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The state of living in Australia and Philippines are very different, this much is true. I immediately realized this when we saw that they were all in one room together, whereas we had to join the call separately from our homes. You see, the Philippines is still in lockdown and have been in this state since March. Right from the start, it is obvious how different the two countries handled important issues. The students of Pimlico State High, Australia were simply a delight. I have to admit, talking with people from other places in the world is extremely new, quite humbling, but also incredibly fun. Their presentation focused on the issue of unconventional gas exploration in Victoria. This issue is something that has a large impact not only to Australia, but to the whole world.
Luckily, the Victorian Government said that it would soon introduce legislation which would ban the exploration of unconventional gas. The campaign against this is historic, in that the sheer scale of community movement is beyond what anyone would have expected. Ultimately, the goal is to completely stop gas production in Australia and the world. This, of course, would take so much more time and effort. However, based on the actions of the government and the community, this goal might be achieved sooner than later. Being a climate justice success, the campaign against unconventional gas exploration has made it possible for awareness to be seen and heard. I believe that further raising awareness of the effects of gas exploration would allow for a faster, more effective process of concluding gas production in Australia.
In the Philippines, the main issue presented was that of the so called beautification of Manila Bay. Manila Bay is a popular tourist site in the country's capital. The government used crushed dolomite to cover a small portion of the bay to give the impression that it is a white sand beach. The main difference between the case studies is that of the unity of the people. In Australia, the community took action along with the government against this issue. In the Philippines however, a great divide has opened up. Some people recognize the action of the government as a great deed while some say that it is insensitive and unnecessary. The government itself seems to be divided about this issue. Similarly, both cases presented have large negative impacts on bodies of water as well as marine life. Unconventional gas exploration would cause a reduction in the water volume of streams, lakes and wetland environments, whereas dolomite mining and usage caused for the destruction of many corals in the bay and in Alcoy, Cebu, the mining site.
Beyond the main issues, we also discussed the overall conditions of both countries. Australia is suffering from heat and humidity, the Philippines on the other hand is right in the middle on typhoon season. About 8-9 tropical cyclones pass the country per year, but the arrival of these typhoons are late compared to that of the past. Australia also suffers from wildfires, drought, floods, and other. While these events do occur, they seem to have worsened over the years and we believe that it will only get worse from here. But, if we take action right away, there are many great changes waiting for us.
As youth, we face the same challenge: convincing those in power. While young people are well capable of spreading awareness, creating petitions, innovating on new sustainable technology, etc., the true power of change lies in the hands of those in charge. As I've said, the unity of the Australian community and government was what made the issue of unconventional gas a climate justice success. Because of many cries from the Filipinos, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources have already banned two mining sites that provided crushed dolomite for Manila Bay. For the Philippines, an even greater challenge is presented: uniting the people against climate injustice.
It is high time that people all over the globe realize that it isn't only the youth's future that is at risk, but also everyone else's past. If we cared about our legacies and heritage, we would also care about the earth. The bilateral meeting gave way for communication between two countries with great differences to discuss several issues caused by one culprit. During this, I learned that unity plays a big role in fighting climate change. If all the world came together in reducing its carbon footprint, even in the small ways, we would be able to help the environment greatly. The best way to ensure climate justice is to unite with each other in fighting for it. There is so much work to be done, but when done together, it becomes a lot simpler.
If you are interested in helping the Philippines stop the further usage of crushed dolomite, you can sign this petition:
https://www.bataris.org.ph/petitions/stop-and-investigate-dumping-of-crushed-dolomite-in-manila-bay
