ENVIRONMENT ETHICS & ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS

ETHICS

a branch of philosophy that deals with:

Morals: Distinction between right and wrong

Values: Ultimate worth of actions or things

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS

considers extending the traditional boundaries of ethics from solely including humans to including the non-human world

deals with the moral relationships between humans and the surrounding world

exerts influence on a large range of disciplines including law, sociology, theology, economics, ecology and geography

ETHICAL DECISIONS CONCERNING THE ENVIRONMENTShould we continue to clear cut forests for the sake of human consumption?

Should we continue to propagate?

Should we continue to make gasoline powered vehicles?

What environmental obligations do we need to keep for future generations?

Is it right for humans to knowingly cause the extinction of a species for the convenience of humanity?

TO UNDERSTAND...WE MUST BE GUIDED BY PRINCIPLES!

ETHICAL PRINCIPLESUNIVERSALISTS

fundamental principles of ethics are universal, unchanging, and eternal

RELATIVISTS

Claim moral principles are always relative to a particular person, society, or situation

NIHILISTS

Claim morality is arbitrary thus there is no reason to behave morally or to be “good”

UTILITARIANS

Believe an action is right that produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS

Moral Agents - Beings capable of acting morally or immorally, and who can accept responsibility for their acts.

Humans

Moral Subjects - Beings who are not moral agents, but who have moral interests and can be treated rightly or wrongly.

Children, people who are mentally retarded or ill

Moral Extensionism - Widening definition of who is considered ethically significant.

Animal Rights

ON ANIMAL RIGHTSIntrinsic (Inherent - Innate) - Worth or value simply because of existence.

Humans

Instrumental (Conferred) - Worth or value only because they are valued by someone who matters.

Tools (e.g. human vs. car)

IN SUMMARY...

ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS

a complex and interlocking body of statutes, common law, treaties, conventions, regulations and policies

operate to regulate the interaction of humanity and the rest of the biophysical or natural environment

purpose of reducing or minimizing the impacts of human activity, both on the natural environment for its own sake, and on humanity itself

PRINCIPLES:1. Environmentalism

2. Ecology, conservation, stewardship, responsibility and

sustainability

AREAS OF CONCERNair quality and water quality

global climate change

agriculture

biodiversity and species protection

pesticides and hazardous chemicals,waste management and remediation of contaminated land

management of public lands and natural resources

THE TREATIES...

Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous

Wastes and their Disposal (1992)

aims to protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects of hazardous wastes:

generation and management

transboundary movements

disposal

CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES

(CITES)

aim to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival

widespread information dissemination about the endangered status of many prominent species, such as the tiger and elephants

KYOTO PROTOCOLbroke new ground by defining three innovative “flexibility mechanisms” to lower the overall costs of achieving its emissions targets

mechanisms enable Parties to access cost-effective opportunities to reduce emissions or to remove carbon from the atmosphere in other countries

Emissions trading (carbon market)Clean development mechanismJoint implementation

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

consider what can be done to reduce global warming and to cope with whatever temperature increases are inevitable

COP15 and COP5 held last month in Copenhagen concluded on Saturday, 19 December 2009

key points (objectives)

to keep the maximum temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius

the commitment to list developed country emission reduction targets and mitigation action by developing countries for 2020

mechanisms to support technology transfer and forestry.

THE PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION PROTECTS THE ENVIRONMENT...

CHAIN SAW ACT (2002) or RA 9175

AN ACT REGULATING THE OWNERSHIP, POSSESSION, SALE, IMPORTATION AND USE OF CHAIN SAWS, PENALIZING VIOLATIONS THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

PERSONS AUTHORIZED TO POSSES OR USE CHAIN SAW:HAS A SUBSISTING TIMBER LICENSE AGREEMENT, PRODUCTION SHARING AGREEMENT, OR SIMILAR AGREEMENTS,

OR A PRIVATE LAND TIMBER PERMIT;IS AN ORCHARD AND FRUIT TREE FARMER;IS AN INDUSTRIAL TREE FARMER;IS A LICENSED WOOD PROCESSOR AND THE CHAIN SAW SHALL BE USED FOR THE CUTTING OF TIMBER THAT HAS

BEEN LEGALLY SOLD TO SAID APPLICANTSHALL USE THE CHAIN SAW FOR A LEGAL PURPOSE.

ECOLOGICAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2000 or RA 9003

SEGREGATION AND COLLECTION OF SOLID WASTE SHALL BE CONDUCTED AT THE BARANGAY LEVEL SPECIFICALLY FOR BIODEGRADABLE, COMPOSTABLE AND REUSABLE WASTES: PROVIDED, THAT THE COLLECTION OF NON-RECYCLABLE

MATERIALS AND SPECIAL WASTES SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MUNICIPALITY OR CITY (SECTION 10)

PHILIPPINE CLEAN AIR ACT OF 1999 or RA 8749

THE STATE SHALL PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT TO ATTAIN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WHILE  RECOGNIZING THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS TO DEAL WITH ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.

THE STATE RECOGNIZES THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CLEANING THE HABITAT AND ENVIRONMENT IS PRIMARILY AREA-BASED.

THE STATE ALSO RECOGNIZES THE PRINCIPLE THAT “POLLUTERS MUST PAY”.

ANIMAL WELFARE ACT OF 1998 or RA 8485

ACT TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF ALL ANIMALS IN THE PHILIPPINES BY SUPERVISING AND REGULATING THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATIONS OF ALL FACILITIES UTILIZED FOR BREEDING, MAINTAINING, KEEPING, TREATING OR TRAINING OF ALL ANIMALS EITHER AS OBJECTS OF TRADE OR AS HOUSEHOLD PETS. PET ANIMAL SHALL INCLUDE BIRD

ANY FORM OF CRUELTY SHALL BE PENALIZED

PHILIPPINE MINING ACT OF 1995 or RA 7942

WITHIN THE TERRITORY AND EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ARE OWNED BY THE STATE.

IT SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE TO PROMOTE THEIR RATIONAL EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT, UTILIZATION AND CONSERVATION T H R O U G H T H E C O M B I N E D E F F O RT S O F GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN ORDER TO ENHANCE NATIONAL GROWTH IN A WAY THAT EFFECTIVELY SAFEGUARDS THE ENVIRONMENT AND PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF AFFECTED COMMUNITIES

EH KUMUSTA NAMAN?

FOR YOUR ACTIVITY...PAGE 73

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTWhat the future holds...

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

TO INCREASING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF EVERY FILIPINO

THE DECISION-MAKING TOOL

Propose Creative Options or Solutions

Assess each Option or Solution in terms of + or – impact

Propose one Solution by Consensus

Develop an Action Plan and Contact Stakeholders for Input

Implement Action Plan

Monitor and Evaluate Action Plan

Communicate Results to the Community

Consult and Reassess

ADVOCACY AND CONDUCTING FGDsGuided by your decision-making tool...

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ADVOCACY: ENVIRONMENTALISM IN ACTION

SOME EXAMPLES...BUT NOT LIMITED TOINFORMATION CAMPAIGN

POSTERS/ SLOGANS/ RTR/ BROCHURES

EDUCATION AND AWARENESS

PRIMARY SCHOOLS

TRASH BINS FOR CAS

JOIN PROGRAMS

TREE PLANTING

SAVE PASIG

CONSERVE THE TURTLES

BRING YOUR BAUNAN

LECTURE FORUM ON CLIMATE CHANGE

TO ARRIVE AT YOUR CLASS ADVOCACY...

FGD-based on sustainable development decision wheel

Choose panelists/resource persons and Moderator

ISSUE to FOCUS: one environmental problem that can be addressed by a student advocacy

END GOAL: a class advocacy plan/project!