Together possible
IT was on a Tuesday evening that the annual culminating event of the different partners, communities and departments of the World Wide Fund for Nature ( WWF) Philippines took place to celebrate and discuss what the past year has been for the protection and conservation of nature in the country.
Different champions of the environment were celebrated like Ocean 6, an all-female group that made a mark in the Philippines by successfully swimming across Tañon Strait and has since committed to promoting environmental awareness and conservation in the country. Another champion that took the stage was Carina Dayondon, the first and only Filipino woman to have climbed the 7 Summits, the tallest mountains of each continent in the world, including the prominent peak of the tallest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest. All these were true testaments to the indomitable spirit of the Filipino people to climb and swim through the physical challenges and obstacles the planet can present, like our mountains and seas. But it was in the opening speech of the National Youth Council of WWF-Philippines, the next generation of environmental leaders, wherein one of the greatest challenges our world and humanity have ever faced was delivered in a room of today’s leaders, chief executive officers, and directors of the top industries, businesses, and departments who needed to hear it again — much more listen and act. That we are indeed living today amid the greatest challenge our world and all of humanity has ever faced. From the Amazon to the Arctic, the Tamaraws to the Coral Triangle, our planet is facing the threat of destruction and extinction at rates never before seen in human history.
A recent report from 11,000 scientists across 153 countries warned national governments and the general public of an ongoing climate emergency that could lead to “untold suffering” in our planet if no effective change occurs within the global and local systems of governments and businesses that contribute to an increase of human suffering due to climate-induced disasters like typhoons, droughts, and crop failures. Economies will topple, and economic losses will surge from an increase in such extreme climateinduced weather events. Aurelio “Gigi” Montinola 3rd, the chairman of the board of WWF-Philippines, said in his culminating address that nongovernment organizations and non-profits like WWF-Philippines and other environmental organizations cannot do it alone. We need each and every business, corporation, industry, community, and government official to take the initiative to make a positive environmental difference, much more than just as our individual good doings. Our country needs it more than ever for the Filipino people, from the farmers to the fishermen, from the mountaineers to the divers, from the tip of Luzon to Mindanao’s southernmost point, we must all collectively act and work together because only by acting together will it be possible to truly make a difference.
It is still not too late as reported by the scientists, professionals and educators who have dedicated their lives to further push the boundaries of humanity to extreme feats from the technology and information that we use in our daily lives. These people from different nations and different cultures and races set aside their differences and their own personal intentions to call out on one same vision and goal of a sustainable and better planet and society for the next generations to thrive — all moved by the urgent need to join the efforts to protect and conserve what we have left in this good Earth that we all share.
But more than anything, it just shows the unlimited potential of humanity to collaborate, to unite and to create a world that will revolutionize tomorrow for the better. How mere simple letters, when put together, can create words. Words that lead to action and words that can inspire and move today’s generation and the generation before, to solve humanity’s greatest challenges — together possible.