RAFI holds fora on Climate Change: Living on the Edge

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) will hold a two-part series of the Understanding Choices Forum on Oct. 29 and Nov. 15 at the Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center, Lopez Jaena St., Cebu City.

Dubbed as Living on the Edge Series: Climate Change Focus, these series of forums are designed to provide a venue to heighten awareness, deepen understanding, and inspire participation and action on climate change, one of the pressing issues affecting the world today.

On Oct. 29, the first part of the series entitled “Disaster-resilient Communities in a Changing Climate” will provide the participants with the knowledge on the current approaches in responding to the climate challenge—from innovating disaster-resilient building structures to building a responsive and resilient community to mitigate impacts of climate change.

Speakers of the first forum are Illac Diaz, a former actor- and model-turned social entrepreneur, urban green planner, and founder of My Shelter Foundation, and San Francisco, Camotes Island former Mayor and incumbent Vice Mayor Alfredo Arquillano.

Diaz will present his innovative design of disaster-resilient building structures that is not just green but can also withstand the harsh elements of nature consequent to the effects of climate change as well as the framework and design of a resilient community.

Arquillano will share the experience of San Francisco, Camotes Island in implementing climate and disaster risk reduction-oriented projects in the island. San Francisco, Camotes Island, Cebu is one of the 79 cities in the world that has adopted the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Making Cities Resilient Campaign.

On Nov. 15, RAFI will hold the second part of the Living on the Edge Series entitled “Climate Change and the Global Climate Change Politics,” which will highlight inputs from two international climate change negotiators for the Philippines, Atty. Antonio La Viña and Esperanza Garcia.

La Viña is the Dean of the Ateneo School of Government and Chairman of the United Nations Collaborative initiative on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation at United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conferences of Parties (UNFCC COP).

He will talk about the daunting issues of climate change and how we are affected at the recent ‘climate’ of the global climate politics, particularly on the global debates and related international initiatives and negotiations being marred with controversies from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Kyoto protocol to the UNFCCC-COP 15 in Copenhagen Denmark that ended in failure, and the upcoming COP16 in Cancun, Mexico.

Garcia, Founder of the Philippine Youth Climate Movement, Director of Global Warming & Climate Change Initiatives for the International Youth Council and Filipino Youth Delegate to the UNFCCC COP Conference will share her experience as a global climate youth leader, the initiatives undertaken by the rest of global youth leaders and the continuing challenges.

The Living on the Edge Series, which will start at 1 p.m., will facilitate an exchange of ideas, inputs, and experiences on climate change measures and advance a basic framework of action and inspire contribution towards climate change adaptation, mitigation, and disaster risk reduction.

Participants of the forum will include key people from government, civil society and the private sector. They will also include local chief executives, local planners, members of the academe, youth sector, media, business sector, non-government organizations, and other public sector organizations, among others.

The two fora are open to the public and do not require any registration fees. Participation will be on a first-come first-serve basis.

The Understanding Choices Forum is a Knowledge Sharing & Advocacy capability of RAFI, one of the four capabilities in RAFI’s comprehensive approach to elevating lives and communities. Its other capabilities include Grants & Awards, Institutional Development & Planning, and Services & Facilities, which contribute to delivering the programs under the five focus areas—Integrated Development, Culture & Heritage, Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship, Leadership & Citizenship, and Education—of RAFI.

For more information about the fora, or to register, contact Catherine Margate at 418-7234 local 105.

Pledge to be Green Online

Pledge to be Green Online. A campaign of Ayala Malls via Greenology. Make your pledge online and have a chance to win exciting prizes! Do your own Pledge to be green online now!

EARTHDANCE Cebu 2010

This september, there will be a BIG Environmental Event which is Cebu EARTHDANCE 2010! The EARTHDANCE Cebu 2010 is one of the special Events in Cebu that aims to be a Global Festival for Peace and the Environment. In this local-global event, in 500 locations and 80 countries, EARTHDANCE will happen.

This Earthdance, a World Event, will be held on September 18-19, 2010 in Family Park Cebu City! If you attend Earthdance 2010, you will get to experience and know more about bike rally, environmental exhibits, green products, martial arts, yoga, art workshops, drum circles, massage, delicious whole foods, and much more!

About Earthdance:

A Global Collaboration Since 1997
Earthdance is the world's largest synchronized music and dance festival for peace. Since its inception, Earthdance has been held annually in over 500 locations in 80 countries with all events simultaneously joining together in the Prayer for Peace – a powerful moment of coherent intention. Each public Earthdance event commits 50% of its profits to a charity that falls into one of the following categories:

The Welfare of Children and Urban Youth
Indigenous Peoples and Cultures
International Relief and Development
Environmental Sustainability and Protection
Organizations that Promote Peace

Know more HERE!

Aboitiz Race to Reduce Challenge!

The “race for the next gen” is part of the Aboitiz Group’s information campaign on its sustainability efforts. “We are not just promoting a healthy lifestyle, we want to leave a good home for the next generation,” said Sebastian Lacson, Aboitiz Equity Ventures Chief Reputation Officer.

Aboitiz companies groupwide are participating in an ongoing Race to Reduce Challenge, which encourages employees to reduce their consumption of power, water, and paper. During the Aboitiz Group simultaneous nationwide tree planting in October 2010, a tree will be planted on behalf of every runner who participated in the race.

The Aboitiz Race to Reduce Challenge: A Race for the Next Gen is also a fund-raising project for the Aboitiz Annual Christmas Outreach to be held in the first week of December. During this event, employees spend time with less fortunate children to spread Christmas cheer and joy.

Aboitiz Race to Reduce Details and Online Registration details:
Starting Gun Time: 5:30 am (21K); 5:45 am (10K) and 6:00 am (5K & 3K)
Registration Period: July12- August 14, 2010
Fees: 21K w/ timing chips - P450; 10K w/ Timing Chips - P350; 5K & 3K - P250
Click here for ONLINE REGISTRATION.

Manual Registration are also done on Runnr in Ayala Center Cebu, VECO in SM, Casa Ilongga in Robinson's Fuente, Cebu City Sports Complex - Abellana, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Office. Distribution of Race Kits, Race Singlets and Race Bib will be at The Persimmon Plus, Mabolo, Cebu City from August 16 - 21, 2010.

Race for the NextGen: Aboitiz Race to Reduce Challenge is posted through the Event Geek's Effort for a better world, one special, local, cebu event at a time.

SM Eco Bags 2010 Launched!

SM City Cebu, simultaneously with all the other SM malls in the Philippines launched last August 6, 2010, the second edition of SM's New line of Eco Bags! The new set comes in 4 collectible designs that depict the different elements of the earth - Fire (Spark), Water (Flow), Breathe (Air) and Earth (Renew).

The new designs deliver the environmental message with a more interesting look. It has adopted a more contemporary and a more collectible design that appeals to a younger market, while still maintaining its multi-functional form and, more importantly, promotes love for Mother Earth.

SM recognizes the important role of the youth in nation-building and through the new eco bags, the company hopes to imbibed in the four simple philosophies: Renew, Spark, Flow and Breathe - simple works that inspire a life change. RENEW our earth by reducing our waste. SPARK a revolution for smarter energy. Let's make our water FLOW with life. Let's BREATHE clean, pristine air once again.

Buy your very own SM Eco Bag today!

R.O.X's Bike Out! Save the Earth.Ride a Bike

R.O.X's Bike Out! Save the Earth, Ride a Bike is part of the Bike Fest in the Active Zone Ayala Center Cebu happening from June 18-20.

R.O.X. (Recreational Outdoor eXchange) and the Active Zone of Ayala Center Cebu brings you Bike Out - A 16km Tour around Cebu City with the catchphrase Save the Earth. Ride a Bike. By June 20, 2010 R.O.X Bike Out! Save the Earth, Ride a Bike will kick off at 6:00 am at the Active Zone Entrance.

Invite your friends and family members as well. Bring your bike and helmet. R.O.X organized their own bike trip after the affair and take lunch out. Registration is free. The 1st 100 Registrants get a free t-shirt from R.O.X.

Register at R.O.X. Cebu - G/F Active Zone. For further information, contact the store at 032 - 4126247 / 032 - 2346003. Join R.O.X Bike Out! Save the Earth, Ride a Bike now!

Cebu Business Month Green Expo

This Green Expo in Cebu will bring together multiple if not all sectors of the industry and of the government. The Cebu Business Month Green Expo will attract sectors such as local and international shareholders, government and other organizations.

The Cebu Business Month Green Expo which shall offer opportunity to learn more about green products and services all under one venue. The Green Expo Cebu will be on June 22, 2010 - June 24, 2010 starting from 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m at the CICC (Cebu International Convention Center).

Kudos to the organizers Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry as they try to share and adopt a more active stance in the promotion of sustainable business practices. The Go Green Expo will show a wide array of eco-friendly products, services and technologies will be on display in one hall for three days. Shown below is an overview of the Go Green Expo:

*Green Entrepreneurship - will showcase micro, small and medium enterprises, cooperatives from government and nongovernment organizations, as well as international companies to boost their products such as jewelry, handicrafts and furniture using renewable materials in line with the growing green architecture and design in the world.

*Green Tourism - will display products and services from hotels and resorts, spas, restaurants, culinary arts, sports and adventures, green architectures, as well as products from the different municipalities of Cebu.

*Green is IT!- will showcase computer software and peripherals, telecommunication, IT service, e-logistics and retail technology, among others.

All this, only in Cebu through the Cebu Business Month's Go Green Expo!

Scorching Weather, Health Danger & power crisis in cebu

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in Mactan recorded a temperature of 37 degrees Celsius last Monday—just as residents had to deal with extended power cuts.

Add to that a power supply shortage in the Cebu which make things more scorching hot. As reported locally, since May 20, temperatures have been climbing, from 34.4 degrees Celsius to 36 degrees Celsius. And now 37 degrees @_@

The Department of Health (DOH) issued a statement that reiterated its call for the public to protect themselves from the heat to avoid suffering ailments, like heat stroke so that public needs to take precautions. Avoid being outdoors or direct exposure to the sun, especially during mid-morning until mid-afternoon.

We should also bring umbrellas or any protective gear and drinking water to avoid being dehydrated while traveling. And not to mention our Dams and plants are suffering too, why not make a greenhouse for them? These things could have been mitigated if all of us not just the government proactively prepare for such things and not just always be reactive.