Words meant to inflame

Mr. Clive Hicks is an environmentalist and an activist. Just as beautiful supermodels go nude for PETA to make a point, he uses words calibrated to call attention to himself and his cause.

I have been following the Mindoro Nickel Project for some years now and this attempt to pit mining against agriculture first surfaced in 2009 when said Englishman wrote a report with Robert Goodland entitled 'Mining or Food?' (www.piplinks.org/new-report-says-mining-treat-food-security-Philippines-calls-for-a-mining-morratorium) The divisive, thought-provoking title a possible reference to 'Steel or Lard?' a speech given by Nazi minister of propaganda, Joseph Goebbels in January of 1936 about guns and butter. Mining or food is inflamatory but not completely informed. For the 9 reasons why I believe that mining and agriculture can work in Mindoro read my previous entry.

The DENR website carried an article (http://denr.gov.ph/article/IUCN-denies -protest-against-PGMA) wherein the Internaltional Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) distanced from its consultant Mr. Hicks denying having any knowledge of a letter sent by him to International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF) protesting the conferment of a conversation award to PGMA.

IUCN Director General Julia Marton Levefre said in a letter to DENR Sec. Horacio Ramos dated April 16, and I quote "I wish to assure you that Mr. Wicks did not have any authority to make any statement in the name of IUCN or on behalf of IUCN' and 'any statement that he may have made cannot and should not be attributed to IUCN nor be understood to express any position tat IUCN might have taken on this matter.

PGMA was conferred with the Teddy Roosevelt International Award by ICCF for her innovative leadership to protect oceans and preserve the biodiversity of the Coral Triangle at the Cannon House in Washington D.C.'s Capitol Hill.

And this incensed Mr. Wicks, some newspaper accounts quoted him saying "Will President Roosevelt, the founder of the US National Park System, not turn in his grave that a destroyer of fragile protected areas, vital water catchements and marine enviroments is being given an award for conservation in his name?"

Now to be fair to our embattled President (while I may not be a fan of her politics, one must give credit where it is due)who seems destined to be remembered more for her husband's alleged misbehavior and an inappropriate phone call, let us remember why she was awarded in the first place. She laid down enabling policies under the Green Philippines Initiative that wil ensure healthy and productive ecosystems.

She is responsible for signing into law Republic Act No. 9367 aka the "Biofuels Act" the "Renewable Energy Law" the "Climate Change Act", the Integrated Coastal Management and other measures which promote sustainable development of our coastal and marine environment and resources. These lay down the foundations for her administration's environmental legacy which will benefit generations of Filipinos to come. And if for nothing else she deserves this
award and our thanks.

Secretary Horacio Ramos a man with "40 years of public service, unparalleled experience and outstanding achievements" had this to say "the president kows fully well that the successes we have achieved through the years in protecting our environment, as well as natural resources, are a result of the strong partnership between the government and the people." He adds that the Filipino people should be proud of the award as the President received it on behalf of the country.

Words may be cheap as they say, but they are powerful. They can hurt just as well as they heal. Words can set things right by honoring or chastising. It helps to take a look at who is speaking, the speaker's track record and the motive behind the words.