Filipino Star - November 2010 Issue

More documents

Recommendations

Info

6 Dear EarthTalk: Merino wool undergarments tout themselves as being kinder to the environment than other wools or synthetics. How is this so? -- Stella Cooley, Bangor, ME Since the 1970s, professional athletes and weekend warriors alike have sworn by base layers made out of synthetic “fibers” that would let sweat-based moisture escape, dry fast and be easy to care for. But such garments don’t come without trade-offs: They tend to get stinky when mixed with bodily odors and, like so many modern technological marvels, are derived from petroleum. Merino woolbased garments function just as well or better—and without the olfactory stigma or carbon footprint increase. The soft and pliable cousin to the traditional wool our grandparents wore, Merino wool is revolutionizing outdoor wear while helping manufacturers and consumers lower their impact on the environment. This natural fiber, derived from Merino sheep in New Zealand, is soft on the skin, wicks sweat effectively, dries out quickly, is naturally odor-resistant—and is machine-washable to boot. And since Merino can be easily spun into different weights, it is used in a wide variety of clothing types (underwear, shirts, coats) making it a natural choice for layering. Some of the leaders in the Merino underwear revolution include Ibex Outdoor Clothing, SmartWool and Patagonia, each which sources its wool through Zque, a New Zealand-based certification for Merino producers that adheres to a strict set of sustainability and ethical treatment standards. Qualifying ranches must feed their sheep natural grass and spring water and maintain a low “head-to-hectare” ratio. Upwards of 170 New Zealand Merino ranches have been certified accordingly by Zque as “ethical wool” producers. Unhappy with synthetic base layers that made him “sweat like a gorilla,” cross-country skiing enthusiast John Fernsell teamed up with sheep farmer and mountaineer Peter Helmetag to start Ibex in 1997. “Everything looked the same and didn’t work,” says Fernsell. “It was all either Gore-Tex or polyester fleece.” The duo set out to find a better choice. With its inherent functionality, style, comfort and sustainability, Merino emerged the victor. Today Ibex sells several different cuts of Merino wool undergarments, including a line of underwear for men and women, long johns for men and women, and boxers for men. SmartWool, better known for its Merino socks, also makes highly regarded Merino undergarments, such as the mens’ Microweight Boxer Brief and three long johns for men and women of varying weights. Patagonia also sells a full line of Merino under- and outerwear. Additionally, many more companies have jumped on the Merino bandwagon, so consumers interested in trying it out now have more styles and varieties than ever to choose from. These products are available directly from the manufacturers’ websites or through outdoor retailers including REI. While Merino undergarments have a lot going for them, they are still expensive compared to the alternatives. But Merino converts insist that the rugged material lasts much longer than synthetic or cotton The North American Filipino Star Merino wool, derived from Merino sheep in New Zealand and produced under a strict set of sustainability and ethical treatment standards, is revolutionizing outdoor wear while helping manufacturers and consumers lower their impact on the environment.” (Rae Allen, courtesy Flickr.) clothing without sacrificing comfort, style or fit. Scratchy old wool has come a long way indeed. CONTACTS: Ibex Outdoor Clothing, www.ibexwear.com; Patagonia, www.patagonia.com; SmartWool, www.smartwool.com; Zque, www.zque.co.nz; REI, www.rei.com. Dear EarthTalk: What is the U.S. military doing to reduce its carbon footprint and generally green its operations? -- Anthony Gomez, New York, NY As the world’s largest polluter, the U.S. military has its work cut out for it when it comes to greening its operations. According to the nonprofit watchdog group, Project Censored, American forces generate some 750,000 tons of toxic waste annually—more than the five largest U.S. chemical companies combined. Although this pollution occurs globally on U.S. bases in dozens of countries, there are tens of thousands of toxic “hot spots” on some 8,500 military properties right here on America soil. “Not only is the military emitting toxic material directly into the air and water,” reports Project Censored, “it’s poisoning the land of nearby communities, resulting in increased rates of cancer, kidney disease, increasing birth defects, low birth weight and miscarriage.” The non-profit Military Toxics Project is working with the U.S. government to identify problem sites and educate neighbors about the risks. Meanwhile, the U.S. military manages 25 million acres of land that provides habitat for some 300 threatened or endangered species. The military has harmed endangered animal populations by bomb tests (and been sued for it), reports Project Censored, and military testing of lowfrequency underwater sonar technology www.filipinostar.org has been implicated in the stranding deaths of whales worldwide. Despite being linked to such problems, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has repeatedly sought exemptions from Congress for compliance with federal laws including the Migratory Bird Treaties Act, American forces generate some 750,000 tons of toxic waste annually - more than the five largest U.S. chemical companies combined. Although this pollution occurs globally in dozens of countries, there are tens of thousands of toxic “hot spots” on some 8,500 military properties right here on America (Photodisc) the Wildlife Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. It’s unclear whether the U.S. military is taking heed of criticisms in regard to pollution and endangered species management, but it is undoubtedly concerned about climate change, as its effects on the environment could lead to unprecedented natural resource wars and mass migrations of people. And reducing our reliance on potentially hostile foreign oil sources is a short term national security imperative as well. A recent Obama administration directive calls for the DoD to draw 20 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2020. Nikihl Sonnad of the GreenFuelSpot website reports that the Army and Air Force are planning to include solar arrays on several bases in sunny western states. The Air Force is also building the nation’s largest biomass energy plants in Florida and Georgia, and the Navy is building three large geothermal energy plants and funding research into extracting energy from ocean waves. Some of the military’s R&D into renewables is for battlefield applications. Outfitting troops with the capability to produce their own on-site power from solar and wind sources not only makes sourcing oil less of a necessity but also should serve to reduce casualties from fuel transport operations. Over 1,000 American troops have lost their lives delivering fuel in the past few years alone (in part because enemy combatants often use fuel trucks as attack targets), says Sonnad. Elisabeth Rosenthal reports in nOVEMBER 2010 The New York Times that “there is great hope that some of the renewable energy technology being developed for battle will double back and play a role in civilian life.” She adds that the armed forces have enough purchasing power to create genuine markets in the non-military world. CONTACTS: Project Censored, www.projectcensored.org; U.S. DoD, www.defense.gov; Military Toxics Project, www.stopmilitarytoxics.org/about.html; GreenFuelSpot, www.greenfuelspot.com. SEND YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS TO: EarthTalk®, c/o E – The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; earthtalk@emagazine.com. E is a nonprofit publication. Subscribe: www.emagazine.com/subscribe; Request a Free Trial Issue: ww.emagazine.com/trial. Announcing RARE’s most ambitious project ever: Our Threatened Oceans and How We’re Working to Save Them; Empowering Sustainable Fishing in The Coral Triangle, Global Epicenter of Marine Biodiversity “Fisheries management around the world has failed. We now have the capacity to catch the last fish, the last whale, the last dolphin, the lastshell.” --Stuart Green, Director, Philippines Program for Rare FACT: We’ve already eaten more than 90% of our big fish. FACT: 50% of our coral reefs are gone. FACT: We’re currently using 30% of the ocean’s life just to eat seafood. FACT: Only .8% of our oceans are protected, while 12% of our land is. FAC T: The experts agree that Marine Protected Areas and ‘No Take Zones’ (where fishing is not permitted and the local people themselves patrol the watera) can help preserve the world's fisheries. FACT: Marine Protected Areas near human populations will only work if the local inhabitants are inspired and receive benefits. (Arlington, Va.; October 7, 2010) “Terrestrial conservation has made incredible advances in the past few decades. More than 10 percent of land is now under some form of protection. The marine world, however, has a long way to go,” says Brett Jenks, CEO of the global environmental organization,
nOVEMBER 2010 The North American Filipino Star 7 RARE (www.RareConservation.org). Jenks goes on to explain, “With less than 1 percent of the world’s oceans protected, marine conservationists are going to have to work quickly and creatively to catch up.” Rare –the Arlington, Va. nonprofit with a successful track record in over 50 richly bio-diverse countries, to date—has now announced its most ambitious project yet: A $7 million, multi-year marine conservation program to reduce overfishing at 22 sites across the Coral Triangle – a vast region in Southeast Asia that is considered to be the global epicenter of marine biodiversity (with additional projects launching in Mexico and Central America). Jenks says, “We believe our winning formula will create jobs, ensure food supplies and make coastal communities more resilient to climate change, because it protects reefs and reproduction areas.” As part of this initiative, twelve distinguished, charismatic community leaders in the Philippines have been chosen to inspire and enable sustainable local solutions in their country. Work in the Philippines officially launched in September with the arrival of these community leaders to Washington, DC for nine weeks of intensive training from leading experts on MPA management, social marketing, and community mobilization. Over the next two years, these individuals will embark upon a journey to raise awareness of overfishing in their country and build support for effective Marine Protected Area management. Their campaigns are aimed to empower local communities to better manage their fisheries and participate in guarding the nation’s Marine Protected Areas (which are some of the world’s most important and numerous). Rare’s goal is to take the most effective no-take zone models (the “bright spots” Rare has identified across the globe) and replicate these community-managed zones at dozens of sites in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, and the Meso-American Reef. Brett Jenks concludes, “The world’s leading marine scientists and agencies are in agreement that the best proven marine conservation strategy is no-take zones. It’s exciting to consider what might actually happen if all these NGOs, scientists, and private sector folks mobilized around a big hairy audacious goal – like preserving 20 percent of the world’s oceans through notake zones – and developed a business plan to get us there. For now, I’m proud to say Rare is doing its part to support such a plan.” About Rare: RARE is the leader in social and behavioral change for conservation -- with a successful track record in more than 50 countries to date. The non-profit, based in Arlington, Virginia, trains and supports leaders from the world’s top environmental organizations, local grassroots groups, and governments. Rare’s campaigns have influenced more than 6.8 million people living in over 2,400 remote communities. Many of the world’s largest conservation groups, as well as nations in the developing world, have requested Rare’s services to help build stronger local community support for their work. They include The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, Birdlife International, National Audubon Society, the United Nations Environment Programme, the national governments of China, Mexico, Peru, Indonesia, and many others. Rare has been cited as one of Fast Company magazine’s Top Social Entrepreneurs four years in a row. Learn more at www.rareconservation.org and www.rareplanet.org. From Page 5 Any Which Way on me, wouldn’t you? You know, Fraud, you’re becoming too predictable already. ANOTHER RED HERRING FROM FRAUD — Fraud had no comments about my story that the Ogerio sisters had committed fraud, and des Parado had no transparency. Instead, he retaliated by publicizing my personal life. That’s what journalists call a “red herring,” something that draws attention away from the central issue. Although Fraud’s spiteful revelation of my infidelity came like a dark cloud hanging over me at the outset, I was still able to see a silver lining behind it. In fact, I now consider it a blessing in disguise. So instead of fuming, I am now thanking him for it because he has put me – inadvertently (or stupidly?), I am sure – in a better position to expose his hypocrisy and to disclose without any qualm that members of his family are not what he makes them out to be. TRUE FILIPINO CRAB – That’s the new title Fraud has given me in addition to “King of Comedy.” He wrote: “He’s a true Filipino crab who’s out to pull the Magallaneses down, denigrating them rather than letting them get ahead. That’s ill will at another’s good fortune.” [Page 28, September 16-October15, 2010 Edition, Filipino Forum] Good fortune? What good fortune? No matter how much I cudgel my brains, I cannot think of any good fortune that Fraud has ever had except, perhaps, being married to a woman who is willing to support a lazy bum and freeloader. Hoping that they knew, I asked many Filipinos in Montreal what good fortune Magallanes had. Unfortunately, they couldn’t cite any either. At any rate, is it good fortune to be booted out of the College of Law of the University of the Philippines after just one semester for not meeting the minimum grade requirement? Is it good fortune to be evicted from his apartment several times for his inability to pay his rent? Is it good fortune to resort to outright lying if only to pass himself up as a person of many impressive achievements? Is it good fortune not only to be reprimanded several times by the Quebec Press Council for irresponsibility in journalism but also found guilty of breach of journalistic code of ethics? Is it good fortune to have a son, Paul Magallanes, who was reportedly fired from his job for allegedly stealing the money and other belongings of the patients under his care? Listen, Fraud, you don’t need me to pull the Magallanes down. You have been doing that all along all by www.filipinostar.org yourself. But in spite of all that, you called me gaffe-prone. What Narcissistic Personally Disorder can do to a guy! I beg you, Fraud, go see a psychiatrist. It’s for your, and for your family’s, own good. In point of fact, Frauderico C. Magallanes is the true and ultimate Filipino crab. Here’s a partial list of people he tried – or still desperately trying – to pull down, but to no avail: James de la Paz, Salvador Cabugao, Zenaida F. Kharroubi, Aurora Osdon, Shinette Salcedo-Khoury, Alice Loyola- Bustamante, Myrna Maranan- Francisco, Reuben T. Santos, Alberto Baens Santos, Alberto Floresca, Benny Parial, Flor Rillo, Santiago Tino, this writer and, lately, Leandro Tolentino. THERE’S NOTHING LIKE IT – That’s how Fraud conceitedly described his Filipino Forum on the back cover of the souvenir program for the 30th Anniversary and Debutants’ Ball of Ogerio’s Federation held last October 16. Come to think of it, he’s right. There’s really nothing like the Filipino Forum. Tell me, what other Filipino newspaper in the province not only was reprimanded by the Quebec Press Council several times for irresponsibility in journalism but was also found guilty of breaching the journalistic code of ethics? What other Filipino newspaper in the province has a pathological liar for its editor-in-chief? What other Filipino newspaper in the province whose editor-in-chief is so asinine to have the latest issue of his publication carrying the blaring headline in uppercase “FAMAS PROPOSES BAN ON ADULTERERS” printed on the back cover of a souvenir program that was supposed to be a classy lifetime memento which those pretty young women would remember their formal introduction to society by? Frauderico Crass Magallanes heartlessly robbed those lasses and their respective families of their otherwise joyful and unforgettable evening by placing his inappropriate and vulgar advertisement on the back cover of the souvenir program. And worse yet, the Ogerio Federation condoned such poorly thought of idea. I guess birds of the same feather crass together. The Filipino Forum is indeed a league of its own. The Filipino Forum: there’s nothing like it! PARADO SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE BULISIK AWARD INSTEAD – Ogerio Federation has substantially cheapened the Maharlika Award by giving it to Julita des Parado, a person with a checkered past and who lost whatever little nobility she had for having been found guilty of unfair business practices by a consumers’ protection agency. Has anyone ever wondered why she hasn’t been actively and openly selling airline tickets anymore lately? Well, wonder no more. Her license to sell was revoked for illegal practices. If I were a previous recipient of the Maharlika Award, I would immediately return the honor in protest, similar to what several pro-life members of the Order of Canada did several years ago when the Order honored Dr. Morgentaler, an abortionist, with a membership to the said prestigious organization. In anticipation of readers asking what “bulisik” is, here’s a concise explanation: In the ancient class system in the Tagalog Society, people were ranked as follows: maginoo, timawa, maharlika, and alipin. There are two kinds of alipin, namely aliping namamahay and alipin sa gigilid. A sa gigilid of an aliping namamahay was called bulisik, which meant vile and contemptible. There is only one class lower than bulisik, and that was called bulislis, which meant “lifted skirt.” Now that you know, isn’t Bulisik Award much more fitting for Julita des Parado than the Maharlika Award? If there isn’t any such award yet, the Ogerio Federation should create one. And I respectfully nominate des Parado to be its first ever recipient. Speaking of the Maharlika Award 2010, if you would take into account the president of the organization that sponsored it, and who composed the panel of judges, you would readily say that it was a big farce. In Tagalog, “lutong macaw.” The president of the Federation of Filipino Canadian Associations of Quebec, Inc. (FFCAQ) is Angelita Ogerio, the rumored “wife” of des Parado. And reportedly, among the judges were Frauderico C. Magallanes, Riza Esmeralda and Svetlana Suarez, all known to be close to des Parado. You do the math. ONE-LINER FROM REUBEN T. SANTOS - " Take your pick, people, who would you rather believe: F. C. Magallanes, a well-known community liar and favorite butt of jokes since the 70's or Mrs. Zeny Kharroubi and Mr. Budz Sarmiento who pull no punches and always tell the truth? Let us know.” MEN AND WOMEN HOMMES ET FEMMES Hair Cut / Wash & Dry / ColorRoots / Permanent / Highlighs / Streaks 4661 Van Horne Suite 5, Montreal, QC Tel.: 514-884-2925
Page 1 and 2: Vol. XXVIII, No 11 November 2010 ww
Page 3 and 4: nOVEMBER 2010 Cooperative News Memb
Page 5: nOVEMBER 2010 The North American Fi
Page 9 and 10: nOVEMBER 2010 The North American Fi
Page 23 and 24: nOVEMBER 2010 23 The North American

Filipino Star - November 2010 Issue

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?