KAPATIRAN

We would like to invite everyone to join the Sanggunian in partnership with PugadLawin for two prayerful mobilizations against the current charter change initiatives and for electoral reform on May 12 and May 13.

On Saturday, May 13, we will be joining a prayer-based activityinitiated by KAPATIRAN, led by Nandy Pacheco and participated in by other groups from 5 pm to 8 pm at the Meditation Circle of the Quezon Memorial Circle. Assembly will be at 4 pm at XAVIER HALL and we will have a motorcade to the Quezon Memorial Circle. Please wear white.

On Friday, May 12, we will have our own candle-lighting and prayer-basedactivity from 5:30 pm to 8 pm between gates 2 and 3 We will begin with a mass/ prayer activity and proceed to candle-lighting along Katipunan. Mass Celebrant: Fr. Jonjee Sumpaico, S.J.

No to current cha-cha initiatives!
Yes to electoral reform!
Yes to genuine democracy!

---Please email ldelacruz@ateneo.edu if you need transportation or can bring transportation on May 13 .The advocacy of both activities are limited to opposition to current charter change initiatives and support for electoral reform. On May 13, advocacy paraphernalia will be limited to those attached to cars. None will be allowed during the activity itself.

***This email service is brought to you by the Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral ng Ateneo de Manila. For inquiries, suggestions and reactions, email us at sanggu_board@yahoo.com. Thank you!

Preliminary guidelines for the present situation of "national emergency"

TO THE WHOLE PROVINCE

RE: Preliminary guidelines for the present situation of "national emergency"

In view of the confusing reports regarding the present situation, and the many calls on Jesuits, lay partners and Jesuit institutions to support various movements, I wish to share with the Province some information on our present situation and some responses for your discernment and guidance. As with the earlier Guidelines from the Province Commission on the Social Apostolate, these considerations are the fruit of discussion and discernment, understandably hurried given our circumstances, of an adhoc Province Committee on Crisis Response.

At a time when things remain fluid and unstable, these guidelines are presented, not as a total and final response to the situation and the problems of political legitimacy and reform, but as an initial response to very immediate concerns and questions. Moreover, they are offered for consideration and discernment, rather than as "positions" all are required to adhere to. Those who, after prayer and reflection, find that they can, in conscience, hold these positions, may share what is contained with others, who seek guidance in a time of confusion and heightened emotional responses.

Let us continue to beseech our gracious Lord for the light, courage and hope we need as we face these challenging times in our country's history.



Sincerely in our Lord,


DANIEL PATRICK L. HUANG, S.J.
Provincial


Preliminary Guidelines for the Present Situation of "National Emergency"

A. The Situation:

There seem to be groups in the military who have seriously been engaged in attempts to seize state power. Part of the impetus for these coup plots appears to be legitimate grievances concerning the present state of the military under the present administration. But it does not seem that the ventilation of these grievances is the only agenda of the present movements among these groups. There also appears to be a genuine intent to take political control of the country. Transitional juntas, with civilians participating, appear to be envisioned. Some civilians, chiefly politicians and organized political groups, seem to know about these plans. Some, convinced that all constitutional means to oust the present administration have been exhausted, support these attempts.

There appears to be a crucial difference between the events of EDSA 1986 and the present. EDSA was a civilian-led initiative against dictatorship that received support from the military. What we are witnessing these days is quite different: a military-led effort seeking civilian support and legitimation.

The response of the government is the declaration of a state of National Emergency, through Proclamation No. 1017. The column of Fr. Joaquin Bernas, S.J., in today's Philippines Daily Inquirer, explains the constitutional basis for and scope of emergency powers in the Proclamation. But Fr. Bernas also points to the disturbing inclusion of what seem to be martial law powers in the President's declaration, particularly in its appeal to Article XII, Section 17 of the Constitution, concerning the temporary takeover of privately owned businesses and utilities, a move that seems aimed at government control of the press and media.


B. Some Guidelines:

1. The crisis of political legitimacy and the crying need for reform of the military are real. Nonetheless, any attempt by factions in the military to seize state power, however well motivated, cannot be supported. Such attempts overstep the noble task of the military in a democracy. The consequences of such actions that threaten civilian supremacy over the military will be extremely difficult to reverse and would be seriously harmful for the country's future. The experience of countries in which a politicized military has taken state power—what we often refer to as "banana republics"—gives sobering illustrations of these consequences. Once having captured the state, military forces have not given up power easily. A cycle of constant struggles for state control among military elements begins, to the detriment of political stability, democratic freedoms and national development.

Democracy demands the rule of civilians who are legitimately chosen from and by the people, and not simply kept in power by military might. It is important to recall the principle articulated by the CBCP in its pastoral statement of January 2006: actions that "condone violence or counter-constitutional means in resolving our present crisis" are not acceptable, especially since they "would only bring about new forms of injustice, hardships, and greater harm in the future."

2. The serious threat to democratic freedoms involved in Proclamation No. 1017 should be exposed, questioned, and resisted. Even constitutionally mandated emergency powers can be abused if they are exercised disproportionately, to the point of undermining basic rights. It is alarming that, even now, there seem to be indications of this abuse, such as the arrest of civilians without clear bases and charges. This is a serious and unacceptable violation of civil and political rights.

Furthermore, the present administration's actions towards controlling the media must be resisted. Not only are these moves of questionable constitutionality, but state takeover of media seems morally unjustified, as such a measure would violate the freedom of __expression which is a fundamental tenet of democracy.

3. We must not be naïve and uncritical. Many groups have taken and will continue to take advantage of the present confusion. We, especially religious and Church groups, must be wary about which groups we identify with, lest we indirectly legitimate and support antidemocratic groups with vested interests. The question of the future governance of the country, should the present administration collapse, is not a matter of indifference, but a serious moral consideration. Who assumes power, with what mandate and what agenda, are questions that we must seek answers to from those who would solicit our support.

4. The present administration's actions to frustrate legitimate constitutional means of reform and accountability must be held largely responsible for the present crisis. Government's constant attempts to evade accountability and true reform have made the military solution seem attractive and inevitable to some.

Thus, it is necessary that the following be addressed with greater urgency: the search for truth on the many controversies of the recent past; the revamp of COMELEC and other necessary electoral reforms; reforms in the military; and the continuing search for solutions to the problems of poverty and inequality that beset most of our people.

C. Some Immediate Courses of Action:

In this situation, the following are appropriate immediate courses of action:
· Gatherings of prayer for peace and a non-violent resolution of the crisis;
· Gatherings to exchange reliable information, and to discern collectively in the light of emerging developments;
· Expressions and actions of protest against the curtailments of democratic freedoms in Proclamation No. 1017.

A Call to Commit to the Spirit of EDSA 1

As we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of EDSA 1, we recall how we, as one nation, held our heads up high before the rest of the world with the clear message that a revolution need not be violent. And proud we were when many nations followed suit, guided by the principles and values upheld at the very first EDSA Revolution.

Ironically, in these times of socio-political unrest and uncertainty, the spirit of EDSA 1 is threatened by dark forces demanding a swift resolution to the national crisis. It is this context that we at SIMBAHANG LINGKOD NG BAYAN, call on the Filipino people to renew their commitment to the spirit of active non-violence that guided the very first EDSA Revolution.

We particularly uphold the following:

That we go through this crisis within the parameters set by our constitution. We reject the unconstitutional acts of military adventurist and other parties seeking to overthrow the government through violence.

That we vigorously and conscientiously pursue the call of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines to search for the truth. We call on the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government to lead the nation in this search by exhausting all constitutional alternatives in an impartial and expeditious manner. We entreat our leaders to open more avenues for the peaceful resolution of the national crisis instead of shutting off all constitutional options we can take.

The spirit of the times denies us the peace and unity we have always yearned for. There are no easy solutions to our predicament. But we are not about to give up as a nation. We continue to pursue the elusive truth because we believe that the Spirit of EDSA 1 can be and should be the spirit of the times.

As we re-live the spirit of EDSA 1, let us rekindle our commitment to social change and renewal through active non-violence. We invite everyone to join our celebration of the spirit of EDSA 1 entitled EDSAna Ngayon at the San Jose Seminary covered court at 6 PM today February 24, the eve of the EDSA 1 Anniversary.


Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan
Maki-alam. Manalangin. Manindigan.

Nasyonalismo at Totoo

Kamakailan lamang nailipat sa distrikto ng Cebu ang kaso sa pagpaslang kay Marlene Esperat. Isa siyang mamahayag, na pinaslang sa harapan ng kanyang anak habang sila ay nagkakainan sa isang Banal na Huwebes, isang taon na ang nakalilipas sa isang maliit na bayan sa Sultan Kudarat. Magigimbal ka, hindi lamang sa kung paano siya pinaslang. Mas magigimbal ka kung bakit siya pinaslang.

Marami kasing nalalaman si Marlene, ayon kay Padre Bert Alejo, SJ, ukol sa katiwalian sa Kagawaran ng Agrikultura, kung saan ang mga punong opisyal sa ikalabindalawang rehiyon ay sangkot sa mga maanumalyang kontrata ng mga pataba ng pananim. Milyun-milyung piso ang nilustay ng mga opisyal, nabuko ni Marlene, pinagbantaang papatayin kung sakali mang isiwalat, at nang isiniwalat nga, inunahan na siya ng isang bala sa pagitan ng kanyang mga mata.

Pinatay si Marlene Esperat. Hindi siya nagpakamatay para sa pataba ng pananim.

Habang dito sa Maynila, abalang-abala ang karamihan sa kanilang pang-araw-araw na buhay, ang mga taong matapos marinig ang balita at nagulat pansamantala, nagkibit-balikat at muling tumuloy sa pang-araw-araw nilang buhay. At sa Ateneo naman, abalang-abala ang karamihan sa pamomroblema kung paano makabibili ng panibagong selpon, panibagong kotse, panibagong luho. May nakarinig kaya ng balita? Siguro. Pero kung meron man, nagkibit-balikat din at muling nagtungo sa kanyang sariling paninibugho sa kanyang luho.

Tutal nasa Sultan Kudarat naman nangyari. Ang layo sa kalingkingan ng Maynila.

Pinatay si Marlene Esperat. Hindi siya nagpakamatay para sa pataba ng pananim.

Magkano nga ba ang halaga ng estudyante ng Ateneo de Manila University matapos nitong grumadweyt? Kung kukuwentahin, marahil aabot sa 450,000 pesos, wala pa ang mga "extra" tulad ng baon, pangkrudo, pang-shopping, at pang-load. At dahil mula sa isang prestihiyosong unibersidad ang nagtapos, kailangang sa isang prestihiyosong larangan ang papasukin, kukunin ang pinakatuktok na posisyon masabi lamang na ako ay matagumpay na. At dahil sa ginastos nilang 450,000 (kung tutuusin, hindi naman sila ang gumastos, hindi ba?), kailangang nilang bawiin ito. Sa pinakamabilis na paraan (ito siguro ang nakakabato sa oras na kinalalagyan natin: kung kailan mabilis ang daloy, hindi pa rin tayo kuntento). Absurdo ba?

At hindi lang iyan. Nag-aral ng kung anu-anong teolohiya, pilosopiya, at tsetseburetseng tinatawag na "pang-akademiko" lamang ang Atenista. Ipinagmamayabang niya sa mundo na edukado siya, at mas nararapat siyang mabuhay dahil sa angking prestiyoso niya. Maalala ko nga: si Emilio Advincula, yung nagsauli ng pera at alahas sa isang kapwa Pinay, di hamak na taxi driver at walang college degree mula sa Ateneo, Harvard, Oxford o Brent. Pero alam niya na kahit maysakit ang anak niya, at kailangang-kailangan niya ng pera, isinauli pa rin nya. Yung dyanitor sa NAIA, na nakadampot ng mga dolyar, passport, at alahas habang naglilinis sa isang terminal, gradweyt rin kaya ng Ateneo?

At ang Atenista --- andoon sa mataas na posisyon ng isang kumpanya o korporasyon o sa Malacanang. Laging sikat --- kasi iba't ibang bintang ang ibinabato sa kanya. Laging nasa dyaryo --- binabatikos ng mga sikat na mamahayag na kung minsa'y nagdadalawang-isip na para sa kanilang mga buhay. Laging nasa telebisyon --- kasi ang pangalan niya ay nasa mga plakard na nagbabadya ng kanyang pag-alis sa puwesto.

Mas prestihiyoso? Mas matagumpay? Saan nagkulang ang Ateneo sa paghubog ng mga tinaguriang "lider ng bukas" o yung nakabibinging "kabataang pag-asa ng bukas"?

Si Marlene Esperat ay hindi namatay dahil pataba ng pananim. Namatay siya dahil malakas ang loob niyang magsabi ng hindi kayang sabihin ng karamihan sa mga Pilipino ngayon, lalo na ng mga Atenista.

Katotohanan. Ang pagbigkas sa totoo ay hindi tulad ng pagbukas ng bibig at lalabas ang tinig na nagsasabing "totoo". Ang pagbigkas sa talagang totoo ay ang pagsasabuhay sa talagang totoo, sa talagang mabuti. At dahil sa katotohanan marami ang hindi matanggap na ang mga bagay na totoo ay talagang totoo. Tulad ng mga opisyal ng DAR na hindi matanggap na sila nga ay mga magnanakaw ng pataba ng pananim. Tulad ng mga huwes na gustong ipawalang-bisa ang kaso ni Marlene dahil sa "kakulangan ng ebidensya" kahit na nasa ilalim na ng kanilang mga ilong ang ebidensyang hinahanap nila. Tulad ng mga testigong kunwari wala silang nakita noong gabing pinaslang si Marlene kahit alam nilang ang pagiging testigo ay para sa ikabubuti ito ng mga anak ni Marlene.

At hindi nagwawakas sa iisang lugar ang katotohanan. Kung sa philo at theo pinag-uusapan kadalasan ang katotohanan, ngayon siguro mas nararapat na sabihing hindi sa paaralan nagtatapos ang pag-unawa sa at pagsabi ng totoo. At mas lalong makabubuting unawain na hindi tayo nag-iisa sa mundo, sa ating kinagagalawan. Kung kaya't ang ating pagsabi ng totoo ay bumabanat hangga't sa kaya nitong ibanat, sa lahat ng tao, nasa Sultan Kudarat man o sa kapitbahay , sa katabi mong kaklase o sa Zimbabwe, may pakialam ka, dahil sa tao ka.

At kung kinakailangan mong humarap sa bala para ipagtanggol ang katotohanan, bakit hindi? Hindi ba't, ika nga ni Ninoy Aquino, ang Pilipino ay karapat-dapat na pag-alayan ng buhay?

Nanlulumo lamang ako dahil sa hindi ko natapos ang isa sa mga makabuluhang seminar ng pagka-estudyante ko, pero mula sa mga salitang narinig ko, sapat na ito para mayanig ako na hindi tayo nag-iisa, at mas lalong hindi kailangang mangamba. Katoto-hanan. Magkaibigan sa pagsabi ng tunay na totoo.

ni Nicolo Paolo P. Ludovice
San Mateo Center Head

Reflections on the Call to Heroic Citizenship

Last December 05, 2005, Father Bert Alejo, SJ gave a talk entitled "Enjoying Good Schools, Enduring Bad Governance." The topic of the talk was corruption. In the context of the institution of higher education, a liberal education and Christian values formation, the talk (subtitled: Call to Heroic Citizenship) aimed to challenge the perspective of the "helpless" and "apathetic" Atenean and served as a call to action.

Two catechists, Cheenee Otarra and Bodi Yuhico, from the ESCOPA center wrote their reflections:


Reflections by Cheenee Otarra

"How dare you?!"

How could other people have the guts to deceive others? How could other people be so attracted to money that they are actually willing to allow those who are less fortunate than them to suffer worse? How dare they? Father Bert had a lot of stories during the Ed Session. He was mainly
talking about the good education that the schools here in the Philippines are offering their students and the ironically bad government we have; and his stories really made me doubt the capability of human beings to make intelligent decisions when they are said to be created in the
image and likeness of God and they have been given the free will to make choices. His stories also made me wonder if the Philippines still is a Catholic country because it is also the second or third most corrupt in Asia! His stories also made me ask if the schools here doing their job
to educate or is the so-called real world just too overwhelming for “value-inculcated” graduates.

I was shock when I heard about the P25 M worth of polio vaccines that were wasted because “the people there” insisted on purchasing new stocks even if there were still a lot of unused ones. It was a “wise” plot, but absolutely shameless—evil in fact. How could “that person” sign the order slip?! Did he actually think? It pained me realizing that evil really has its way of making excuses just so it can thrive on this world. Those vaccines could have been used to immunize hundreds of kids from polio! Those vaccines could have helped save lives and protect happiness from thieves called illness. The children are, undoubtedly, the innocent victims in this malicious crime.

The worst story I’ve heard was probably the one about the chemist-turned journalist-turned DAR employee who exposed the corruption that was going on in the government agency that she had worked for. On the night of Holy Thursday, she was killed in front of her child! That woman did not deserve to die, that killer had no right to murder her, and that kid did not deserve to see that cruelty. That kid should have been spared from the violence he was not yet ready to witness. How cruel those murderers were (yes, there were many of them who wanted to kill her). Are those what you’d call Catholics? May God forgive them.

Father Bert also had this friend who was urged to sign something for the purchase of relief goods that would be given to the people who experienced a “calamity that did not exist.” It was only a little rain, but then evil lurked again in the minds of those who are weak to temptation. How corrupt! Thank God his friend did not sign it even though he had actually thought of doing it. It actually means that some people are still strong enough to say “No.” I hope more people turn out to be like Father Bert’s friend – brave enough to resist.

But then, when I think about all these things, I realize that I don’t really have the right yet to complain or to loathe. What have I done to show that I am against corruption? What have I done to help those who are innocent victims of these crimes?

In the “Tips for Deepening Reflection and Commitment” by Father Bert, I am still in the ALIGN, or the fourth stage, and I have been here for so long! I take seriously the ethical teachings of my faith and I strongly value my culture and Filipino citizenship that I have been called “too idealistic.” (What could be “too idealistic” about trying to live by my values, anyway?) But until now, I still have not done something. What a shame.

But I won’t lose hope. I shall do my part. First, I shall constantly remember that I am, above all, a Catholic, and thus I must believe in God’s power no matter what (just like David when he fought Goliath) – I know He will save us. Second, I shall constantly remember that I am human, created in the image and likeness of God, and thus, I have to use my free will to fight for the common good of the entire humanity. Third, I shall constantly remember what my good high school had taught me: Veritas Liberabit Vos (The Truth Shall Set You Free), and thus I must assert the Truth.

I must do my part. After all, I am part of the society's Youth -- the
future of this country depends on us.


Reflections by Bodi Yuhico

There was an Ed Session for ACIL today. It was a seminar by Father Albert Alejo S.J. on "Good Schooling, Bad Governance". The subject revolved around corruption, and on how many people came from good schools to finally end up as corrupt politicians/lawyers/etc. It was a very interesting talk, especially since Pareng Bert was a very enthusiastic and interesting priest who's actually been there and done that. He wasn't just lecturing because that was what the Church said, he was lecturing because he's gone through the thick and the thin of corruption. He's a really famous priest, as I recall, and has been giving the same kinds of talks through government and private sectors. Sometimes, he said, people suddenly broke down in tears in his talks in the Departments. Some of his experiences as I remember it:

a) He was walking through the Ateneo when a really rich-looking vehicle passed him, and the window opened.
"Are you Father Bert Alejo?"
"Yes, why?""I am a lawyer. I am corrupt."
Three simple words, and the lawyer then proceeded to tell Pareng Bert the tricks of their trade. Of how they bought off judges, etc, one operation of which he was still doing.

b) Father was giving a talk in the DOH when suddenly, a woman broke down and cried. Later, Pareng Bert talked to the woman, and the woman talked about how their Supervisor wanted two buy 5 million pesos worth of more medicine when there already was a lot, some of them near spoiling because it wasn't even being distributed. She fought with her Supervisor, and in the end was kicked out of the job. Lo and behold, two months later, newspapers around the country spoke of 65 million pesos worth of medicines merely spoiling within the DOH, unused.

Hmm.. I can't seem to remember the rest, all I remember was that I felt that seething boiling sensation in my heart, the same sensation I had whenever I read the newspaper (and people wonder why I don't read the durned thang). Pareng Bert told us that he had a 5A plan for Deepening Reflection and Commitment: (it's a little paraphrased)

1) ASSESS your concrete situation- Basically, it means to recognize tensions between personal concerns and public commitment, principled positions and pragmatic considerations, demands of work and opportunities for personal needs.
2) ACCEPT your share of responsibility- Be accountable for your role in life. Accountability lies not only in answering for past actions, but in taking responsibility for the results that we want to achieve in the future.
3) AWAKEN your noble desires- Determine your own capacity for sacrifice.
4) ALIGN your values with a standard of citizenship- Observe the rule of te law. Take seriously the ethical teachings of your faith, whatever faith that may be.
5) ACT with competence and hope. Asser the truth. Fight for the common good. Work within your sphere of influence.

Among those 5, I think I am at the level of AWAKENing. Ahh, what a somber day of thoughtful thinking.

In the end, though, I believe that a lot of corrupt people come from 'good schools' because good schools generally entail in good connections, and good connections entail in a high place in society. It's not really a question on why a lot are coming from good schools. A corrupt person is corrupt, whether he be rich or poor; it's just that a lot come from 'good' rich schools. In the end, the final question is, to me, after all those retreats, spiritual meditations, and other bullshit..nagwakas ba siya sa bullshit rin?

NEWSBRIEF 2.3

DFA presses RP jurisdiction on Subic rape case (abs-cbnNEWS.com)
"The department has formally asked the US Embassy to turn over the custody of the six accused to Philippine authorities citing the extraordinary nature of the case pursuant to Article 5 Paragraph 6 of the Visiting Forces Agreement," Romulo said in a press conference at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) office in Manila. "The United States government has been made fully aware of the importance that the Philippine government and the Filipino peole are giving to this case as well as our sentiments and position that the Philippine has primary jurisdiction and that the Philippine laws shall govern," he said.


Congress urged to probe P25-M spoiled vaccines (abs-cbnNEWS.com)
"A group of health workers on Monday called on Congress to investigate the spoilage of P25-million worth of medicine purchased by the Department of Health. Emma Manuel, national president of the Alliance of Health Workers, said it is highly questionable that the health department bought in bulk medicines that were about to expire. She said millions of children could have been vaccinated had the P25-million worth of medicines did not expire. A Commission on Audit report earlier showed that P25-million worth of vaccines expired in 2004. Senate President Franklin Drilon said he also received a separate report that P10-million worth of vaccines for measles also expired last June."
National health service in crisis as doctors leave (www.philstar.com)
"MANILA (AFP) - The Philippines has become one of the biggest suppliers of healthcare workers in the world but the exodus of nurses and doctors in the last five years for higher paying jobs overseas has left the country's health system in a state of near collapse. At a summit of healthcare professionals called by the Philippine Medical Association recently delegates were told in a conference paper: "The crisis in medical human resources is now upon us. The delivery of health services is being compromised. We have to address the problem before the health system completely collapses." Jossel Ebesate, general secretary of the Alliance of Health Workers, said the situation had become so bad that the country's healthcare system would collapse within the next two to three years. Former health secretary Jaime Galvez Tan, who has been studying the exodus of doctors over the past five years, told AFP: "Doctors are leaving for a variety of reasons: political instability, low pay, corruption, poor working conditions and the threat of malpractice. But above all they don't see much hope for the future and the future of their children."

GUIDELINES IN A TIME OF CONFUSION AND CRISIS

http://tatlongtala.blogspot.com/2005/11/jesuit-guidelines-on-political-crisis.html

NEWSBRIEF 2.2

RP won’t force custody rights over 6 Marines (www.manilastandardtoday.com)
In an interview, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said the government is content with having primary criminal jurisdiction over the Marines in light of the lack of a provision under the Visiting Forces Agreement that compels the US embassy to turn over custody of the accused. Under Article V, Section 3.a of the VFA, the Philippine government has “primary right to exercise jurisdiction over all offenses committed by US personnel.” The only exemptions provided in the article are when the crime committed is not punishable under Philippine laws, and when the offense arises out of any act or omission done in performance of official duty."
Pinoy's coconet tops BBC World Challenge (news.inq7.net)
"LEGAZPI CITY, Albay -- Agricultural engineer Justino Arboleda of the Philippines won the first prize in the First World Challenge contest sponsored by BBC World television in London on Nov. 17 for his soil erosion control net or coconet. Coconet, made from waste coconut husk, was adjudged the best environmental grassroots project in the world. It was among 456 entries from 90 countries. Malta, which introduced a biodiesel product, took the second prize, while Vanuatu was in third place for its rechargeable battery. From 12 finalists, the field was cut down to three. Fifty percent of one's score was given by the judges and the other 50 percent by votes cast on the Internet. The winners will be featured by the BBC in a special program on Dec. 3 and 4 and by Newsweek magazine in its Dec. 3 issue, according to the agricultural engineer."
P152-M fertilizer money diverted to foundations (www.philstar.com)
"At least P152.2 million in fertilizer and farm input funds Malacañang released three months before last year’s presidential election to 110 members of the House of Representatives ended up with the favorite foundations of many of these lawmakers. The foundations and other non-government organizations (NGOs) were tasked to buy farm inputs. Most of them bought liquid fertilizer, which, in the case of six congressional districts in the Bicol Region that were allocated farm input funds, was overpriced by 800 percent to 1,300 percent. Government auditors estimate that of the P60.7 million given to these districts, nearly P49 million was skimmed through overpricing. They discovered that liquid fertilizer was bought at P800 per 300ml bottle, when it was available on the market for only P58.50 to P90.54. Asked to comment yesterday on the use of foundations, Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., chairman of the House appropriations committee, told The STAR that as far as he knows, regulations on the handling of funds appropriated for members of Congress prohibit such practice. Andaya did not avail himself of farm input money."
Massive rainforest replanting plan up (www.philstar.com)
"Various pro-environment and non-government organizations have launched a national movement to restore at least one million hectares of the country’s rainforest by 2020. They raised the alarm over the continuing rapid rate of destruction of the country’s forests, which they predicted may dwindle to a mere 320,000 hectares of primary forest, or a measly six percent of the country’s total land area, by 2010. The Haribon Foundation and Rainforest Restoration Initiative (RFRI) would serve as the core group of the social movement, dubbed as ROAD 2020, which would be supported by the Netherlands.

RAPE CASE AS A POLITICAL ISSUE

http://bulatlat.com/news/5-40/5-40-rape.htm

RICH AND POOR COUNTRIES SET TO CLASH AT UPCOMING WTO MEETING

MEDIA RELEASE
IBON Foundation, Inc., 3/F SCC Bldg 4427 Interior Old Sta. Mesa, Manila, Philippines
Tel. (632) 713-2729 / 713-2737 * Fax (632) 716-0108 * E-mail: media@ibon.org * www.ibon.org
November 14, 2005

RICH AND POOR COUNTRIES SET TO CLASH AT UPCOMING WTO MEETING

A battle is looming this December between developing and developed countries as they meet to conduct trade talks in Hong Kong under the umbrella of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
For the WTO, the upcoming Sixth Ministerial Conference is crucial if it is to maintain its credibility and the momentum of global trade liberalization.

But for developing countries such as the Philippines, the Ministerial is an opportunity to reject rich countries’ corporate-led globalization agenda and uphold their right to economic sovereignty and genuine development, says research group IBON, a member of the broad local anti-WTO network Resist! and the global coalition Our World is Not for Sale.

Among the major issues that member-countries must reach consensus on are market access for manufactured goods, reviews of agreements on trade in services, agriculture and intellectual property rights, and the so-called Singapore issues (investment protection, competition policy, transparency in government procurement and trade facilitation). If developed and developing countries fail to arrive at an agreement, as they have in the past at Seattle and Cancun, the Ministerial will collapse.

Ministerials, which take place every two years, are the highest level of decision-making at the WTO. Their purpose is to enable trade ministers to make decisions on how to move forward on all matters under any of the multilateral trade agreements. A third ministerial breakdown would represent another rebuff by underdeveloped countries of developed countries’ unfair trade agenda, wherein poor countries would be forced to open their markets to their manufactured and agricultural goods as rich countries continue to protect their sectors through domestic support and export subsidies.

Locally, for example, the importation of cheap vegetables such as onions and garlic are pushing market prices down, driving farmers to bankruptcy. Consequently, the country’s agricultural trade deficits are hitting unprecedented levels: the deficit grew from $42 million in 1994 to $933 in 2004. Poverty is also rampant in the countryside: as of 2003 more than 40% of the rural population was considered poor.

Many local industries are also being killed by the influx of cheap imports, such as the footwear, textiles and cement industries. A survey conducted by the Federation of Philippine Industries from 1995 to 2002 showed that 56 of its member-firms closed down due to liberalization, affecting some 80,319 workers.

Hence, joblessness in the country is reaching record levels. Employment in agriculture has fallen from 11.4 million in 1995 to 11 million in 2005. Job creation in manufacturing has remained basically flat over the last decade. As of April 2005, there were 4.8 million unemployed and 8.4 million underemployed Filipinos, the most the country has ever seen.

This is why people’s organizations here and abroad continue to reject the spread of trade liberalization that primarily benefits the rich countries and their corporations, and developing country elites. Social movements have already succeeded in blocking further expansion of the WTO in the Seattle and Cancun ministerials.

This December, people’s groups will once again gather to express their rejection of the WTO by blocking the Hong Kong Ministerial. But even if they succeed, it does not put an end to the struggle against corporate-led globalization, as the world’s biggest corporations would still fight to maintain their stranglehold on the global economy. But it would send a signal that developing countries will continue to resist pressure from the rich countries to sign inequitable agreements that would not benefit their domestic economies, says IBON. (end)

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