YES- O Environmental Activities

RONALDO C. REYESPresenter

YES- O Adviser, Philippinestabacoyes-o.webs.comreyesrnld@yahoo.com

Please refer to www.projectraingauge.blogspot.com andwww.gaugerain.blogspot.com for more articles and comments of students, parents and people of the community about Rain Gauge, Global Warming/ Climate Change and Community activities in Promoting Environmental Conservation

City of Tabaco (Tabaco City)—  Nickname(s): City of Love, Padyak Capital of the Philippines Location of the City of Tabaco within the province of AlbayCoordinates: 13°21′33.69″N 123°43′49.05″E / Country: PhilippinesRegionV (Bicol Region)ProvinceAlbayIncorporated (town)circa 1731Incorporated (city) / CityhoodMarch 24,2001Land117.14 km2 (45.2 sq mi)Highest elevation13 m (43 ft); Lowest elevation8 m (26 ft)Population (2007) - Total 200,513Time zonePST (UTC+8)ZIP code4511 Area code(s)52 City ClassComponent CityIncome ClassFourth Class City

Tabaco National High School is situated in the southern part of the Philippines. This is one of the biggest and prominent schools in our region, with 7000 students and 230 teachers this year. TNHS adheres to the Department of Education’s motto of excellence and thereby works for its attainment in producing well- equipped and value- oriented Filipino citizens, responsive to national development and fit for international relationships. At present, the school offers well- organized classes with various curricula like Engineering and Science Education Program (ESEP), Basic Education Curriculum (BEC), Refined Secondary Education Curriculum (RSEC), Special Program for Sports (SPS), Special Program for the Arts (SPA), Balik- Paaralan Out of School Youth (BP- OSY). Recently, TNHS was again selected as pilot for the vocational technology program for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as well

as Civil Technology.

YES- O (Youth for Environment in Schools- Organization)

LEGAL BASIS: DepEd Order No. 72, s. 2003

1.   Be aware and create awareness in others of the state of the Philippine environment and ecology, including prevailing issues and concerns relative thereto;

There are devastating facts that prevails the present situation of our environment. It is our responsibility to sustain the cleanliness and beauty of the environment thus, helping and developing of the environment.

2.   Establish specific and doable programs; projects and activities to address issues and concerns on the environment and ecology;

•In helping to conserve the environment there should be realistic and doable programs to implement that are attainable to the ability and capacity of the youth.

3.   Network with other government and non government organizations, in other schools or within the division and region, with regard to support and assistance the programs, projects and activities of the organizations;

•In order to implement programs for the development of the environment, there should be joining hands from different sectors and other organizations to have all the success to be achieved.

4.   Encourage community participation and initiative in environmental and ecological movements and actions;

•Necessarily, the cooperation of the people specially the participation of th youth are needed with the initiative needed for the environmental and ecological movements and actions.

5.   Develop among members and the community proper environmental values, skills and attitudes;

•The programs for environmental and ecological movements and actions do not only focus on the environment itself but also it inculcates the social interaction for youth, youth and between every individual for the activities.

 

ObjectivesThe YES- O, being one of the organizations of Tabaco

National High School, implemented various goals to achieve on its commitment of saving the environment. Moreover, this organization also caters the needs of the students especially in upgrading their scientific skills by exposing them to various science- related activities. Other objectives of the organization are the following:1. Promote environmental awareness to the students2. Design and initiate projects that are environmental- friendly3. Disseminate information on environmental issues and protection4. Join any campaign for saving Mother Earth5. Foster collaboration among the students and people of the community by conducting various activities for the protection, preservation, rehabilitation of the environment and conservation of natural resources 6. instill environmental values in every student and people of the community to motivate actual involvement in worthwhile programs and projects in the protection, preservation and rehabilitation of the environment and the conservation of natural resources in their respective areas.

 

I- IntroductionNowadays, we are witnessing a series of revolutionary

advancement in biomedicine, information technology, alternative sources of energy and much of industrialization. Nevertheless, these innovations, in return, impart adverse effect despite the conveniences given to us. All these effects go to the environment. Faced with so much devastation, our environment is now of major concern of almost all agencies. Climate change is one of the most pressing issues that we are currently facing. Scientific studies proved that the relatively changes of the earth’s climate system is a result of the interplay of natural and human- related activities. The phenomenon has become a global concern. Its consequences are very evident. The issue of climate change urgently calls for immediate response to mitigate its impact on both human and environmental system.

As a pro- environment organization in the school, YES- O is making necessary actions in minimizing the effects of this environmental dilemma.

The warnings about global warming have been extremely

clear for a long time. We are facing a global climate crisis. It is

deepening. We are entering a period of consequences.

-Al Gore

Super typhoon Reming(2006)

Super typhoon Peping & Ondoy(2009)

Typhoon Juan(2010)

Mother Nature is fighting back. Those pictures only prove not even a quarter of what she can still do. Man destroyed her home, and now she’s out to destroy not just our properties, but even our lives.

If those facts still aren’t enough to give your conscience a bit of guilt, take a load of this:

• Arctic ice is rapidly disappearing, and the region may have its first completely ice-free summer by 2040 or earlier.

• Industrialization, deforestation, and pollution have greatly increased atmospheric concentrations of water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, all greenhouse gases that help trap heat near Earth's surface. 

•  Humans are pouring carbon dioxide into the atmosphere much faster than plants and oceans can absorb it.

• These gases persist in the atmosphere for years, meaning that even if such emissions were eliminated today, it would not immediately stop global warming.

• Sea level could rise between 7 and 23 inches (18 to 59 centimeters) by century's end, the IPCC's February 2007 report projects. Rises of just 4 inches (10 centimeters) could flood many South Seas islands and swamp large parts of Southeast Asia.

• More than a million species face extinction from disappearing habitat, changing ecosystems, and acidifying oceans.

• Climate models suggest that global warming could cause more frequent extreme weather conditions like Hurricanes Katrina, Storm surges could threaten coastal communities.

• According to a recent study, by 2050, rising temperatures exacerbated by human-induced  greenhouse gases could land more than a million of Earth's land-dwelling plants and animals to the road to extinction.

• If the sea level continues to rise, islands would start disappearing. They’ll be enveloped by the great waters, like they never existed at all. Since the Philippines is made up of thousands of islands, we would surely be affected. There may come a time when the number of our islands would come down to 5,000 from our present number of 7,107.

Now, we give you time to think. Think about the plastic you used for buying the morning bread. Think about the smoke given off by the bus you took while going to school. Think about the number of lights you switched on at 8:00 on a sunny day. Think about all the things you’ve done to bring more damage to the earth. Think…

Think,

THINK.

Do you honestly think that there’s a “PLANET B” if Earth’s damages were already too much? We’ve only got ONE Earth. ONE home. Some people keep doing campaigns. They post slogans on how to save the earth. Question is, are they really helping? People down the streets don’t even take a second look at the silly posters.

Why not teach people how to recycle? Tell them what’s really happening. After that, that person you taught could teach another, and that to

another, and then another. The cycle continues. One person isn’t enough

to stop global warming.

Send it on…just one spark starts a fire. With one little action,

the chain reaction will never stop. If we take the chances

to change circumstances, imagine all we can do.

Make it strong, Shine a light,

and Send it on.

• With various problems and issues concerning the environment which affect not only us humans but also the other organisms inhabiting the Earth. Faced with so much devastation, our environment is now of major concern of almost all agencies. The problem on global warming and climate change, pollution, improper disposal wastes, continuous illegal logging, are always on the go. With these environmental problems, saving Mother Earth becomes a global concern in this modern time.

• As an environmental advocate, the Youth for Environment in Schools Organization (YES-O) of Tabaco National High School (TNHS) and Tabaco City Division as well as other students conducted activities to help preserve and bring back the beauty of Mother Earth. These environmental activities, which are conducted within the school and other communities of the province of Albay, include coastal, river and canal cleaning, tree planting and growing, symposia on global warming, the 3R’s campaign, and proper waste segregation.

• These activities will surely instill environmental values in every student and people of the community to motivate actual involvement in worthwhile programs and projects in the protection, preservation and rehabilitation of the environment and the conservation of natural resources in their respective areas.

•

COASTAL CLEANING

COASTAL CLEANING

RIVER CLEANING

CANAL CLEAN- UP

BARANGAY CLEAN- UP

BARANGAY CLEAN- UP

TREE PLANTING, CARING & GROWING

Global Warming Campaign/ Seminars

Global Warming Room-to-Room Campaign

AFTER THE DAY’S HARD WORK…

“The earth we abuse and the living things we kill will, in the end, take their revenge; for in exploiting their presence we are diminishing our future.  ~Marya Mannes~ 

“

When you defile the pleasant streamsAnd the wild bird's abiding place,You massacre a million dreamsAnd cast your spittle in God's face. ~John Drinkwater~