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Environmental Awareness A monthly publication of U.P. BETA SIGMA INTERNATIONAL
Brod Gerry Abenes, UPD'66, DVM, MVSc, PhD, Senior Scientist at the Division of Infectious Diseases School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley tests your Environmental Acuity.
Brod Gerry Abenes elaborates on some points in his quiz last month. "Trouble in Glacier Land" discusses the destabilizing effects of the meltdown in the Arctic and Antarctic that could cause sea level to rise 230 feet.
Brod Popoy Castaneda, UPLB'55 is an environmentalist and an expert on marine protected areas. He was a former dive master and dive guide who served on board the "Calypso", the research ship of Jacques Cousteau. His article, "A Primer on Philippine Coastal and Marine Ecosystems" describes the fragile coastal resources of the Philippines and highlights how human activity has contributed to their rapid decline.
Brod Gerry Abenes in "Plastic: Convenience at the Cost of Blight" explains how plastics is affecting our fragile environment including the release of toxic pollutants, greenhouse gas, ocean litter, and other costs.
Brod Willie Vergara in "Garbage: Excrements of Industrialized Societies", on an official mission to provide data to finance Smokey Mountain scholars, came face-to-face with the squalid and toxic conditions in this "monument of shame" in Manila. The photos he took at the site and of the people who breathed and lived in this garbage dump will be difficult to forget.
Brod Vic Ramos, former Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources from 1995-1998, in "Primer on the Philippine Environment: What Beta Sigmans Can Do" writes about the deteriorating fragile ecosystem in the country and what we can do to help in improving the existing conditions. In conclusion, Vic says we should think globally, but act locally.
Brod Popoy Castaneda in "The Case of the Damaged Coral Reefs" warns on the alarming 30% of coral reefs in the world that remain healthy, down from 41% a few years ago. He also describes the displacement of subsistence fishermen in the Philippines who depend on the sea to provide food for their families.
Brod Pogs Gaspay in "Climate Change in the Philippines" discusses the different climate change elements in the country including rising sea levels, increasing occurrences and intensities of cyclones and changing rainfall patterns; and importantly, how we should respond through prevention, mitigation and adaptation.
Brod Vic Battad in "Tips on Plant Nursery" offers expert tips on plant care with the hope that every Betan may become an enthusiastic partner to a greener earth that the heavens will delight in listening to.
Brod Popoy Castaneda in "The Coral Triangle" describes the world's center for marine biodiversity. It encompasses the seas of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Timor and the Solomon Islands. The Verde Island Passage, which separates the island of Mindoro from Luzon, has the highest diversity in reef species all over the world.
Brod Jun Battad in "Geographic Information Systems and its Forestry Applications in Victoria, Australia" focuses on the use of this technology to enhance the judicious use of the earth's fragile resources.
Brod Rene de Rueda writes about the very touching way in which the U.P. Visayas Beta Sigma Fraternity Alumni Association (UPVBSFAA) pooled its members’ creative juices to come up with a mind-blowing centennial “thank you” gift to our beloved institution, our alma mater U.P. - the Centennial Forest. Brod Popoy Castaneda, in his article "Trouble in Paradise: The End Days of Coral Reefs", warns of the threat of global warming that threatens the most beautiful and productive of marine ecosystems, the coral reefs, particularly the warm water corals or Sclerectinian corals.
Ms. Rose Veridiano, a friend of the UP NorCal Chapter, in "The California Academy of Sciences, Lessons in Going Green", describes her memorable visit to the world's greenest museum at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco which went through a 10-year, $500 million renovation. Among its many breathtaking exhibits is the Philippine Coral Reef in the Steinhart Aquarium.
Brod Bernie Bacosa in "Getting to the Yosemite" describes his trip to Yosemite National Park, 95% of which is wilderness and boasts of the highest waterfalls in America, with his wife Nancy and offers tips on lodging accommodations and how to optimize your photography experience.
Brod Johnny Regadio, a professional forester, in "A Journey Into the Ancient Redwoods", after twenty years of living in the the U.S. finally took his first trip at the inspiring Avenue of the Giants, of towering and majestic California Redwoods, with Brods Rene de Rueda and Manolo Banzon in scenic Highway 101 in Mendocino County.
Brod Willie Vergara in this pictorial article "Thinking Globally, Acting Locally" shows that residents, in partnership with the government and the private sector, can preserve and promote the beauty and eco-friendliness of their community.
Brod Rene de Rueda explains the concept and strategy and updates us on our very own Beta Sigma Heritage Tree Park, the Centennial Forest Project that is supported by the UPBSFI with the UP Visayas Beta Sigma at the forefront.
Brod Johnny Regadio visits and makes an ocular inspection of the UP Visayas Betas Sigma Fraternity Alumni Association Centennial Forest (CENFOR), a 3-hectare area of rolling hills in centennial celebration of the UP.
Brod Vic Battad in "Greenhouse Best Management Practices" (Part 1) are activities, procedures, systems, processes and management initiatives that can serve as a guide for the UP Beta Sigma Visayas Centennial Forest project. *Note: Part1 has been combined with Part 2 in November 2009 issue.
Brod Jun Battad in "The 2009 Black Saturday Fires in Victoria, Australia" describes the bushfire in the state of Victoria resulting in the biggest lost of life, destroyed thousands of houses and structures, and left thousands of people homeless.
Brod Vic Battad in "Greenhouse Best Management Practices" (Parts 1 and 2 combined) are activities, procedures, systems, processes and management initiatives that can serve as a guide for the UP Beta Sigma Visayas Centennial Forest project.
Brod Philip Chua in "Destroying Our Planet" warns of the imminent grave risk of our planet being destroyed if Global Warming continues unabated and man's abuse of his environment will certainly doom the world he lives in.
Brod Willie Vergara spent his New Year's weekend enjoying this 400,000 square foot museum/planetarium/aquarium located inside San Francisco Golden Gate Park in "The California Academy of Sciences: A Fabulous Visual Experience".
Brod Willie Vergara explains in "Xeriscaping: Eco-Friendly Gardening" the advantages of this water-wise landscaping that is most useful where water conservation is desired, promoted and/or legislated and where drought is imminent.
Brod Joel Artajo, Grand Princep of UP Beta Sigma Visayas gives a brief update of the UPV Centennial Forest Project in Iloilo with support from UPBSFI and local alumni brods. Despite the drought, 50-60% of the trees planted remain.
Brod Popoy Castañeda in "Shall We Start Building An Ark?" dissects the cause of the recurring flooding problem in Metro Manila as witnessed by Typhoon Ondoy that dropped 18 inches or rain in 24 hrs. in Sept. 2009 causing massive devastation.
April 2010 - Earth Day (special article) Brod Willie Vergara writes this special edition in time for the 40th Earth Day celebrations at the City of Roseville and Placer County, California on April 17, 2010. The green movement is a way of life that promises a better future for humanity.
Brod Popoy Castañeda in "Shall We Start Building An Ark? (Part Two)" explains why one critical solution to the flooding problem in the Philippines is our rainforests that influence the climate and is useful in the conservation of water.
Brod Popoy Castañeda in "Shall We Start Building An Ark? (Part Three)" goes historical and traces the loss and exploitation of our forest cover. He explains the details that occurs in over-logging.
Brod Popoy Castañeda in "Shall We Start Building An Ark? (last of series) explains how the destruction of our rainforests also causes damage to our coastal fishery resources, mangroves, sea grass beds and coral reef ecosystems.
Brod Vic Battad in "Aquaphonics", the integration of aquaculture and hydroponics, explains how plants and fish are grown together in one integrated recirculation system and how the wastes of one biological system becomes the food of another.
Brod Willie Vergara in "Comeback of the Chinook Salmon" explain how environmentalists have scored a big win with the return of the salmon in California and Oregon rivers and streams in impressive numbers.
Brod Rolly Reyes, former RP Undersecretary of Tourism for Marketing and Promotions, in "A Teardop in the Sand" describes the natural beauty of Boracay and summarizes the environmental issues confronting this jewel island.
Brod Willie Vergara in "An Enormous Salmon Comeback" says the salmon will be jumping off the coast of California and this coming summer season, for the first time in years, anglers will be allowed to catch them in large numbers.
May 2012 - Earth Day (special article) Brod Willie Vergara writes this special edition for the 42nd Earth Day celebrations at Placer County, California with local government agencies, vendors, green clubs and associations.sharing information, products and services to the public.
Brod Popoy Castañeda describes the physiography and beauty of the Tubattaha Reef in Palawan. Recently the reef was damaged when the USS Guardian ran aground and destroyed more than 4,000 square meters of the atoll.
March 2013 - "Lolong" (special article) Brod Joe Diaz, DVM, who served as director of the Palawan Crocodile Institute, writes about the largest crocodile in the world, 20-foot "Lolong", captured in Agusan del Sur in 2011 and the lessons learned in managing large crocodile..
Brod Willie Vergara hails the success of the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Reserve which is a floodway that controls the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta..It has restored the natural wildlife habitats and is a popular recreational area..
Brod Popoy Castañeda writes about our National Bird, the Philippine Eagle - "Haring Ibon", the world's 2nd largest eagle..
Brod Willie Vergara reveals the beauty of a small park and a community-driven environmental program near Sacramento, The Fair Oaks Bluffs and The Cliffhanger, that is home to several species of birds in a bucolic and peaceful surroundings.
Brod Judge Rey, traveling with his wife Mely and co-Prepiam Macky Brod Llamarca, captures with his camera the fauna - iguana, land tortoise, lizards and reptiles, various bird species, etc. - at the Galapagos Islands.
Brod Willie Vergara captures with his camera the fall migration of the Sandhill Cranes in the vast lands of Walnut Grove and Lodi, near Sacramento. These big, powerful birds thatt fly in a "V" formation also give us some lessons in life.
Brod Willie Vergara takes an hour and a half drive with his family from Sacramento to admire the beautiful daffodils in an estate, now popularly known as Daffodil Hill, that was established in 1887 during the early days of Gold Rush.
Brod Ramon Paje, the DENR Secretary and a multi-talented, multi-degree forester, embarks on an ambitious National Greening Program that spearheads the reforestation of hundreds of millions of hectares of Philippine land by 2016.
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Our Authors
Dr. Gerry Abenes Popoy Castañeda Willie Vergara Vic Ramos
Dr. Pogs Gaspay Vic Battad Dr. Jun Battad Rene de Rueda
Ms. Rose Veridiano Bernie Bacosa Johnny Regadio Philip Chua
Rolly Reyes Joe Diaz Judge Rey Ramon Paje
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