Indigenous Knowledge Systems

INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS

by Antonio C. Antonio

October 29, 2014

Indigenous Knowledge systems generally refer to knowledge systems embedded in the cultural traditions of indigenous or local communities.

Earlier this year, I read a book “Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Current State and Trends”.  In Chapter 24, Mountain System – Social and Economic Conditions, the book is also full of generalizations.  “The statement that “mountain areas are perceived as economically backward and culturally inferior” does not seem to be accurate.  Of course, for safe measure, the authors also stated: “But there are some exceptions.”  In the Philippine setting, I would readily agree that mountain areas are “economically backward” but would seriously disagree that upland communities are “culturally inferior.” (Antonio, 2014, “Author’s Prudence”, http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/2014/06/authors-prudence.html)  The authors seem to have accepted this inaccurate worldview or perception.

To understand the dynamics of upland life from that of the lowland, I also researched and wrote another blog entitled “God and the Forest” (http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/2014/04/god-and-forest.html) where I wrote the following:

“Most upland dwellers revere the forest as spiritual and sacred.  It will not be hard to understand this since the forest provides them with means of survival… food, shelter and a venue to congregate, socialize and interact with others.  Their culture and spiritual beliefs are moulded by their forest environment and landscape.  There are some who would even say (individually or collectively) that the forest is regarded as their god, their heaven, their world and their religion.  If we were to consider the spiritual beliefs of the upland forest dwellers as a contextual framework, a view takes shape that God and the forest are closely related... or, at the very least, viewed on the same spiritual plane.

We are, at this point, just about ready to get lost in this confusing collage of words and word meanings.  Perhaps, the best way out is to make assumptions.  So going back to Mr. Muir’s statement (“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.”) and fusing this with the spiritual beliefs of the upland forest dwellers, it is quite possible that the word “universe” could very well mean “God” and the “forest wilderness” means “the world we live in.”  This is also consistent with the core religious beliefs of the upland forest dwellers that there is no significant difference between their God (the provider) and the forest (the provider as well).

Upland forest dwellers are no different from their brothers who live in the lowland plains when it comes to spirituality and religious beliefs.  In fact, the presence of much more socio-economic and political activities and problems in the plains provide more distractions than the simple lifestyle of the upland dwellers.  These activities and problems oftentimes weaken their religious beliefs and devotions too.  The simplicity of upland forest life provides for simple mindsets such as the relationship between God and the forest.”

Having stated all of these, it will be easy to establish that both upland and lowland communities have a traditionally accepted indigenous knowledge systems.  These indigenous knowledge systems, however, may significantly differ primarily because of environment and technological influences.  I should add that cultural and traditional belief and knowledge system in the upland is stronger and more profound.  This is because of lesser technological influences.  Dr. Felix Librero (1999) wrote: “Indigenous knowledge systems contain beliefs that strongly influence the behaviour of local communities with regard to the environment.”

There are customs and practices in the upland communities which will take several generations to change such as an indigenous knowledge system.

Just my little thoughts…

(Please visit, like and share Pro EARTH Crusaders and Landscape Ecology UPOU on Facebook or follow me at http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/.)

Stages of Environmental Lobbying

STAGES OF ENVIRONMENTAL LOBBYING

by Antonio C. Antonio

November 25, 2014

“An advocacy is a structured process to gain public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or public policy.” (Antonio, 2014)  “Environmental lobbying is defined as the process of putting pressure on members of the legislature or seeking to influence a politician or public official to pass bills on an environmental issue or established public policies on the environment.  The normal targets of environmental lobbying are the elected senators and congressional district representatives since our legislative branch is bicameral in structure.  Environmental lobbying with the legislative branch is effective on non-existent public policies of measure that are still to be passed as bills and enacted into laws or republic acts.   However, lobbying could also be done with the executive department particularly the department secretaries especially on laws that still lack the implementing rules and regulations or are presently being implemented.” (Antonio, 2014)

The Philippines is a democracy no matter how some might view it as a dysfunctional one.  Being a functioning democracy means we are ruled by laws and public policies.  It is therefore in the crafting of bills and laws that legalizes and institutionalizes public concerns… including the environment.  Towards this end, lobbying becomes important.  But how do we lobby?... and where?  Here is to answer the “wheres” and the “hows”.

The Lobbying could actually be done in every legislative stage.  It is important to note that lobbying is easier in stages where membership and participation is less.  Plenary lobbying is harder on account of the sheer number of senators and congressional representatives involved.

STAGE 1 – Congress: (Senate and House of Representatives) This is where proposed Senate and House Bills are submitted to the Senator or Congressman in charge of the appropriate Congressional Committee for sponsorship.  After the proponent Senator or Congressman submits the proposed bill to the Plenary, the proposed bill is normally assigned to the Congressional Committee for further study.

STAGE 2 – Congressional Committees: (Senate and House of Representatives) The Senator and Congressman call for a series of meetings or congressional investigation, in aide of legislation, to engage the services of resource persons and get the opinions of SMEs (subject matter experts) on the proposed bill.  Several meetings are called for this purpose so that the proposed bill can be polished as to its responsiveness to public need.

STAGE 3 – Plenary: (Senate and House of Representatives) There are normally three readings that a bill has to go through at the plenary level.  The appropriate Congressional Committee or the sponsoring Senator or Congressman takes charge of presenting the proposed bill to the plenary.  The bill is finally approved (normally on third reading) or sent back to the Congressional Committee for further study.

STAGE 4 – Bicameral Conference Committee: (Senate and House of Representatives) In most instances, related bills approved by both Houses of Congress (Senate and House of Representatives) differ in substance.  To harmonize these different bills, they are assigned to the Bicameral Conference Committee which is composed of Senators and Congressmen for further deliberation.  The objective of the Bicameral Conference Committee is to come up with a single-unified-harmonized bill.  The harmonized bill is then transmitted by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the President of the Philippines for his final approval and signing into law.

STAGE 5 – The Executive Branch: (The President).  The President could either approve the bill and signs it into law or vetoes the same.  A Presidential veto means the bill does not progress to become a law.  On the other hand, signed bills are assigned to the concerned Department where the IRR or Implementing Rules and Regulations are crafted.

STAGE 6 – The Executive Branch: (The Department Secretaries) After the concerned Cabinet Secretary receives the approved and signed law, it now becomes the concerned department’s responsibility to craft the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

Laws passing through these six stages take months (some even years) before they become part of the laws of the land.  Advocates and lobbyists can take advantage of any of these stages to include their concerns to the proposed bill and/or law.  For environmental issues and concerns, we could call these the stages of environmental lobbying.

Just my little thoughts…

(Please visit, like and share Pro EARTH Crusaders and Landscape Ecology UPOU on Facebook or follow me at http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/.)

Climate Change Vulnerability Index

CLIMATE CHANGE VULNERABILITY INDEX

by Antonio C. Antonio

December 2, 2014

Define irony?  Irony is when countries most affected by the dire phenomenon called “climate change” are the countries that do not have anything to do with causing it or, at least, have insignificant contribution to climate change.  Largely to blame for climate change are the rich and economically advanced countries.

The Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI) for 2014 indicates that the following countries are in the “extreme risk” tier: (1) Bangladesh; (2) Cambodia; (3) Democratic Republic of Congo; (4) Ethiopia; (5) Guinea-Bissau; (6) Haiti; (7) Nigeria; (8) Philippines; (9) Sierra Leone; and, (10) South Sudan.  As if bad news always come in tandem... there also a parallel study conducted that show that six of the world’s fastest growing cities are at extreme risk to climate change impacts.  These cities are: (a) Calcutta in India; (b) Manila in the Philippines; (c) Jakarta in Indonesia; (d) Dhaka and (e) Chittagong in Bangladesh; and, (f) Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.

While the more developed and rich countries in the northern hemisphere are least exposed to climate change risks, a third of humanity, mostly in Africa and Southeast Asia, are faced with the biggest risks.  The Maplecroft report says that these countries have high population growth rates. (Maplecroft is a British risk analysis firm.)

The Philippines is again part of a list of countries with dire environmental problems.  It is our collective hope, wish and prayer that we be taken out of such lists like the one generated by the Climate Change Vulnerability Index.

Just my little thoughts…

(Please visit, like and share Pro EARTH Crusaders and Landscape Ecology UPOU on Facebook or follow me at http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/.)

Anything Less Will Simply Not Work

ANYTHING LESS WILL SIMPLY NOT WORK

by Antonio C. Antonio

November 17, 2014

“Public Acceptance of Radioactive Waste Management: The Malaysian Experience” by Syed A. Malik and Samsudin A. Rahim is a good read.  It effectively separated common myths and science of nuclear energy.  It also made a distinction on the advantages of nuclear power as opposed to the dire disadvantages of it. 

Please allow me to bring this issue closer to home by drawing parallel lines between the Malaysian and Philippine experiences on nuclear energy.  The single-biggest problem that the nuclear power program of Malaysia and the Philippines was and still is public acceptance.  “There are several reasons for our environmental problems.  But if I were to narrow these down to only three, I should say (1) human greed, (2) the inequitable distribution of benefits from our natural resources, and (3) the lack of education and awareness for environmental issues, matters and concerns.  These three causes should cover all aspects of human behaviour --- social, cultural, political and economic.  These, in my mind, are the most profound causes of our environmental problems.” (Antonio, 2014, http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/2014/08/environmental-problems.html)  Highlighting “the lack of education and awareness for environmental issues, matters and concerns” tend to point towards the lack of knowledge and information on nuclear energy as the main cause for the low level acceptability of nuclear power.

The more pertinent question now would be “Why are people, in general, opposed to nuclear energy?”  The spectre of the atomic bomb being detonated in Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Japan) towards the end of World War II has created a long-lasting image of death and destruction in the human psych.  The worldview on the evils of nuclear energy will not just simply go away.  “Why are a lot of people biased when it comes to nuclear energy?  The reason is simple… “Nuclear energy has proven to be an unstable source of power which even advanced countries failed to make safe.  The nuclear accidents in the United States, U.S.S.R. and Japan [Three Mile Island (1979), Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima Daiichi (2011) respectively] gave reasons for the world to take a second suspicious and prejudicial look at the safety and sustainability of nuclear energy.” (Antonio, 2014 - http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/2014/10/nuclear-energy.html)

The system and procedure of nuclear waste disposal in another contemptuous and critical issue… as well as the soundness of the infrastructure where radioactive waste is to be disposed.  Barry Commoner’s Second Law of Ecology states: “EVERYTHING MUST GO SOMEWHERE.  There is “waste” in nature and there is no “away” to which things can be thrown.  Even if we designated planet Mars as our dumpsite for man’s toxic and radioactive wastes, these unhealthy by-products of nuclear energy will still have to go somewhere.  Nuclear energy, even if it the cheapest and cost effective form of energy, will eventually be more expensive if we have to dispose of its by-products far enough not to affect humans.” (Antonio, 2014, http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/2014/10/nuclear-waste-and-four-laws-of-ecology.html)

Malik and Rahim were right to say that the NIMBY (an acronym for Not In My Backyard) syndrome applies everywhere.  In Malaysia, the acceptance of sound radioactive waste management and disposal was not too good.  The Asian Rare Earth Sdn. Bhd. (ARE), the Malaysian Geological Survey Department, and the Malaysian Department of Environment were not too successful in communicating the good message of nuclear energy to the public.

In the Philippines, the use of nuclear energy was seriously considered during the last years of the Marcos Administration.  The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) was built with a total cost of $2.3 billion (including interest) as of 2009.  Decommissioned before construction was even completed, the BNPP is a 40-year old mothballed project.  At present, there are a lot of issues on safety and sustainability that needs to be addressed if this facility is to be put into operation.  U.S. nuclear engineer Robert Pollard who did his own inspection of the BNPP in the early 80s after the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl accidents in the United States and U.S.S.R. then concluded that the BNPP is not safe since it used an old design plagued with unresolved safety issues, making it a potential hazard to the safety and health of the public. (http://www.yonip.com/is-the-bataan-nuclear-power-plant-safe-by-professor-roland-g-simbulan/)

“Nuclear energy has proven to be an unstable source of power which even advanced countries failed to make safe.  The nuclear accidents in the United States, U.S.S.R. and Japan (Three Mile Island (1979), Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima Daiichi (2011) respectively) gave reasons for the world to take a second suspicious and prejudicial look at the safety and sustainability of nuclear energy.” (Antonio, 2014, http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/2014/10/nuclear-energy.html)  But more advanced economies still persist in the use of nuclear energy.  They even go as far as saying that it is the only practical alternative source of energy.  Having stated this and in conclusion, there still are more plausible methods and effective procedures to follow to increase the level of knowledge and awareness on this alternative source of energy, such as:

1. A comprehensive scientific STUDY that should allay the fear of the general public on the economics and advantages of using nuclear energy as an alternative.
2. A clear and understandable and acceptable MESSAGE on the safety of the radioactive waste management and disposal.
3. A well structured COMMUNICATIONS plan that would translate to confidence among the general public.

Anything less will simply not work.

Just my little thoughts…

(Please visit, like and share Pro EARTH Crusaders and Landscape Ecology UPOU on Facebook or follow me at http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/.)

The Four Dimensions of Narcissism

THE FOUR DIMENSIONS OF NARCISSISM

by Antonio C. Antonio

November 9, 2014

What is “narcissism”?  Narcissism is defined as: (1) An excessive or erotic interest in oneself and one’s physical appearance; (2) In Psychology… An extreme selfishness, with a grandiose view of one’s own talents and craving for admiration; and, (3) In Psychoanalysis… A mental disorder characterised by excessive self-centeredness. 

As a personality variable, there are the four dimensions of narcissism:

1. Leadership / Authority;
2. Superiority / Arrogance;
3. Self-Absorption / Self-Admiration; and,
4. Exploitativeness / Entitlement.

Narcissists commonly display most, if not all, of the following traits: (Wikipedia)

• An obvious self-focus in interpersonal exchanges;
• Problems in sustaining satisfying relationships;
• A lack of psychological awareness;
• Difficulty with empathy;
• Problems distinguishing the self from others;
• Hypersensitivity to any insults or imagined insults;
• Vulnerability to shame rather than guilt;
• Haughty body language;
• Flattery towards people who admire and affirm them;
• Using other people without considering the cost of doing so;
• Pretending to be more important than they really are;
• Bragging subtly but persistently and exaggerating their achievements;
• Claiming to be an expert at many things;
• Inability to view the world from the perspective of other people; and,
• Denial of remorse and gratitude.

The term “narcissism” was originally rooted from a Greek myth “Narcissus”.  Narcissus was a young and handsome Greek who rejected the admiration of everyone that led him to fall in love with himself; with his own reflection from a pool.  For hours in a typical day, he would do nothing to endlessly stare at his own image… until he fell into a spell and changed into a flower named after him: “Narcissus”. 

Social media netizens are, in varying degrees, said to be guilty of narcissism in one way or the other.  In the last fifteen years, psychological tests designed to detect narcissism have been made and psychologists have linked its cause to social networking.  I should also highlight that narcissism is not bad per se.  This little article --- having enumerated the dimensions and traits of a narcissist --- will give us a pretty good idea where we all stand in the four dimensions of narcissism.

Just my little thoughts…

(Please visit, like and share Pro EARTH Crusaders and Landscape Ecology UPOU on Facebook or follow me at http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/.)

Sustainable Development: The Brundtland Report

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: The Brundtland Report

by Antonio C. Antonio

October 8, 2014

The Brundtland Report was made by the Brundtland Commission otherwise formally known as the World Commission on Environmental Development (WCED).  The Brundtland Commission was officially dissolved in December 1987 after releasing “Our Common Future”; better known as the Brundtland Report which is a multi-awarded piece of literature on environmentalism.  Sustainable Development became a by-word after “Our Common Future” was reported out.  As a result, most countries began crafting their own environmental initiatives using the Brundtland Report as the framework. 

Sustainable Development is universally accepted although there was no formal agreement on the term’s definition until the Brundtland Report.  Sustainable Development is now defined as: “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their needs.”  Simply said, the quality and quantity of resources being enjoyed today should also be the same quality and quantity to be enjoyed tomorrow.

There are two key concepts in Sustainable Development in the Brundtland Report:  (1) The basic needs of all people must be met in a way which provides for their needs with security and dignity; and, (2) There are no absolute limits to development.  The Brundtland Report highlighted the following list of goals and objectives for Sustainable Development policies, such as:

1. Reviving economic growth;
2. Changing the quality of growth;
3. Conserving and enhancing the resource base;
4. Ensuring a sustainable level of population;
5. Re-orienting technology and managing risk;
6. Merging environment and economics in the decision-making process;
7. Reforming international economic relations; and,
8. Strengthening international cooperation.

To accomplish the above-listed goals and objectives, the Brundtland Report also highlighted the need for the changes which are aimed towards establishing a better future for the next generations by re-orienting values and attitudes, methods, and patterns and priorities.  These are:

1. Establishing a political system which will allow citizen participation in the decision-making process concerning public policies;
2. Establishing an economic system that will generate surpluses and technical knowledge on a self-reliant and sustained basis;
3. Establishing a social system that provides solutions to the stress and problems created by ill-planned developmental strategies;
4. Establishing a production system that will preserve the ecological base for development;
5. Establishing a technological system that constantly searches for new solutions;
6. Establishing an international trade system that fosters equitable exchange of goods among trading countries; and,
7. Establishing an administrative system that would address conflicts with justice and dispatch.

Just my little thoughts…

(Please visit, like and share Pro EARTH Crusaders and Landscape Ecology UPOU on Facebook or follow me at http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/.)

Designing an Environmental Advocacy Campaign

DESIGNING AN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN

by Antonio C. Antonio

November 17, 2014

In designing an environmental advocacy campaign, the following relevant questions could be asked:  (1) What is the problem?; (2) Who is your key audience?; (3) What are your objectives?; (4) What is your specific advocacy strategy?; and, (5) What is your message?  I will be using these questions as guide in crafting an environment advocacy campaign.

What is the Problem?

The main problem is the low level awareness on environmental matters and concerns.  Increasing the level of awareness is therefore the solution.  Environmental advocacies are often limited by the kind of financial assistance being given them to be sustainable.

Who is Your Key Audience?

The development of social media has given netizens a real means to communicate and exchange views.  Social media is also a very cost effective way to popularize environmental concerns.  Anyone who has a computer and internet connectivity could always access social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Tweeter, Blogsites, etc. at no cost at all.

According to a new eMarketer report, one out of every four people worldwide use social media networks in 2013 and the number of social network users around the world will rise from 1.47 billion in 2012 to 1.73 billion in 2013.  There is an estimated yearly progressive increase of 18 to 24% in social network users in the next five years.

What are Your Objectives?

My nurtured dream and aspiration is along the line of (a) sustainable environmental management, (b) protection, preservation and development of natural resources, and (c) the promotion of social justice.  Sustainable development, in the purview of social justice and the environment, is the equitable distribution of opportunities for wealth and comfortable existence by the present generation while leaving the same opportunities for wealth and comfortable existence to future generations.  Towards this end, I shall:

• Prioritize my life in this order: (a) God; (b) Family; (c) Country; and, (d) Environment;  Environment, being fourth, doesn’t necessarily be low in terms of priority;
• Maintain a “clean” and “green” lifestyle on a personal and family level;  This is anchored on the concept of “Leadership by Example”;
• Endeavor to relentlessly evangelize about ways and means to protect, preserve and develop natural resources by whatever means available to me and within my personal capacity;  The most cost-effective and cost-efficient means is through social media;
• Enlist the support, cooperation and participation of a broad spectrum of stakeholders most especially the upland communities affected by environmental programs and activities;
• Join other such activities that are aimed at the sustainable environmental management;
• Join efforts to review and harmonize existing laws governing environment and natural resources management matters and concerns and then lobby for the enactment of ideal pro-environmental laws consistent with the protection, conservation and sustainable utilization of natural resources; and,
• Ascertain that all activities environment-related activities are geared towards sustainable environmental management to promote economic development that translates to social justice.

What is Your Specific Advocacy Strategy?

The strategy was simple with a simple methodology:

1. Gather as much knowledge as possible;
2. Create a data base of all these accumulated knowledge; and,
3. In line with the “Information, Education and Communications” (IEC) Approach, use social media to spread as much pro-environment-related information to as much people as possible.

The Philippines is a democracy and, therefore, governed by laws.  Although most laws are pro-environment, some laws are not and are the cause of over exploitation and utilization of natural resources and, therefore, more harmful than protective and progressive.  Aside from increasing environmental awareness and encouraging pro-environment programs and projects (such as clean air, reforestation, waterways clean up, solid waste management, etc.), a more effective measure is by way of environmental legislative reform.  Towards this end, I, on a personal and/or organized level, am willing and totally committed to:

·         Encourage the institutionalization of both government- and civil society-sponsored pro-environment projects, plans and programs;

·         Enlist as much support, cooperation and participation from a broad line-up of stakeholders using the principles of participatory management as a means to mould public opinion;

·         Endeavour to review and harmonize existing laws, rules and regulations with the aim of crafting ideal public policies that would promote pro-environmental plans and programs;

·         Make certain that the new public policies are responsive to the needs of both man and environment; and,

·         Conduct reviews and oversight functions to make sure the intent of the laws, rules and regulations are followed to the letter; and, if re-calibration of public policies is needed, craft and lobby for amendments.

What is Your Message?

I am a Filipino and I believe in the capacity and capability of the Filipino race to embrace environmentalism as way of life.  I also believe that Filipinos can yet be the primary exponent of environmentalism in the world.  Having said this, I firmly believe that:

• Filipinos are God-fearing and believe that Mother Nature is God’s gift not only to the Filipino nation but to the rest of humanity.  The Filipino also believes that respect for Mother Earth translates to respect for our Divine Creator. Filipinos likewise acknowledge the fact that God’s provision of a liveable environment is not only intended for the present generation but for future generations as well.  It is therefore the duty of every Filipino to make sure that sustainability is the primary consideration in every human activity;
• The Filipino family is the basic social unit in the Filipino’s social structure.  It is therefore incumbent among Filipino parents, who provide leadership in these social units, to accept the challenges and responsibility of moulding their children into stewards of the environment in their youth and the rest of their adult lives.  This can best be exemplified by being role-models to their respective families;
• As a Filipino parent, I am aware of the importance of a healthy planet and committed to living a pro-environmental life as a means to educate my children to be pro-earth crusaders; and,
• As a Filipino, I am committed to tooling myself with the necessary knowledge and relentlessly share these information not only to my family, my countrymen but to as many people from other parts of the world as well.

That whether on a personal capacity or organized movement, I am totally committed to pursuing environmentalism through the following methodology:

• Tooling myself with knowledge on environmental matters and concerns (from institutions such as the academe and other sources of environmental information);
• Increasing awareness of people within and beyond my sphere of influence on environmental issues (using environmental communication);
• Crafting the necessary laws and orders to promote pro-environmentalism (by involving myself in the review, deliberation and crafting of workable and effective pro-environment public policies);
• Exercise good participatory management concepts to arrive at environment- and people-friendly public policies towards achieving social justice; and,
• Be relentless in these pursuits until sustainable environmental management means are institutionalized to protect Mother Earth from environmental degradation and man from the ill effects of environmental neglect.

There really are no fast and perfect structure in designing an environment advocacy campaign.  The only operative word that could serve as some sort of guide: Doability.

These are but some of the vital questions to be answered in designing an environmental advocacy campaign.

Just my little thoughts…

(Please visit, like and share Pro EARTH Crusaders and Landscape Ecology UPOU on Facebook or follow me at http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/.)