GVGG FORUM ON "MGA KANDIDATO NG KALIKASAN AT KAPALIGIRAN: MAY BOBOTO BA?", 3 February 2010

The "Green Vote, Green Growth Movement" will be holding a forum entitled, "Mga Kandidato ng Kalikasan at Kapaligiran: May Boboto Ba?" on 3 February 2010 (Wednesday), 1-5 p.m., at the Assembly Hall of the University of the Philippines-National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG).

Confirmed invited speakers are:

1. Senator LOREN LEGARDA
Vice-Presidential Candidate, Nationalist People's Coalition

2. Former Representative NEREUS ACOSTA
Senatorial Candidate, Liberal Party

3. Mr. NICANOR PERLAS
Presidential Candidate, Partido ng Marangal na Sambayanan

4. Mr. ROY CABONEGRO
Secretary-General, Ang Partido Kalikasan

5. Prof. LEONOR M. BRIONES
Party-List Candidate, KAAKBAY Party

The distinguished guest speakers will answer the following questions: (1) What is your pro-environment campaign agenda? (2) How do you plan to implement them once elected into office? (3) Is there a green vote in Philippine politics/elections? (3) How do you plan to harness and mobilize this green vote for the May 2010 elections?

This forum is being organized by the UP-Samahan Tungo sa Progresibong Administrasyon. For inquiries or participation, please contact Mr. Kimpee Panganiban (0920-539-0798; kimpeepanganiban@gmail.com).

Admission to the forum is FREE. For updates, please visit this blogspot regularly.

U.P. ACADEMIC CONGRESS

(PowerPoint presentation copy of Prof. Florano's lecture is available at http://law.upd.edu.ph/new/Academic-Congress-February-1-5,2010/Day-5/Session-14/Prof%20Ebinezer%20%20Florano%20-%20Green%20Vote%20Green%20Growth.pdf)

Dr. Ebinezer R. Florano will speak at the U.P. Academic Congress which will tackle the general theme, “Beyond 2010: Leadership for the Next Generation” on 5 February 2010 at the Malcolm Hall of the U.P. College of Law, Diliman, Quezon City. Prof. Florano will join former U.P. President Jose V. Abueva, former National Treasurer and NCPAG Prof. Leonor M. Briones, and Dr. Edna E. A. Co in a panel that will discuss, “Election and How to Choose a Leader.” UP-NCPAG Dean Alex B. Brillantes, Jr. will moderate the discusions.

Below is the abstract of Prof. Florano’s paper entitled, “Green Vote, Green Growth: It’s Time to Paint Philippine Politics Green.”

Abstract

After conducting a brief appraisal of the state of the environment of the Philippines and the seemingly inability of the government to respond to myriads of environmental problems, the paper argues that there is a need to elect committed and competent “green politicians” to public offices in this coming May 10, 2010 elections because they are the ones who could make things happen - they have the political mandate and public resources at their disposal to formulate and implement environmental laws, policies, programs, and projects in pursuit of “green growth” or environmentally-sustainable development. However, there are uncertainties which need to be answered or clarified. Is there a green vote block in Philippine politics which can influence election outcomes? If there is, who are the green voters? If none, how can they be organized and mobilized? And, how can green voters select the greenest politicians among the lot? To respond to these questions, the paper delves into the ontological and epistemological foundation and evolution of “green politics” and “green vote,” then focuses on their existence (or absence) in Philippine politics. The second half of the paper provides methods and strategies that can be employed by Filipino voters to evaluate and select the greenest politicians.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Let us hope and pray that more pro-environment candidates be elected in the coming May 10, 2010 elections!HAPPY NEW YEAR!

U.P. DILIMAN'S CHRISTMAS LANTERN PARADE

GVGG friends from the UP Samahan Tungo sa Progresibong Administrasyon of the U.P. National College of Public Administration and Governance unfurled the GVGG tarp at the annual UP Diliman Christmas Lantern Parade, 18 December 2009. Free green ribbons were distributed along the way.

On the picture are Jun Giron, Crinezza Mendoza, Chev Salvador, Chucks Arias, Kester de Vera, Nadine Agleron, Kenn de Vera, Janjan Castillo, Marlowe Popes, Mackoy Cortez, Kimpee Panganiban, Marjorie Asidera, and Aiza Namingit.

More pictures above or see us at the GVGG Facebook account.

NEWSFLASH: GVGG WILL JOIN THE U.P. DILIMAN CHRISTMAS LANTERN PARADE 2010

The UP Samahan Tungo sa Progresibong Administrasyon (UP-STPA), the launching pad of the "Green Vote, Green Growth" (GVGG) Movement, will join the annual Christmas Lantern Parade of the UP Diliman Campus on December 18, 2009 (Friday). It will be part of the contingent from the U.P. National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG). Free green ribbons and flyers will be distributed along the way. Look for our group carrying the tarpaulin shown above. The parade will start at 3:00 p.m. at the University Avenue. The theme of this lantern parade is: "Kapaskuhan, Kalikasan, Kinabukasan" (which makes it appropriate for the GVGG movement to join the parade).

Thanks to Kimpee Panganiban for the design and Kat Avena for the tarp's reproduction, and ribbon making. Janjan Castillo, UP-STPA president, supervised the preparations for the lantern parade of UP-STPA and the GVGG Movement. Thanks also to Miss Pebbles Sanchez, chair of the NCPAG Student Council, for agreeing to let the GVGG join the NCPAG contingent.

The design above can be downloaded by local chapters for tarpaulin reproduction.

GVGG's TASKS

GREEN VOTE, GREEN GROWTH
It’s time to paint Philippine politics green NOW!
Anybody can join * No application forms to fill-up * No fees to pay

1. Join us at our Facebook account, “Green Vote Green Growth.” Refer friends, too.

2. Wear a green ribbon everyday on the left side of your chest starting TODAY until May 10, 2010. Pin/post/paste green ribbons* on your websites, blogspots, Facebook accounts, etc. (write “Green Growth, Green Vote” on your ribbons to distinguish us from political parties with green motif).

3. Organize the “Green Vote, Green Growth” (GVGG) movement in your city, municipality, or province. For coordination purposes, e-mail the officers’ names, and contact addresses and numbers to greenvotegrowth@yahoo.com.

4. Do education and information campaigns to gain support from voters. Target the youth and students. Explain the connections between politics and environmentally-sustainable development.

5. Identify, screen, support, and vote for green politicians (from President down to Municipal Councilors) in your localities. E-mail their names, pictures (JPEG format), locality, and reasons why your area chapter has chosen them, to greenvotegrowth@yahoo.com for posting at GVGG’s blogspot and Facebook account.

6. Hold a forum for local candidates in your localities on the topic: “How Green Is Your Candidate?”

7. On April 22, 2009 – EARTH DAY - tie green ribbons around trees, posts, or on gates, doors, windows, cars’etc.

8. Watch out for announcements at www.ecogov2.blogspot.com and at Facebook account.

*Downloadable at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Green_ribbon.svg

ABOUT THE "GREEN VOTE, GREEN GROWTH" MOVEMENT

GREEN GROWTH, GREEN VOTE (GVGG) is a civic non-profit movement that aims to support the candidacies of pro-environment national and local politicians this coming May 10, 2010 elections. GVGG's support cuts across political boundaries.*

VISION:

A Philippine political system which encourages voters to elect pro-environment politicians into public offices.

MISSION:

1. To educate the general public on the connection of voting for pro-environment politicians who support environmentally-sustainable development or green growth; and
2. To support the candidacies of pro-environment national and local politicians during election periods.

OBJECTIVES:

This coming May 10, 2010 elections:

1. To hold fora with national and local politicians on the topic: “How Green Is Your Candidate?” in all cities, municipalities, and provinces in the Philippines; and
2. To mobilize voters to elect pro-environment national and local candidates through the use of ICTs and the simple act of wearing/tying green ribbons. .

(*Note: Please write "Green Vote, Green Growth" on your ribbons to distinguish us from political parties with green motif).