South Cotabato environmentalists blow whistle on San Miguel’s coal mining

operations
(excerpt) Rommel Rebollido
Environmentalists warned against plans by a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation
(SMC) to undertake large-scale coal mining operations in South Cotabato.
Lawyer Noel Ben, director of the Marist Hope Center for Justice and Good
Governance, said the San Miguel Energy Corporation has been acquiring and clearing
vast tracts of land, particularly in the Daguma mountain range that straddles the
provinces of South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat, in preparation for the project.
The company is a subsidiary of SMC Global Power Holdings Corporation, one of the
largest power firms in the country. The problem, according to the environmentalists, is
that San Miguel would use the open-pit mining method, which has been banned by South
Cotabato’s 2010 environment code and which the local Catholic diocese and many
residents oppose.
The code had been amended by the provincial board to lift the open-pit mining ban
right after the May elections, resulting in street demonstrations that prompted South
Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. to issue a veto.
Ben said he and other environmentalists were apprehensive because local officials
were silent about San Miguel’s ongoing clearing operations, which include cutting trees
in areas being prepared for the planned coal mining operations. “It is important that
people know what is happening in that place because there are watersheds and
elements of the ecosystem that must be considered. The destruction could adversely
affect people in nearby areas, especially in the lowlands,”Ben said.
Source:
https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/environme
ntalists-warn-plans-san-miguel-coal-miningoperations-south-cotabato/

Activity:
1. As one of the environmentalists, after knowing that the local officials were silent
about San Miguel’s ongoing clearing operations which include cutting of trees in
areas, what will you do stop the Corporation in their operations?
2. If not resolve, create an alternative plan that you can present to San Miguel
Corporation instead of having a coal mining in South Cotabato. Think of a
project that San Miguel Corporation and the provinces of South Cotabato will be
benefited without damaging the environment. Present the project in front of the
class. Cite also its benefits to the people.
Doggie dementia risk rises each year after age 10, study finds. By Sandee
LaMotte, CNN
Just like people, dogs can get dementia as they age. The spry speedster that used
to zoom out the door may one day amble unsteadily to the closet to be let out. It's an
unfortunate reality many dog owners might have to face, especially if their dog's breed
lives 10 years or more. A new study that is part of the Dog Aging Project found the risk of
developing cognitive issues rises by 52% each year after age 10 in many dogs.
But there's no reason to despair if your furry best friend is showing signs of canine
cognitive decline, or CCD, said veterinarian Dr. Dana Varble, chief veterinary officer for
the North American Veterinary Community.
"Too often, pet owners think their dogs are just 'slowing down' and don't realize
there are things they can do to ease, slow or even stave off cognitive decline as dogs
age," Varble said. "Studies show that mental activity and exercise are important for a
dog's mental well-being just as it is in humans. Stimulating the brain is important and
this can be done easily with food puzzles for example," she said.
Food puzzles are toys in which owners hide treats, and it's up to the dog to push,
jiggle or jog the treats out of them. Such activities help keep both dogs' and cats' brains
engaged, experts say.
In addition, "nutritional supplements have been shown to improve signs and slow
the decline of CCD. There are also special foods for aging dogs," Varble said.

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2022/08/26/health/doggiedementia-wellness/index.html

Activity:
1. As a veterinarian in your place, conduct an informative talk in order to educate
people in your community on the proper care of their dogs since there are many
stray dogs and cats that need proper attention and care by the owner. Present a
short role play about your informative talk.

An excerpt from the speech of Vice President Sara Duterte

 “As we honor our National Heroes today, may we not only look back with
admiration at their profound sense of patriotism but also look at the future of our country
and its unrelenting longing for the same profound sense of patriotism from us...The
blood of our National Heroes is the same blood of bravery, selflessness, and love of
country and fellowmen that continues to flow across the nation today — now permeating
into the minds and hearts of many Filipinos who have committed to the cause of
rebuilding the nation from the rubbles caused by disunity, hatred, misunderstanding, and
acts of hostilities perpetuated by anti-people, antigovernment, and local terror groups
that hostage the progress of the country for a long time.” – VP Sara

Source: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/ 843058/vp-sara-lessons-

of-the-past-should-be-usedto-awaken-heroes-in-youth-s-hearts/story/

Activity:
1. The speech of VP Sara is all about the sense of patriotism. As the president of
the SSLG in your school, how are you going to convince your fellow students to
love our country? Make at least three poster and slogan that you can put in
front of the gate, the stage and outside of your classroom that will remind the
students about patriotism.

Panel discussion on climate change and the right to health

 Climate change directly and indirectly impacts the full and effective enjoyment of a
range of human rights, including the right to the highest attainable standard of health.
The Human Rights Council has recognized the threat posed by climate change in
numerous resolutions on human rights and climate change and called for human rights
to guide and inform all climate action. Resolution 29/15 recognizes that a broad range of
human rights are affected by climate change and calls for a specific focus on impacts on
the right to health.
This discussion takes place against the backdrop of the recent adoption of the first
universal legally binding agreement on climate change in Paris in December 2015. The
Preamble to the Paris Agreement states that “parties should, when taking action to
address climate change, respect, promote and consider their respective obligations on
human rights, the right to health, the rights of indigenous peoples, local communities,
migrants, children, persons with disabilities and people in vulnerable situations and the
right to development, as well as gender equality, empowerment of women and
intergenerational equity”. Inclusion of this language in the Paris Agreement reflects
growing recognition of the connections between climate change and the enjoyment of
human rights, including specifically the human right to health.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has found that the overall health effects of
climate change are negative and climate change has strong impacts on the social and
environmental determinants of health like clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food
and secure shelter. The 2015 Lancet Commission on Health and Climate Change found
that climate change threatens to undermine the last half century of gains in
development and global health. Effects of climate change include increased heat stress,
floods, drought, and greater frequency of extreme weather events, which directly and
indirectly impact health through changes in air pollution, water availability, food
insecurity, nutrition, displacement, mental health, and the spread of tropical and vector
borne diseases. Such effects are felt most acutely by persons, groups and peoples in
vulnerable situations owing to factors such as geography, poverty, gender, age,
indigenous and minority status and disability.

Source: ClimateChange.doc (live.com)

Activity:
1. In this context, engaging with and addressing climate change-related impacts
on health is vital. Approaches based on human rights obligations, standards and
principles are critical to understand and address the threat that climate change
poses to human health and well-being.
2. As the governor in your place, write an Agreement between government
agencies and WHO that will focus and strengthen the campaign on how to
address climate change and the enjoyment of human right to health.

Mental Health Awareness Week Speech

Pansy Wong
 Over the past decade, attitudes in New Zealand have changed about the way we
view mental illness. It is no longer seen as something that doesn't affect us, but rather as
something that affects our friends, family, neighbours and communities.
This has come largely as the result of highly effective campaigns, including the
‘Like Minds like Mine' programme launched by Hon Bill English back when he was
Minister of Health in 1997.
The ‘Like Minds Like Mine' campaign was set up to counter the stigma and
discrimination that is often associated with mental illnesses and has featured iconic New
Zealanders, including former All Black John Kirwin and Kiwi music legend Mike Chunn.
This campaign continues to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of New
Zealanders and it is important that we continue to build on it to ensure that those
suffering from mental illness do not have to suffer alone.
Because by building greater understanding across all cultures and communities,
we can ensure that every New Zealander can discover a "Winning Way to Wellbeing".

Source: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/mentalhealth-awareness-week-speech

Activity:
1. Mental illness is not only for New Zealanders, it is also evident that there are
Filipinos experienced the same. As the President of the NGO’s that helped those
who suffered from mental illness, launched a campaign program to raise
awareness of the continuing need to make mental health a priority for all
people. Cite in the campaign the purpose and the benefits to the people.

Euthanasia
Laura Henderson
Assisted suicide, also known as euthanasia, is a hot-button issue that was brought
into the light by Dr. Jack Kevorkian. Dr. Kevorkian was a controversial activist who tried
to legalize assisted suicide under the argument that everyone deserves a humane death.
There had been much debate on the issue, and our legislatures have explored what the
practice entails and the moral implications of assisted suicide. However, it is still illegal
in all of the United States. But Physician Aid in Dying or PAD is legal in Washington,
Oregon, and Montana. The difference is that euthanasia involves a third party to
administer the dose, whereas PAD leaves it up to the patient to take it.
The concept of choosing a time to die with the help of a physician was first
medically explored by Dr. Jack Kevorkian. Born in Royal Oak, Michigan, he attended the
University of Michigan. There, he saw patients suffering. Especially in cases where there
was no cure available, he wanted to end their suffering in a humane way. In his own
words Dr. Kevorkian stated, “I’m going to do it right.” That was published in the New
York Times in 2007. According to a 2011 New York Times article, in 1990 Kevorkian
helped 130 people die using his machine titled the Thanatron, which is Greek for “death
machine.” A 2011 Washington Post article described his infamous death machine, which
is said to have been made from scraps for just $30.

Source: https://edge.sagepub.com/system/files/77593_inf _0.pdf

Activity:
1. Euthanasia is also called assisted suicide. As one of the doctors here in the
Philippines, would you agree to legalize assisted suicide in our country? Why?
2. As someone who believed that no one has the right to end someone’s life except
God, invent a machine that can make the patients live their lives longer. Cite the
benefits of the machine and state the process and how many years it can make
the patients to stay alive.