was all happening. The fellow behind me told me to go up the stairs. When I reached the second floor, the other guy pulled out something from his pocket and pointed it at my face. A gun.

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Two days ago, I wrote Globe and asked them three things:

1. Is Globe ready to commit that it will not advertise on Wil Time Big Time, at least until the KBP has ruled on the issue and the criminal case filed against Mr. Willie Revillame has been decided by the courts? I mean, would you be willing to risk your company’s reputation into someone (and a show) who will eventually be found guilty of child abuse?

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"Thou shalt not be a victim, thou shalt not be a perpetrator, but, above all, thou shalt not be a bystander."
- Yehuda Bauer on the Holocaust


"The road to Auschwitz was built by hate but paved with indifference."
- Ian Kershaw

Mr. Ernest Cu
President
Globe Telecom

Dear Mr. Cu,

Greetings! I pray this letter finds you well.

I hope that you don't mind that I am writing you again directly. You have personally answered my complaints before (and to be honest that is one of the reasons why I am still a Globe customer, for eleven years now), and I am taking the same liberty again to express my sentiment to you as a concerned subscriber.

I am part of an online community called Para Sa Mga Bata (Movement to End Child Abuse). Now 14,000-plus strong, this group came about as a result of what we believe was an incident of child abuse on a live game show on national TV. This group, I believe, is not only people power online, but also consumer power.

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Tingin ng mga bobong kapitbahay ko puta daw ako. Nagpapagamit, binabayaran. Sabi nila ako daw ang pinakamaganda at pinakasikat sa aming lugar noon. Ang bango-bango ko daw, sariwa at makinis. Di ko nga alam kung sumpa ito, dahil dito naletse ang kinabukasan ko. Tara makinig ka muna sa kwento ko, yosi muna tayo.

Alam mo, maraming lumapit sa akin, nagkagusto, naakit.

Ang hirap pag lahat sa iyo virgin eh. Tinanggap ko naman silang tao, bakit kaya nila ako ginago? Masakit alalahanin, iniisip ko na lang na kase di sila taga rito, siguro talagang ganoon. Tatlong malilibog na foreigners ang namyesta sa katawan ko, na-rape daw ako.

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Yes, you got that right.

After being very much against it, I now have a change of heart. I am now in favor of allowing Ferdinand Marcos to be buried at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani. Yes, even with full military honors. In fact, it should be a state burial due a true hero.

But only if the following conditions are met. And I mean all.

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About fourteen years ago, I was having one of those periods in a teen’s life where one feels lost and conflicted. Living away from my family, and as always, I turned to my usual refuge - the confession.

This particular day however, for reasons I can’t remember now, I have decided to go to a different parish and have my confession there.

It started out ok, normal I guess. Then the priest turned friendly, very friendly, in fact. He asked me to stay, as he wanted to talk to me more. After finishing the last two confessants, he talked to me again, giving me words of encouragement. I welcomed the opportunity to be able to talk to someone who didn’t judge me; in fact he made me feel special by listening to me. When I said it was time for me to go home, he invited me to go back next Thursday (or was it Friday?) to meet some of his young friends.

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Naging ugali ko na ang kausapin ang nga driver ng taxi na aking sinasakyan. Magugulat ka sa kaalaman ng bawat isa, at sa kanilang paninidigan, sa mga isyung bumabalot sa ating lipunan. Mula noong eleksyon, impeachment ng Ombudsman, pagbitay ng mga Pinoy sa China - lahat ito ay alam nila at may binuo silang sariling kuro-kuro at pananaw.

Noong Biyerness, bago pa man lumabas ang balitang nag pull out ang Mang Inasal ng Jollibee Food Corporation sa programang Willing Willie, ay naging paksa sa pagitan ko at ng Mamang Driver ang pang aabuso ng isang bata sa programa.

Tinanong ko kung siya ay nanonood ng WW, at ang kanyan sagot "Napipilitan lamang ako kasi yan ang pinapanood sa bahay, pero kung ako ang masusunod, ililipat ko sa ibang palabas."

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Hon. Loretta Ann P. Rosales, Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
Sen. Pia S. Cayetano, Committee Chair, Youth, Women and Family Affairs
Hon. Corazon "Dinky" Juliano-Soliman, Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development
Hon. Grace Poe Llamanzares, Chairman, Movies and Television Ratings and Classification Board
Mr. Manny Pangilinan, Chairman, TV5
Justice Santiago M. Kapunan, Officer in Charge, Integrated Bar of The Philippines
Mr. John Rojo, President, Philippine Association of National Advertisers
Ms. Charmaine Canillas, Chairman, Ad Standards Council
Ateneo Human Rights Center
Council for the Welfare of Children


SUBJECT: CHILD ABUSE ON WILLING WILLIE SHOW OF TV5


We wish to bring to your attention a deplorable incident that occurred during the March 12, 2011 episode of Willing Willie, hosted by Mr. Willie Revillame which was aired during TV5's primetime block. In the said episode, also posted on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YRCxh9q64w, a six-year-old boy named Jan-jan was shown dancing “ala-macho dancer," much to the delight of the host and the studio audience. As seen in the video, however, the boy was clearly distressed and humiliated by the said experience as evidenced by his crying while supposedly “entertaining” Mr. Revillame and his audience.

Read more »

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