CONFIRM GINA LOPEZ AS PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENT CHIEF

By Bayawanon

Regina "Gina" La'o Lopez belongs to the one of the most illustrious, affluent and respected families of the Philippines, the Lopez family being a business and political family of the country. Her family is the owner of many companies in the Philippines like the ABS-CBN, Maynilad, Meralco, University of Iloilo to name a few. Despite her being a part of a very affluent family she had chosen to serve the community and humanity for free.

She went to Africa to serve the poor people there as a part of her social responsibility. She came back to the Philippines to extend her advocacy to a wider extent by becoming an environmentalist by way of heading the cleaning of the Pasig River through the Save the Pasig River Project, by leading the preservation of the last watershed of Metro Manila through the Save the La Mesa Dam Program and by espousing opposition to irresponsible mining in the paradise island of Palawan via the Save Palawan Movement.

These social responsibilities and environmental advocacies of Gina Lopez are so commendable and I believe that she deserves a Magsaysay or a Nobel Award for environmental advocacy for her dedication to balance environment with modernism, not to mention the fact that she was doing such super tasks for free.

Gina Lopez would have dedicated herself in their family businesses and earn hundreds of millions instead of serving the society for free. Her perks and income at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as of the moment are just minute or so small compared to what she would have earned on possible corporate gains she may have had she decided to stay in the corporate world.

She would not have made numerous opponents because of her opposition to irresponsible mining and she would have enjoyed a blissful and peaceful life had she not accepted the environment portfolio from the president of the republic. Secretary Lopez would have enough privacy and would have not have problems regarding public office had she chose to be a private person and not the other way around. Such selfless acts are considered as patriotism and the same deserves a retribution from the state.

By virtue of the foregoing rationales, it is but normal and fitting for the Commission on Appointments of both the Senate and the House to confirm Secretary Gina La'o Lopez since she is a gem that the Filipino people and the Philippine Republic can seldom see and discover for their betterment as a people and as a country.

IS SHOOTING WAR BETWEEN THE INTERNATIONAL HEGEMONS IN THE OFFING?

By Bayawanon

The South China Sea does not belong to anyone since it is considered as international waters, because it is classified as international waters every foreign vessel has the right to navigate it. China has long been flexing her muscles on the South China Sea by way of annexing islands being claimed by small neighboring countries at the Spratly group of islands which lie on the said disputed sea. Because of China's domination over the said waters, it seems like she already personally own the same therefore undermining the freedom of navigation of international vessels under different foreign flags.

The international community knows that the Philippines won a legal battle over China in the International Arbitration on the Law of the Seas thereby rendering the claims of China over the said disputed waters moot and academic, but China continues her arrogance by not honoring the judgment of the international arbiters and by relying solely on its super power status as a matter of fact its navy continually patrols the Spratlys and the aforementioned international disputed waters.

In view of this development, it is very clear that the freedom of navigation of many countries which indulge in commerce are highly affected, hence the freedom of navigation and to indulge in international business by some big countries to name a few like the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, India, Britain, the European Union, etc.,etc. are clearly affected since the Chinese Coastguard and Navy are unequivocally and clearly acting as the international traffic policeman of the said waters.

The economy of the countries plying by way of the South China Sea are clearly affected because of the show of force China is imposing thereat and for them to regain the status quo, they have to ask China to respect International Law and the ruling of the International Arbitral Court of the Law of the Sea IN RE : China vs. the Philippines. Just recently the United States is asking China to respect the same internationally recognized statute and ruling or suffer the consequences of her defiance of such law and decision.

In conjunction to this we should collectively pray that China must follow the internationally accepted principles of the United Nations since the United States and her allies may declare war against her on the grounds being taken and discussed above. We must firmly pray that China will soon step aside her so-called rights over the above-mentioned international waters for her insistence to lord over the South China Sea may result to a shooting war between her and the United States, the two leading HEGEMONS on planet Earth which can be also be a torch for a possible Third World War.

Why I create pop-up farms in my city | Roman Gaus | TEDxZurich

Urban agriculture has been real for decades, starting with the industrialization of Western Europe in the 20th century. Urban agriculture has been also well practiced in poor economies such as Cuba, where it serves as an important way of self-reliance. Today, with conventional agriculture "Big Ag" being at a cross-road in terms of its ecological impact on the environment and the increased food demand of a population growing to 9bn people by 2050, urban agriculture may very well be one key of a solution for the 21st century. As Roman explains, urban agriculture offers the solution to grow potentially enough food in the city to feed its entire population. What's more, it also creates healthier, wealthier and happier cities, offering consumers with fresh & quality food choices and access to better quality of life.

Roman Gaus, Founder of Urban Farmers

Roman Gaus (32)- from corporate career to social entrepreneur & urban farmer. Roman's story is both fascinating and inspiring. When Roman returned from the States to Switzerland, he left a short but steep career with companies such as Procter & Gamble, Novartis and Franke Group. Yet, he brought with him an emerging concept about inner-city farming, which he had seen take a grass roots approach in US cities. Back in Switzerland, Roman was surprised by the proven, Swiss-engineered technology know-how of Aquaponic; a combination of fish and vegetable farming, ideally suited to grow locally grown & organic food without soil in the city -- the idea behind Urban Farmers was born. Determined to drive economic, social and ecological impact, Roman is now founder & CEO of Urban Farmers AG, a pioneering Spin-off from the University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) in Wädenswil that aims to bring sustainable urban agricultural practices into cities of the 21st century.

Web: urbanfarmers.ch -- Twitter: @UrbanFarmersCH

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

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