No Law to Allow the Sale, Rape, and Murder of Mother Earth

[Andrea Lizares Si (HS'73,AB '78)]

A feminist view of the PNOC-EDC geothermal development of our natural park. By Andrea Lizares Si, Counsel of the Coalition to Save Mt. Kanlaon

In the past, the earth was seen as an object that existed for the comfort and convenience of the human being. The earth was like a car. It was there to serve. It had no life of its own and it had no rights. To a certain extent, you can replace car parts when they break down. Likewise, it was believed that you could cut trees and replant, mine for resources underground, move mountains, and the earth wouldn't be any worse for these.

Now we know better. Today, we suffer from floods, super typhoons, long droughts, pollution, strong earthquakes, climate change, diseases that no matter how far medical science advances, are always a step ahead. Once fertile lands are no longer productive because they have been overused for agriculture and poisoned with chemicals. Waters once teeming with fish and marine life are now barren and in many places, dead. And where the earth gets sick or dies, people get sick and die. There is no changing the equation.

So now we know what tribal people who live close to the earth and are sensitive to its rhythms know. The earth is a living being and our lives are intertwined with hers. And since it is the earth that gives us life and sustains life (you can say God through the earth), it is no wonder that we say "Mother Earth."

The earth and all living creatures on earth, not just humans, not just higher forms of animal or plant species, creatures, whether they breathe or not, have a right to be (ex., the mountain to be a mountain, the river to be a river, the sea to be a sea), and it is not our almighty prerogative as men to decide that we can change the landscape or the populations and species of animals and plants as we please.

Do you know that the way people tend to treat the earth as an object to do with as they please is also the way men thought they had a right to treat women as objects to do with as they pleased? For many generations, it was believed that women were created for no other purpose except to be man's helper, at the same time, the ones who would give men comfort and pleasure. That's why it was so easy for men to abuse, batter, rape, buy and sell, and kill women. And as woman was created for man's pleasure, if the woman no longer pleased the man, it was understandable if the man satisfied himself with another woman. After all, objects are replaceable and they have no rights.

When we see that the earth is truly our mother and that our lives and well-being are intertwined with hers, we should know that absolutely nothing justifies our raping, mutilating, or killing our mother even a little at a time (like PNOC-EDC is asking for only 12.5 hectares of 24,000 plus hectares). And of course, no mother is for sale even in the name of progress and development and even if there is a law that allows the sale, mutilation and rape of mothers.

[Emman Carmona]

Dear Ms. Andrea Lizares,

Still remember me? You were our class adviser of the incredible 3rd year Ruby class. I know that you were probably nodding your head in disbelief to our vibrant energies and mischiefs at that time. But whatever has transpired---all I can say is that I have enjoyed every minute of that year with my classmates. It was the skool bukol generation growing up in the sheltered walls of LCC while outside a battle is raging for change.

I'm very glad and very happy that the coalition to Save Mt. Kanlaon continues the struggle to oppose PNOC's intrusion into Mt. Kanlaon. I am very proud that you are the legal counsel of the coalition. This invaluable watershed should be protected for future generations to enjoy it's bounty.

I have been away for a long time. I read via internet some local dailies and hear from friends about PNOC's grand designs. It has been a long and protracted struggle by non-government organizations especially Green Alert to raise the level of consciousness of the Negrenses about PNOC's plans first in the Patag area in Silay and then to Mt. Kanlaon. The seed has been planted and whatever sectors that has further coalesced up to this point is a testament to a multi-sectoral movement that will endure and continue.

On a macro-level this issue is about the continuing national energy agenda of previous administrations, including the current administration, for power generation. Whatever power is generated will feed the energy needs of industrial centers in other parts of the country. Does Negros Occ. have an economic plan of building up industries to harness this power? I think there is no such economic plan. (Forgive me with my limited information in this area). Whatever electricity generated will not translate to lower electricity cost to consumers even in areas where the plant will be located. Consumers will be at the dictates of prevailing market forces as PNOC will sell its energy to NAPOCOR, NAPOCOR in turn will sell electricity to CENECO.

If we don't want this energy plan by PNOC what is the alternative energy generation plan? The coalition, I presume would have such in mind. An alternative energy generation plan that will focus on renewable sources of energy. The full development and utilization of ethanol? The use of existing industries that can sell it's surplus power to consumers in areas where they are located ( sugar centrals).

There are various potential sources of energy that can be harnessed without destroying a part of Mt. Kanlaon no matter how small is the area to be used. Mt, Kanlaon is an already degraded ecosystem, any further development will only accelerate it's destruction.

Power to you and Power to the Save Mt. Kanlaon Coalition!



Emman Carmona
Your student