Ideology and environment: communism

What have our ideologies got to do with the environment? A lot! With our ideologies, we are driven to subjugate or manage our environment. Our actions are guided by our ideologies, be it communism, socialism, or other isms. Take a look at what Marx and Engels interpreters have to say in 'Nature and the Communist Manifesto.'

Guide to the CBD

To brush up on my knowledge for the upcoming CoP9 on biodiversity, I've been reading 'Governing Global Biodiversity: the evolution and implementation of the Convention on Biodiversity.' The editor, Philippe G. Le Prestre, oversaw the contribution of 16 different authors.

I am only close to finishing the first chapter that relates the story of the biodiversity convention. The introduction, penned by the editor himself, traces the origin of the biodiversity through a conservation treaty. Biodiversity has now come a long way to discussing intellectual property rights, trade, technology transfer, human health, and culture.

What I have picked up from the first 30 pages of the book affirms the whole gamut of clashing interests not only in the issue of biodiversity but also environment in general.

Pinoy ethics

What is the Filipino 'world view' on the environment?

As a Filipino, I've always hoped there's a document to affirm my own theories on how we relate to the environment. I serendipitously stumbled on Environmental Ethics, Chapter 8 of Leonardo Mercado's book on The Filipino Mind.

My education and professional training in project evaluation has entailed me to think logically from a Western perspective. Do we capture the Filipino's environmental psyche as we plan and implement our projects? Do indigenous knowledge, skills, and practices fit snugly into the so-called logical framework?

Taking the big dip

This blog was borne out of my recent 'serious' involvement with environmental issues. The other night, I was invited as a youth representative 'expert' to a political dialogue on "Biodiversity and Poverty Eradication" in Bonn. Among the invited panelists are German Federal Economic Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, UNEP Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director Angela Cropper, and leading scientific adviser Prof. Jeffrey Sayer. Invited guests from Kenya, Ethiopia, academe, and business sector also graced the event.

How did it feel to talk in front of more than 300 people. Read all about it here. I wish I could get more feedback from my five minutes of fame.

The invitation came as an added engagement after I got selected to participate in the Go 4 Biodiv International Youth Summit 2008 from May 16 to 26. After the youth summit we will troop to the Conference of Parties 9 (CoP9) of the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) in Bonn from May 26-31.

In my application to the youth summit, I mentioned that "I can contribute to a fertile discussion of our different (world) views of the environment and our interactions with it. This is not to provide a solution, but to put into perspective, through reflection, our human-environment interactions." How can you and I go about this? You don't have to take a great plunge into environmental issues. Be cautious as one can drown in all its technicalities and politics. One step at a time. For now you can test the waters with me as I take a small dip.