'Environmental Hero: Von Hernandez Essay\r'

'What do you do for the Earth? An surroundal zep is someone who aims to take healthy care of his environment and makes a large impression for the benefit of its generation and the generations to come. valor comes from someone who is ordinary, but actually does something more(prenominal) than someone who is capable. It is a deed that is altruistic that seeks to involve themselves with others’ troubles. Anyone could actually be an environmental hero as long as they have the desire to learn how to line up their goals in order to help cherish and prevent further damages to the environment caused by mankind, despite the circumstances. Moreover, an environmental hero is someone who goes tabu of his or her course to fight for what is right, no matter what the betting odds are. They are the ones who continue to empower others by advocating the resultant roles faced, helping flock around them to be aware of their concerns.\r\nVon Hernandez, current director of Greenpeace southeasterly Asia and recipient of the prestigious Goldman Environmental cherish in 2003, was recognized for his achievements in combating the environmental problems of the Philippines. He has been active in fleck for environmental rights since 1995 when he started written reporting with Greenpeace supra matter as coordinator for the environmental group’s toxics apparent motion in Asia. In the alike(p) year, Hernandez launched a c angstrom unitaign which revealed plans to set up emaciate incinerators to deal with the garbage problem coming from the rapidly growth cities in underpass manilla.\r\nIn this campaign, the economic loopholes forth from the environmental and health hazards from the process of incineration were exposed. As a result of this fight against the zealous of waste, in 1999, Hernandez helped make history as the Philippines became the first country in the worldly concern to dislodge waste incineration nationwide. He is answerable for the Philipp ines Clean Air Act of 1999 which is proscription waste incinerators that causes air pollution and military personnel health problems. Furthermore, he is also liable for surplus Management Act which requires the death penalty of segregating garbage properly nationwide.\r\nWaste judicature is a burgeoning problem in the Philippines particularly in Metro Manila. EcoWaste cited from the National impregnable Waste Management Commission that out of the 35,000 tons of waste the Philippines produces each daytime; 8,400 tons come from Metro Manila, chronicle for one-fourth of the country’s periodical output of solid waste. Currently, scarcely clubhouse have a solid waste management plan out of the 17 cities in Metro Manila and only about a third of the biodegradable wastes from the nine cities are being recycled into convert due to space constraints.\r\nThe continuing and growing problem regarding waste in Metro Manila led to the government’s attempt to adopt the i ncineration process in 1995, but fortunately, Hernandez along with his allies in the environmental movement made efforts to get the plan. Hernandez and company disseminated to the local communities the hazardous effectuate that waste incinerators will meet, which include the largest ascendent of hormone-disrupting dioxins, one of the most toxic chemicals know to science.\r\nAdditionally, the burn of waste also brings change contained with heavy metals, such as lead, arsenic trioxide and cadmium that could pollute groundwater for generations. Studies also examine that these chemicals are linked to human health problems such as birth defects, cancer, respiratory ailments and reproductive dysfunction among people who know near incineration plants. In keep to this, a recent report reveals that dioxins in the chest of drawers milk of Filipino women who resides near and work in the Payatas dumpsite to be super high as compared to the normal barrier set by the World health Or ganization (WHO).\r\nIn his fight against incineration, Hernandez helped the identification number to be brought into the national electoral issue in 1998. He helped in organizing raft protests, testified in hearings, arranged numerous lectures and a national habitual education campaign in the media to increase awareness of the public regarding the devastating health impacts of waste incineration and to bring to light other proven alternatives to burning waste. Hernandez gained widespread support for the campaign, including the support of the Catholic Church. Due to his ceaseless activism, he was continually attacked in the press by incineration effort lobbyists and government officials who supported incineration in order to protect their interests.\r\nHowever, despite the attacks and the immense support of international financial institutions like the Asian Development bank, the World Bank and the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation to continue to throw out incineration projects in the Philippines, Hernandez remains standing steady because of his love for the environment. Aside from his fight to ban incineration, he also leads in promoting light and green alternatives to waste incineration such as composting and recycling. Hernandez is also involved in non-homogeneous environmental initiatives and coalitions both at the national and international levels including the Global Anti-Incineration Alliance (GAIA), Waste Not Asia, Lakbay Kalikasan, the Ecowaste Coalition, the Sagip Pasig Movement, and the People’s designate Force for Bases Clean-up.\r\nVon Hernandez is, indeed, a hero that people should look up to. He changed the sentiment of society in order to blend in greener atmosphere. Because of him, laws were implemented that aims to promote a healthier place for people. By utter his mind, he saved thousands of lives from the exposure of evil chemicals. Even though he has standard threats from the opposing parties, he continues to do what he thinks is right. He is concerned for issues usually overlooked by the public. Truly, his strong character deserves to be applauded and recognized as a specimen for the green revolutionary era.\r\nReferences:\r\nEcoWaste statement on garbage along Roxas Blvd. in set off of Typhoon Gener | Community Bulletin Board | GMA discussion Online | The Go-To Site for Filipinos Everywhere. (2012, August 2). GMANetwork.com †Online home of the Kapuso Network. Retrieved kinfolk 25, 2012, from http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/267953/cbb/ecowaste-statement-on-garbage-along-roxas-blvd-in-wake-of-typhoon-gener\r\nGoldman Prize. (n.d.). Goldman Prize For goodness in Protecting the Environment. Retrieved November 26, 2012, from http://www.goldmanprize.org/2003/asia\r\nMariano, Dan.(2007, Oct 26).Filipino Environment Hero. The Manila Times, A4.\r\nhttp://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2518&dat=20071026&id=0pQ1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=9ScMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2468,18851050\r\n'