The best gift

Wishing a safe, serene, sustainable and compassion-filled 2014 to all. May we give peace and hope to each other and ourselves.

I am referring to that kind of peace that is, in former President Corazon Aquino’s words, “based on principle, on justice,” not “peace at any cost.” The peace that we long for comes only when there is a healthy dose of respect deeply imbued in each one of us, not just for self but also for others, including the lesser known life forms.

Searching for peace and yes, environmental justice, could be a lifetime journey. What matters most should be the unyielding determination and commitment to have them. It requires the unraveling and reexamination of beliefs, attitudes and lifestyles that could be the barriers to the state that we aim for. The journey begins with the self and extends outwards like unstoppable ripples that bring peace and hope to many.

My favorite statesman, Robert F. Kennedy, has these inspiring lines for those desiring change and a better tomorrow:

“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

One way of attaining peace in our ravaged land is by pushing for the Environmental Rule of Law to change behaviors of stakeholders. While we are protected by a very strong legal framework for respect of our rights to life, livelihood, health and a healthful and balanced ecology, we are faced by weak and some corruption-tainted institutions and public servants that look the other way, blink or worse, participate in making possible ecologically unsustainable policies, programs and activities in this megadiversity-rich but sadly resource-cursed Philippines.

Few will dispute that 2013 could not be considered an annus mirabilis (Latin for “year of wonder or miracles”) for the Philippines. Supertyphoon Yolanda and a string of disasters including the 7.2-magnitude earthquake in October caused death, displacement, and destruction not just of families, livelihoods and properties but also of a way of life.

But crisis does open windows of opportunity. Yolanda’s wrath and its horrifying impacts awakened not a few to take the cudgels for our people and our environment. Suddenly, scientists’ exhortations to protect ecosystems, such as through mangroves, has become painfully meaningful to communities and the government, after decades of relentless destruction, despite the laws requiring ecosystems’ protection and restoration.

Looking back at the past 12 months, I can say that we are on the path towards stronger stewardship over our threatened life-support systems and the species that depend on them for survival. Those species include, of course us, humans, and the “other lesser-known” forms, that are inter-connected, as nature intended us all to be.

In 2013, partnerships and collaboration proved to be the key to strings of successful engagements of stakeholders with lasting impacts for a safe and sustainable future, some of which includes, as follows:

The strengthening of environmental governance networks at the local, national, regional and international level. Environmental lawyers are joining forces for a more effective action to restore the integrity of our ecosystems. Various civil society organizations are sustaining initiatives promoting participatory, accountable and transparent governance. Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Rule of Law Programme Asia’s Environmental Law Talks on Forest Management and Mining Policies held in the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia and the outreach program of the Asian-Pacific Centre of Environmental Law are exemplary models of collaboration at the regional level. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature Academy of Environmental Law’s Annual Colloquium at Waikato, New Zealand brought together environmental law specialists all over the world for updates and discourses on challenges facing ecosystems, people and institutions.

Growing numbers of citizen movements and dynamic health and environmental justice, biodiversity and climate leaders here and abroad who tap the creativity, talent and energy of the youth, in protecting people and planet. Ecowaste Coalition, Health Care Without Harm, Greenpeace, Philippine Movement for Climate Justice, Nirmal Kulkarni and his wildlife conservation team, and Prigi Arisandi and his Ecoton team, belong to this admired league.

Emerging resurgence of the judicial branch and institutions in mainstreaming environmental justice. The launch of the Citizen’s Handbook on Environmental Justice and the Asian Judges Network on Environment (Network) and the convening of the Second Asian Judges Symposium on Environment at the Asian Development Bank are sending send strong signals that judicial activism in environmental cases will be a factor in pushing for a sustainable, just and safe millennium, amid the climate and governance challenges.

Peace and environmental justice are possible once our citizenry readily assume the responsibility to participate in decision-making, ensure that environmental laws are enforced, engage in partnerships and doing concrete actions to save our precious Mother Earth from the seemingly inexhaustible greed and selfishness of its destroyers and the apathy of many.

Indeed, selfless service is the best gift of all.