THE PROBLEMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY
by Antonio C. Antonio
October 1, 2014
According to Professors Felix Librero and Frances M.
Canonizado (UPOU Module: “Environmental Advocacy”), there are six factors that
closely identify with the generic problems of environmental advocacy. These are:
- Lack of understanding of the roles of the environment advocacy organization units within the environmental plans and programs;
- Lack of trained manpower;
- Inefficient if not lack of coordination among agencies involved in the implementation of the environmental plans and programs;
- Inadequate data and underutilization of data;
- Lack of funding support; and,
- Lack of commitment by top leadership.
These problems, more often than not, are the causes of
failure in any environmental advocacy initiative. The scenario becomes very intimidating if we
are to consider that the general public also have a largely never-caring
attitude when it comes to environmental matters and issues. This attitude, however, is borne out of the
lack of knowledge and information on the true state of our environment. This situation boils down to problems being
experienced on the part of those advocates who want to popularize
environmentalism and on the side of the public who remain apathetic but needs
to be informed. So there seems to be no
way to bridge the “disconnect”.
The only promising light in this otherwise dark tunnel
are the pockets of environmental advocacy groups and individuals who tirelessly
share their knowledge to their respective spheres of influence and circle of
acquaintances. Hopefully, more and more
people will be informed and commit to involvement; then, in time, all the
pieces will settle-in… and hopefully we can also solve the problems of
environmental advocacy.
Just my little thoughts…
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