NONATO, GELLI ANNE A.

STS-WFU PUBLIC LECTURE REACTION PAPER

2009-20771
Becoming eco-leaders within & outside our circles

Braving against the hands of eco-bandits, BAN TOXICS, a non-government

organization calls students to unite for environmental justice.
The organization reminds the student that a healthy environment is a human right. Also,
peoples right to health is a human right. These human rights as basic needs of the public
entail responsibility in everyones part to protect it.
As part of protecting these human rights, Ban Toxics raise awareness about the
environmental injustices that is happening in the country. One of them is the issue of Canada
waste dumping in Tarlac landfill. Ban Toxics, headed by atty. Richard Gutierrez brought the
issue during the Basel Convention in Switzerland and filed a formal letter to its secretariat on
August 2015. The said NGO was then invited in the Senate for inquiry.
According to the Basel Convention, transboundary movement of hazardous wastes should
be prevented. It is also the responsibility of the exporting country to facilitate return of
contraband within 30 days. However, it is confusing that Canada did not obey as the
convention decrees with its recent waste dumping in Tarlac landfill. There should have been
a strict inspection body from the very port of Canada or the origin of the waste. Exporting a
nations waste to the land of a neighboring nation, is in itself, a highly sensitive move. It is
given that the exporting cost is high and thus needs a local stringent process in the name of
integrity.
More gaps and loopholes were identified by the said NGO. One of them is the absence of
no consent, no importation at the port of Manila. Department of Environment and Natural
Resources
(DENR) should have recommended the return of the waste shipment
immediately upon notice of hazardous waste. Department of Foreign Affairs and DENR
should have also filed protest to Basel Convention (within 30 days).
The efforts of BAN Toxics paved the way for the Philippines through the senate & president
to sign the ratification of Basel Ban amendment. The basel ban includes absolute
prohibition of transboundary movement of hazardous wastes from industrialized countries to
developing countries. Phased out by 31 Decemeber 1997, it is very alarming that the signing
of ratification of basel ban amendment on the part of the Philippine government took almost
19 years. I agree that such issues and solutions are matters that need urgent attention.
Further apathetic and even sluggish responses shall inevitably pose consequences that
concerns public health.
The group indeed has fought for the future of the next generation. However, the game is now
on our cards. We need to learn how to fight for a healthy environment too. The organization
may sure have started a surge of motivation for a new holistic approach and system. Yes,
the international body is now foreseeing arrangements such as geographical proximity of
dumping site & development of new technology for toxic wastes. However, the political wave
of concern and responsibility should reach everyone for engagement.
This cause calls everyone to become eco-leaders onto their simplest and most
significant circle their own houses. And as we continue to do so, the org helps in
collectively empowering us to participate in rallying against huge bodies of ecothreats. Indeed, the fundamentals will get us through complexities - a united people of
a nation are deemed to create a better world.