Fallacy about coal-fired power plants

The Philippines, endowed with alternative sources of energy, is the second largest user of geothermal power, and has access to potential abundant powerful water energy, but coal-fired power plants account for more than 36 percent of carbon emissions in the country, Heherson Alvarez told representatives of 40 countries at the first ministerial session of the 14th Delhi Sustainable Development Summit in New Delhi, India, recently.

Alvarez, who heads the Philippine Climate Change Commission, said, “The economic fallacy about coal and petroleum-based energy as the cheapest in the market is the formidable economic and psychological barrier that blocks the accelerated development of renewable energy, not just in the Philippines, but all over the world.”

Policy makers “have the facile notion that carbon energy systems, like coal, are the easiest pathway towards energy growth and development. . . Coal and petroleum-based energy (should be) the cheapest in the market without the destructive externalities imputed into their cost.”

However, Alvarez said, “Coal and fossil fuels are heavily subsidized, and factoring in the externalities of pollution and climate change costs, these energy systems (are) the most costly and, at the same time, most destructive to the environment.”

Expanding coal use in all parts of the world will be very costly in terms of environmental ruin, reduction of water supply, and impairment of the food system.

The Philippines’ coal-fired plants is projected to grow to 86 percent in 2030, reducing alternative energy use from the current 6 to a mere 14 percent.

Alvarez was personally invited by Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and director-general of the Energy and Resource Institute, organizer of the event.      

Alvarez said “technology and financial barriers to access alternative energy resources could be overcome through sustained efforts, with appropriate incentives, and with determined policy changes towards low carbon strategies in power generation.”

 â€œOur capacity, not only for sustainability but immediate survival, as a community is imperiled. If the ‘horserace’ between mitigation and adaptation, even if the world temperature is abated below that ‘point of no return,’ but if global heating is not abated soon enough, our country and many island communities may perish.

“We must be transparent and candid of the great burden of fossil fuel and its terrible externalities, and manage to reduce it so that rationally it may have its minimum use for our fuel mix and the transition to a cleaner, healthier, abundant safe energy future will be  achieved so that the earth will not burn beyond 2°C and will flourish and endure into eternity.”

Alvarez was personally invited to the conference by Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the Intergovernmental  Panel on Climate Change, and director-general of the Energy and Resource Institute, organizer of the event

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The Phil-Asia Heritage and Art Conservation Center (PHACC), is hosting “Ac-ac Gives Back,” the sixth solo exhibition of Luisito Balandra Ac-ac, renowned sculptor of Paete, Laguna,  on Thursday, Feb. 20. This exhibition, held in celebration of the Philippine Arts Month,  can be viewed at the PHACCI lobby, and open to the public until March 14.      

The famous artist, popularly called Mang Luis, started sculpting at an early age in his native town of Paete, known for its creative and expert wood carvers. The prolific sculptor has done over a thousand pieces, many of which were commissioned by various personalities and religious organizations. His works are in the collections of art aficionados in the US and Europe. Some of his prominent masterpieces are exhibited at  the Philippine Folklife Museum Foundation at the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco.

An awardee of the “Parangal Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan” of the city of Manila, Mang Luis was also recognized as the artist who sculpted the Jubilee Cross for the World Youth Day in 1995 and the image of the soon to be canonized Blessed John Paul II.

Mang Luis continues  to live simply  in Paete. Up to this day, he wants to inspire more Filipino youth to recall the simple days and bygone era when Filipino core values were part of every family life. The massive bas-relief sculpture of a distinctive Filipino family entitled “Biyaya at Pasasalamat ng Pamilyang Pilipino” (Blessing and Thanksgiving of the Filipino Family)  serves as the centerpiece of his exhibit at the lobby of the Phil-Asia Heritage and Art Conservation Center located at 14 Katipunan Ave., White Plains, Quezon City.

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Former Health Secretary Jaime Galvez-Tan will once again demonstrate the medicinal and cosmetic values  of plants at a wellness seminar at Flor’s Garden in Antipolo on Saturday, Feb. 22.

Flor Gozon Tarriela, the banker and gardener, shares her thoughts on the rewards of gardening.

“Fruits and vegetables are rich in nutrients, and have great medicinal value,” Flor says. “Healing plants have active phyto chemicals that protect us or directly heal ailments and sickness such as colds and cough, arthritis and rheumatism, skin disease , dengue etc.”  

Plants or parts thereof can be used for medical purposes through the following:

1. Externally, by applying the pounded or crushed leaves of  ikmo and katakataka to aching  parts of the body. This is called poultice. Some variations are adding oil to the leaves and  heating leaves over flame before applying to the affected part for a soothing effect.

The damong maria ( or “first aid” plant) should be found in the garden or flower pot of households,  especially those  with kids. Flor testifies that  while pruning some plants in the garden, she cut her finger which  bled profusely. As soon as the juice from pounded damong maria leaves was applied on the open cut, the bleeding stopped.

2. Internally, by eating fruits (like guyabano, or soursop which is reputed have anti cancer value) and leaves  raw such as in  salads   or cooked  as food. Leaves of healing plants are either boiled or steeped and drunk  as tea.

To remove itchiness and treat  skin sores caused by eczema, scabies, insect bites, ringworm , rub affected part with crushed akapulko leaves .

For dengue, tea from the leaves of tawatawa , botonesan botonesan, and camote, will be a good cure.  Ted Tarriela, son of Flor,  had dengue twice within two years and the tea resulted in Ted’s   platelets going up  with botones  botonesan tea.

You can view these medicinal plants as you tour Flor’s Garden  which has specific areas for Jardin ng Buhay (for plants and herbs used for cooking), “Botika Garden”  (for medicinal plants), and “Weedicinals “(weeds that  have medicinal qualities ) .

To attend the seminar, call Fely at 09195567121 or at  6356092. 

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Congratulations to Cathy and Ray Orbigo, the winning partners in the “Tennis Love Tournament” (among couples)  held over the weekend at the Diliman UP Tennis Club. Runners up were Doctors Armi and Ray Guillermo.

 I play  and learn lessons from  the two ladies above, as well as from Puring Elumbe (a most gracious friend to everyone in the club), Norma Valerio, Rina Canals, Bobit Escudero, Mela Burgonio, Eden Layda, Ana Soriano, Angie Reyes, and Violy Baldemor.

The tennis club president is former Sandiganbayan Justice Narciso Nario, and vice-president is Tito Aligo.

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