The one and a half-day Eco-challenge Seminar held on January 28-29, 2010 at the Rosary Hall, Good Shepherd Convent in Quezon City proved to be truly enriching and challenging.
Photo: Sr. Mela Alvarez RGS facilitates the seminar. Sr. Leah Ann Espina is her co-facilitator.
The first day started with 38 participants composed of Good Shepherd Sisters and Mission Partners. They were grouped into five clusters where they shared environmental issues affecting their communities and how they have addressed those concerns. It was followed by an input of Clementio Bautista from Kalikasan Network on the Philippine Environmental Situation. In the afternoon, Marjorie Pamintuan, also from Kalikasan, shared some facts and the ill-effects of Climate Change and the responses of governments and nations in facing the realities of this disturbing phenomenon and its threat in our universe.
The day ended with a planning workshop in each cluster. Some collective efforts that were agreed by the members of each cluster are as follows: a) advocacy campaigns and networking with different groups on the issue of climate change; b) evaluate the implementation of waste management of communities within the 1043 compound; c) patronize local products and organic food; d) lessen the use of plastic; e) simple lifestyle (conserve energy).
During the second day, the participants went to Isla Puting Bato in Tondo for an exposure. Dra. Beng Rivera, from an NGO group called Health Alliance for Democracy, helped organize AHON ISLA (Samahan ng mga Naninirahan sa Isla Puting Bato) whose members have been trained to become community health workers. They are also empowered to promote cleanliness in their area and to campaign against practices that are hazardous to the health of the people in the community. Isla Puting Bato has a population of approximately 10,000 residents. The leaders of AHON ISLA were distributed in groups and given a chance to share the realities of their daily living, their issues and concerns as well as their hopes and aspirations.
The participants of the seminar went home moved with inspiration with their learning and experiences and challenged in their resolve to be vigilant and pro-active in their quest to uphold the integrity of God’s creation.
- Sr. Leah Ann Espina RGS