MANILA, May 14, 2009- Zero Waste activists, a prominent church leader, a distinguished public servant and pro-environment beauty titlists spoke as one in urging political parties and wannabees to think "green" as they woo the "pinoy" votes.
With just one year to go before the polls, Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, Jr. and Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rene Sarmiento joined the EcoWaste Coalition and the Miss Earth Foundation in exhorting all election stakeholders to heed the plea for reduced campaign on waste and pollution.
Together with the newly-crowned Miss Philippines-Earth 2009 winners, green-clad members of the EcoWaste Coalition launched the campaign for "Zero Waste 2010 Elections" in a simple ceremony held outside the Comelec headquarters in Intramuros, Manila on Wednesday.
"The changes that we seek in 2010 should also embrace efforts to green the electoral platforms and the way the massive campaign to entice voters is conducted," said Bishop Iñiguez, head of the Public Affairs Committee of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
"I'm happy to support the work of the EcoWaste Coalition and the Miss Earth Foundation to promote climate-friendly polls through ecological campaign practices, and I enjoin all democracy-loving Filipinos to go for clean and waste-free elections," he added.
Following the launch, the EcoWaste Coalition and the Miss Earth Foundation will reach out to all concerned parties, groups and personalities to ensure broad support for the green 2010 advocacy.
"We will forge links with all major election stakeholders, including the presidential candidates, and obtain their unity with our non-partisan advocacy that is solely in service of Mother Earth," said Rei Panaligan, Coordinator of EcoWaste Coalition.
"We also hope to raise and promote our green agenda at the proposed national summit of citizens' groups working for clean, honest and credible elections, which we support," he added.
Among those who graced the event were Miss Earth 2008 Karla Paula Henry, Miss Philippines-Earth 2009 Sandra Seifert, Miss Philippines-Ecotourism Adie Adelantar, Miss Philippines-Fire Patricia Marie Tumulak, Miss Philippines-Air Michelle Martha Braun, Miss Philippines-Water Catherine Loyola, and Miss Philippines-Earth finalist Kirstie Ann Babor.
Also joining the event were the representatives of Buklod Tao, Cavite Green Coalition Concerned Citizens Against Pollution, EARTH UST, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Krusada sa Kalikasan, Mother Earth Foundation, November 17 Movement, Sanib Lakas ng Inang Kalikasan, Zero Waste Recycling Movement of the Philippines and other green groups. (CBCPNews)