Environmental Hero: Von Hernandez Essay

What do you do for the Earth? An environmental title-holder is some i who aims to take good c are of his environment and makes a great impression for the benefit of its generation and the generations to go far. Heroism comes from someone who is ordinary, but really does something more than someone who is capable. It is a deed that is selfless that seeks to involve themselves with others businesss. Anyone could in reality be an environmental hero as long as they wealthy person the desire to learn how to align their goals in order to help cheer and prevent further damages to the environment caused by mankind, despite 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 odds are. They are the ones who continue to empower others by advocating the issues faced, lot people around them to be aware of their concerns.Von Hernandez, current director of Greenpeace atomic number 34 Asia and recipient of the prestigious Goldman Environmental hold 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 International as coordinator for the environmental groups toxics outpouring in Asia. In the same year, Hernandez launched a campaign which revealed plans to set up wastefulness incinerators to deal with the food waste problem coming from the rapidly development cities in Metro capital of the Philippines.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 burning of waste, in 1999, Hernandez helped make history as the Philippines became the first country in the population to ban waste incineration nationwide. He is responsible for the Philippines Clean Air act as of 1999 which is banning waste inciner ators that causes air pollution and human wellness problems. Furthermore, he is likewise responsible for Waste Management Act which requires the implementation of segregating drivel properly nationwide.Waste disposal is a burgeoning problem in the Philippines curiously in Metro Manila. EcoWaste cited from the National Solid Waste Management care 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 turnout of solid waste. Currently, only nine 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 compost 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 along with his affiliate in the environmental movement made efforts to stop the plan. Hernandez and company disseminated to the topical anesthetic communities the hazardous effects that waste incinerators will 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 modify contained with heavy metals, such as lead, arsenic and cadmium that could pollute groundwater for generations. Studies also show that these chemicals are linked to human health problems such as birth defects, cancer, respiratory ailments and reproductive dysfunction among people who live closely incineration plants. In support to this, a recent report reveals that dioxins in the white meat milk of Filipino women who resides near and work in the Payatas dumpsite to be extremely high as compared to the normal limit 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 h elped in organizing circumstances protests, testified in hearings, arranged numerous lectures and a national public teaching method 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 supported incineration in order to protect their interests.However, despite the attacks and the immense support of world(prenominal) monetary institutions like the Asian Development bank, the World chamfer and the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation to continue to promote incineration projects in the Philippines, Hernandez remains standing hitherto because of his love for the environment. Aside from his fight to ban inciner ation, he also leads in promoting clean and green alternatives to waste incineration such as composting and recycling. Hernandez is also knobbed in various 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 Peoples job 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 apply that aims to promote a healthier place for people. By speaking his mind, he saved thousands of lives from the exposure of harmful chemicals. Even though he has true threats from the opposing parties, he continues to do what he thinks is right. He is concerned for issues ordinarily unnoticed by the public. Truly, his strong character deserves to be applauded and recognized as a model for the green revolutionary era.ReferencesEcoWaste statement on garbage along Roxas Blvd. in wake of Typhoon Gener Community Bulletin Board GMA intelligence service Online The Go-To Site for Filipinos Everywhere. (2012, August 2). GMANetwork.com Online home of the Kapuso Network. Retrieved September 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