The Reality of Our Time

THE REALITY OF OUR TIME

by Anton Antonio

May 1, 2015

“There are several phases in protected area management planning.  The principles of management as we have learned in Management 101 are very much applicable in protected area management.  “The four basic and fundamental principles of management --- therefore, (1) planning, (2) organizing, (3) directing and (4) controlling --- apply in most organized (or even individual) endeavours (Antonio, 2014).”  The specific methodology used in protected area management, upland ecosystem management and other upland management activities may vary but the will always be guided by the by same management principles.” (Antonio, 2015)

“In environment and natural resources management, the same principles of management also apply.  “Sustainable environmental management, in direct relationship with the functions of management, can be presented in a circle of activities as follows: (1) An environmental VISION; (2) An environmental STRATEGY; (3) Detailed PLANNING; (4) A structured Environmental COMMUNICATION system; (5) A workable IMPLIMENTATION plan; (6) A comprehensive REPORTING system; and, (7) An oversight-focused evaluation of RESULTS.  More often, re-cycling of activities becomes necessary to address failures in the plans and programs (Antonio, 2014).”  (Antonio, 2014)  Part of sound management is a periodic review to assess if plans and strategies are on or off target… “No. 6:  A comprehensive Reporting system.” and “No. 7: An oversight-focused evaluation of RESULTS.”

Like countless others, I have been involved in a pro-environment advocacy effort (using the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Approach) in over two years now… come to think of it, some environmentalist groups and individuals (using the same of different approaches) have been in this business for decades now.  But what is the common refrain of pro-environment groups after all these years?  The answer to this question came to us (a group of environment advocates from the University of the Philippines Open University) two years ago when we interpreted the results of a survey that indicated that people in the Philippines and Singapore remain largely ignorant about environmental matters.

Lately, I chanced upon an infographic from the SWS (Social Weather Stations) on the present issues that got the attention of Filipinos… the “talk” they like to hear… the narratives they like to read about.  A closer consideration of the issues covered would reveal that most of these are present and active issues but not necessarily the more important and critical socio-economic issues that matter.  Well… let me take second swipe at this… well… I must confess that I may be wrong with the assumption that these issues do not “matter” or what really “should matter”.  And I certainly cannot influence what my countrymen should be concerned about.  Two (the Papal visit and the fight of the Century) of the top six-ranked issues are non-political while the rest thread on politics.  This, perhaps, presupposes that Filipinos are inclined towards political issues… oblivious of the fact that politics is one of the bigger causes for their collective socio-economic problems.

At this point, you may be wondering where my seemingly scattered thoughts are leading to.  Those who have been following my blogs might know.  I am actually appalled by the fact that we choose to be concerned about a tasteless ingrate like Celia Veloso (mother of death row convict Mary Jane in an Indonesian jail) than talk about the real cause of the unbearable heat that we are experiencing lately… which will certainly lead us to a wider discussion of our present environmental situation.  I am not saying that we should care less about socio-economic and political matters.  All I am saying is that we should always keep the environment (not even in the center of our consciousness) but as an on-going peripheral concern.  The SWS infomercial obviously indicates that the environment is clearly not a concern.  I even seriously doubt if the environment was even an item in the questionnaire used in this particular survey.  Does this mean the environment is not that important?

The environment, or a healthy environment, should be a present-day and future concern for all of us.  Environmental awareness is the only way to move forward if we are serious in caring for Mother Earth and our quest for sustainable development… “There have been several definitions of sustainable development but none as the one from the World Commission on Environment and Development’s (the Brundtland Commission) report “Our Common Future” which states: “DEVELOPMENT THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE PRESENT WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE ABILITY OF FUTURE GENERATIONS TO MEET THEIR OWN NEEDS.” (Antonio, 2014)

Concern for the environment should not be a mere current event, or a popular fad, nor a temporary fashion.  It is a permanent reality we face every day of our lives.  It is the reality of our time.

Just my little thoughts…

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REFERENCE:

Antonio, A. C. (2015).  “Phases of Protected Area Management Planning”.  Retrieved on May 1, 2015 from http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/2015/03/phases-of-protected-area-management.html

Antonio, A. C. (2014).  “Sustainable Development”.  Retrieves on May 1, 2015 from http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/search?q=sustainable+development