Environment

Philippines: ‘Rice Deities’ Descend on Agriculture Department, Demand Protection from GMO Rice Threat

Manila, 16 April 2007–Greenpeace activists dressed to symbolize the
bul-ul, a traditional Ifugao rice guardian, carried out a sit-in protest
at the Department of Agriculture?s (DA) doorsteps in Quezon City today.
The peaceful action was meant to tell the DA to act on its mandate to
protect the country’s food supply, in this case against looming GMO rice
(genetically-modified rice) threat posed by the agency’s pending
decision on GMO rice Bayer LL62.

As part of the protest, the activists also displayed a banner with the
message “Keep our rice GMO-free!” and delivered a bul-ul carving to DA
Secretary Arthur Yap’s office to remind him daily of the DA’s important
role in watching over the country?s precious rice supply. The bul-ul,
Greenpeace says, also symbolizes how this grain is inextricably linked
to our culture and way of life, and should serve to remind us how GMO
rice must never become a reality in the Philippines.

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Philippines: Probe on $6 Million DENR Air Monitoring Network Project Sought

KALIKASAN-PNE
KALIKASAN? PEOPLES NETWORK FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
26 Matulungin St. Central District, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel./Fax; +63 (2) 924-8756; E-mail: kalikasan.pne@gmail.com

PRESS RELEASE
April 14, 2007

Probe on $6 million DENR Air Monitoring Network Project sought
Re-electionist administration solon among those in hot water

Environmental activists today urged a government probe on a $6 million air pollution monitoring project between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and a private joint venture, expressing grave concern over highly-questionable transactions and suspicious actions of senior government officials, including DENR Secretary Angelo Reyes and a prominent administration congressman.

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Davao: Mountaineer?s Death a Blunder of DOT, PAMB

DAVAO CITY — A mountaineering group said the fate of Ian Caasi, the mountain climber who drowned at Mt. Apo?s Lake Venado during the observation of the Holy Week, exposes the absence of concrete policies for the safety of mountain climbers and Mt. Apo visitors.

Jumar Bolo, chairperson of the Kinaiyahan Amomahon, Ubanan ug Bantayan (Kauban) Movement, said the death of Caasi could have been avoided had the tourism department, the primary agency responsible for inviting people to climb Mt. Apo, set-up safety measures which could have assured the safety of the mountaineers.

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Philippines: Ornusa Cadness, Borgy Manotoc Turn Into Tigers in New PETA Anti-Captivity Ad

For Immediate Release:
April 13, 2007
Contact:
Jason Baker 0919 531 8314; JasonB@peta.org
Rochelle Regodon 0920 497 4679; RochelleR@peta.org

ORNUSA CADNESS AND BORGY MANOTOC TURN INTO ?TIGERS? IN NEW PETA ANTI-CAPTIVITY AD
Sexy Models Want Fans to Know That Wild Animals Don?t Belong in Zoos

Manila ? Posing in a jungle setting with their naked bodies covered only with painted-on tiger stripes next to the tagline ?Even the Wildest Animals Don?t Belong in Zoos,? top Filipino models Ornusa Cadness and Borgy Manotoc appear together in the first of a series of three ads for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Asia-Pacific. Local postcard advertising company YOCard has printed 10,000 postcards of the ad and is now offering them at various restaurants, bars, bookstores, and cultural areas around the metro free of charge. The couple also stars individually in print ads with the tagline ?Keep Wild Animals Free?Boycott the Zoo.? The ads were shot by ace photographer and PETA volunteer Xander Angeles. Indie film luminary Dante Mendoza donated his services to create the amazing set, and Leo Posadas was behind the makeup for the shoot.

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