A portrait of three young Filipino environmentalists who are working actively to protect their country’s threatened coral reef, amidst the highly profitable but environmentally devastating effects of sodium cyanide fishing. Featured are:
Rubin Palarca, an elected community councilman, activist and musician, who produces environmental theater and musical performances in towns and schools throughout the region. Rubin’s performances raise awareness, especially among youth, of the threatened coral reef and the severe over-fishing, a bi-product of the lucrative live fish trade.
Rochelle Lucero, a livelihood specialist, provides micro-financing to help families to start new businesses, such as backyard hog raising, a viable source of alternative income which also reduces dependency on fish.
Reagan Venturillo, a community organizer who works with the replanting of Mangrove trees and the cultivation of seaweed farms, another viable source of income which reduces dependency on fish.
Along with the three main characters, the program also features Tay George, a traditional “hook and line” fisherman, whose ability to feed his large family has been seriously threatened by the large-scale (and illegal) cyanide and dynamite fishing.
The environmental initiative was sponsored by the Integrated Population and Coastal Resource Management Initiative of the PATH Foundation Philippines.
LEARN MORE:
To get involved in saving region's oceanic wildlife and habitats, visit the Planetary Coral Reef Foundation site.
Check these environmental sites that focus on youth activism:
Kids F.A.C.E. (For A Cleaner Environment)
Student Environmental Action Coalition
Cancel Response
Post Response