Environmental Hero: Von Hernandez Essay

What do you do for the Earth? An environmental hero is mortal who aims to take good care of his environment and makes a great impression for the benefit of its generation and the generations to catch. resolution comes from someone who is ordinary, but real does something more than someone who is capable. It is a deed that is selfless that seeks to involve themselves with others problems. Anyone could actually be an environmental hero as long as they have the desire to learn how to conform their goals in order to help protect and prevent further damages to the environment caused by mankind, disrespect the circumstances. Moreover, an environmental hero is someone who goes out of his or her way 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 issues faced, helping people around them to be aware of their concerns.Von Hernandez, up-to-date director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia and recipient of the pr estigious Goldman Environmental Prize in 2003, was recognized for his achievements in combating the environmental problems of the Philippines. He has been active in fighting for environmental rights since 1995 when he started working with Greenpeace Inter study as coordinator for the environmental groups toxics campaign in Asia. In the same year, Hernandez launched a campaign which revea direct plans to set up expend incinerators to deal with the garbage problem coming from the rapidly growing cities in underground Manila.In this campaign, the economic loopholes aside from the environmental and wellness hazards from the process of incineration were exposed. As a result of this fight against the eager of waste, in 1999, Hernandez helped make history as the Philippines became the first country in the world to ban waste incineration nationwide. He is responsible for the Philippines Clean Air Act of 1999 which is banning waste incinerators that causes air pollution and human beings health problems. Furthermore, he is also responsible for Waste Management Act which requires the implementation of segregating garbage powerful nationwide.Waste disposal is a burgeoning problem in the Philippines especially in Metro Manila. EcoWaste cited from the National satisfying Waste Management Commission that out of the 35,000 tons of waste the Philippines produces each day 8,400 tons come from Metro Manila, accounting for one-fourth of the countrys daily output of solid waste. Currently, only ball club 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.The continuing and growing problem regarding waste in Metro Manila led to the governments attempt to adopt the incineration process in 1995, but fortunately, Hernandez on with his allies in the environmental movement made efforts to stop the plan. Hernandez and company disse minated to the local communities the hazardous effects that waste incinerators result bring, which include the largest source of hormone-disrupting dioxins, one of the most toxic chemicals known to science.Additionally, the burning of waste also brings change contained with heavy metals, such as lead, arsenic and cadmium that could pollute groundwater for generations. Studies also show that these chemicals are conjugate to human health problems such as birth defects, cancer, respiratory ailments and reproductive dysfunction among people who spicy near incineration plants. In support to this, a recent report reveals that dioxins in the breast milk of Philippine women who resides near and work in the Payatas dumpsite to be extremely high as compared to the normal fasten set by the World Health Organization (WHO).In his fight against incineration, Hernandez helped the issue to be brought into the national electoral issue in 1998. He helped in organizing mass protests, testified i n hearings, arranged numerous lectures and a national public 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 industry lobbyists and government officials who back up incineration in order to protect their interests.However, 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 promote incineration projects in the Philippines, Hernandez remains standing still because of his love for the environment. Aside from his fight to ban incineration, he also leads in promoting piece and green alternatives to waste inci neration such as composting and recycling. Hernandez is also involved in various environmental initiatives and coalitions two 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 Peoples confinement Force for Bases Clean-up.Von Hernandez is, indeed, a hero that people should look up to. He changed the perspective of society in order to live in greener atmosphere. Because of him, laws were implemented that aims to promote a healthier place for people. By speech production his mind, he saved thousands of lives from the exposure of harmful chemicals. Even though he has received threats from the opposing parties, he continues to do what he thinks is right. He is concerned for issues usually unnoticed by the public. Truly, his strong character deserves to be applauded and recognized as a model for the green revolutionary era.ReferencesEcoWaste stateme nt on garbage along Roxas Blvd. in wake of Typhoon Gener Community Bulletin Board GMA News Online The Go-To Site for Filipinos Everywhere. (2012, August 2). GMANetwork.com Online home of the Kapuso Network. Retrieved family line 25, 2012, from http//www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/267953/cbb/ecowaste-statement-on-garbage-along-roxas-blvd-in-wake-of-typhoon-generGoldman Prize. (n.d.). Goldman Prize For Excellence in Protecting the Environment. Retrieved November 26, 2012, from http//www.goldmanprize.org/2003/asiaMariano, Dan.(2007, Oct 26).Filipino Environment Hero. The Manila Times, A4.http//news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2518&dat=20071026&id=0pQ1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=9ScMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2468,18851050