In Cebu, Greenpeace is supporting the work of its partner in
advocacy, Coastal Conservation and
Education Foundation (CCEF) in their call for the establishment
of more marine reserves. The Esperanza arrives in the city from
world-renowned, community-managed Apo Island Marine Reserve in
Negros Oriental. Many new and emerging marine reserves in Cebu and
the rest of the country follow the blueprint of the Apo Island
experience.
"Marine reserves are our, and our oceans', future. The benefits
that they give to the oceans are benefits that will be enjoyed by
many coastal communities, as healthy oceans provide sustainable
livelihoods and resources." said Atty. Rose-Liza Eisma Osorio, CCEF
Executive Director.
Scientists recognize the Philippine archipelago as the world's
centre of marine biodiversity, but the country's rich marine
ecosystem is also among the world's most severely threatened. In
her tour of the Philippines, the Esperanza has been witness to both
the desparation of marine ecosystems and coastal communities, and
the viable future that these face once long-term solutions are
implemented
and enforced.
Since her arrival in the Philippines, the Esperanza has been
witness to the various threats to the oceans, particularly
pollution. In Manila, the Esperanza drew attention to the alarming
plastic pollution in Manila Bay. Plastics together with various
industrial chemicals and domestic sewage are suffocating the bay's
once productive waters. The Esperanza's early response in assisting
the Philippine Coast Guard and other organizations in the Petron
Solar 1 oil-slick disaster which has devastated Guimaras Island and
other parts of Central Visayas has been crucial in helping focus
the world's attention to the massive environmental catastrophe. The
ship has also actively taken part in community protests in Rapu
Rapu Island in Albay where toxic mine pollution from Lafayette's
mining operations is destroying marine ecosystems, endangering
vulnerable and important species like the whale shark, and ruining
the livelihoods of poor coastal communities.
However, when the Esperanza leaves the Philippines from Cebu on
September 3, she will carry with her a message of hope for the
oceans. Experiences in Apo Island Marine Reserve and in Cebu show
the world that the oceans will have a chance to recover once strong
measures of protection are instituted.
Greenpeace is campaigning for 40% of the world's oceans to be
protected by marine reserves in the high seas. "At present, only a
tiny area of ocean (0.01%) is protected from increasingly
destructive human activity," said Greenpeace Southeast Asia
campaigner Daniel Ocampo onboard the Esperanza, "The wealth of
local experiences with regard to the benefits of ocean protection
is one of the key aspects that Greenpeace wants to highlight in the
Esperanza's year-long Defending our Oceans tour. These will serve
as examples of how similar reserves in international waters in the
high seas are the key solution to the global oceans crises."