Sunday, October 5, 2008

Everyone has a role to play in protecting environment – ESP

The Ecological Society of the Philippines (ESP) is calling on all Filipinos to protect the country’s natural resources to help fight poverty.

“Our country is so rich in natural resources and yet our people are going hungry and the poverty level has increased,” said ESP president Antonio M. Claparols.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has reported that 75 million more people became hungry in 2007 even as the World Bank has reported over a billion people worldwide live in poverty.

“We believe it is more,” Claparols added. “We are urging the Philippine government to address the food situation and eradicate poverty.”

Claparols said weather and climate are key factors in agricultural productivity.

“This is where ordinary people can do their share,” he said. “Let us all stop polluting our environment. Let us all help preserve our terrestial and marine resources so that our children will have food on their tables.”

Claparols added that the Philippine government, for its part, must also promote organic agriculture.

Studies show that organic farming can help compensate for the greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists also said it can outyield conventional agriculture methods by a factor of 1:3.