Science walks on two legs

In the first release of AGHAM's column in The Manila Times, a national daily newspaper in the Philippines, Dr. Giovanni Tapang, chairman of AGHAM and leading member of STSC (Scientists for Truth, Scientists for Change) alliance, talked about how science and technology should benefit the people. The title Science walks on two legs refers to the concept that development of science should not only come from scientists (one leg) but also, and more importantly, from the contributions of the people's (second leg) rich day-to-day experience and encounter with nature.

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Thursday, May 15, 2008

PROMETHEUS BOUND
By Giovanni Tapang, Ph.D.
Science walks on two legs
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/may/15/yehey/opinion/20080515opi5.html

Today, as it was in history, science, technology and society are inextricably linked in our daily activities to produce our needs. Yet with hews of discoveries in science each day, it seems surprising that many people worldwide still remain in poverty. This irony is made more intense in a country like the Philippines where we have bright and learned scientists and a populace who would benefit from their skills and discoveries. However, local scientists find it hard to be scientists in a country that lacks industries that would need them. We have skilled engineers who can find jobs only in foreign-owned companies or abroad. Meanwhile, we continue to import costly manufactured goods and export raw agricultural and mineral products in its stead.

For sharing his knowledge of fire with humanity, Prometheus was bound in chains and tortured daily until he was freed by Hercules. The growth of science and technology in the Philippines is similarly shackled to chronic underdevelopment by economic and political obstacles. Yet science and technology (or the lack thereof) play a large part in our everyday lives. There are problems that are made clear by science, such as climate change, that would have a direct impact on communities, and there are current issues that can be seen in a more scientific bent. In this space, we shall be probing the interplay and relevance of the forces of productive advancement: science, technology and society.

Earth Day reminded us there is a growing concern about climate change and rapid environmental changes. It is expected to bring about massive economic devastation and loss of human lives. Already, this impending threat is reflected in increasing temperatures and sea water levels in the Philippines. During 1986 to 1990, 84 typhoons inflicted damage amounting to P36.46 billion, according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council. In the same period, droughts damaged crops amounting to some P20.47 billion.

The warming of the world’s climate system has been well established by the 2007 Nobel Prize-winning report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Greenhouse gases (GHGs) that contributed to the warming of the earth have increased due to human activities, increasing by 70 percent in the last 30 years. The past decade and a half are among the warmest years since a century and a half ago. Sea level increase has accelerated from an average of 1.8 millimeters annually (from 1961) to 3.1 millimeters per year (from 1996). Ice cover in the Arctic is shrinking by 2.7 percent per decade, doubling in summer to 7.4 percent. Increased intense tropical cyclones have also been observed. These put coastal areas and island nations at risk.

Managing the impacts of climate change is highly dependent on a community’s social and economic development. For countries, there seems to be an inverse relationship between climate change vulnerability and responsibility. The United States is currently the number one producer of GHGs, accounting for more than 25 percent worldwide. Yet the US government has refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol, a treaty signed by around 169 countries to reduce global levels of GHG emissions by 5.2 percent from their 1990 levels.

The most vulnerable to climate change are those in the most vulnerable economic position in society: the poorest peoples in the poor countries. For example, peasant families would not only lose crops due to climate change but also the very little money they have invested in farming.

Carbon offsets mechanism should be reviewed, especially those GHG reduction and emissions trading projects that shift responsibility from industrialized countries to developing countries. Furthermore, the extreme end of denying development to poor and developing countries just to meet emission targets should be avoided. Reducing poverty means providing adequate energy to developing countries while building their capacity to withstand climate change impacts.

Climate change aggravates other environmental problems brought about by globalization’s ever-increasing destruction of our ecology. The capacity of communities to respond to these disasters should be strengthened. Local scientists and organizations should reach out to disseminate concepts, knowledge, methods and tools at the grassroots level. Community based disaster response, monitoring and mitigation can be undertaken and livelihood should be provided for those who are vulnerable to disasters.

It isn’t rocket science but mobilizing communities that would greatly address our collective ability to face climate change. This would be the platform to pressure industrial countries to adopt genuine reduction targets. This can push government to put people’s interests over the exigencies of foreign affairs and a lack of industrial policy, and draw up meaningful programs to mitigate the impacts of climate change and underdevelopment.

Dr. Giovanni Tapang is a physicist and chairperson of AGHAM or the Samahan ng Nagtataguyod ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa Sambayanan founded in 1999. He is an assistant professor at UP Diliman.

Feedback: prom.bound@gmail.com

Scientists join May 1 (Labor Day) mass action

Several scientists, engineers, students, and advocates of science and technology for the people marched and shouted demands with workers in commemoration of International Workers' Day. Calls range from economic like improving workers' condition, 125 pesos across-the-board wage hike, and the like to political ones including that for President Arroyo to be ousted through People Power.

Click on the image to view a larger version


More photos here.

NOTE: This post is a bit late, but better late than never. Right?

We held a mini hot-air baloon protest last March 14, 2008 in preparation of the large youth rally later that day.


For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

2006 impeachment complaint against Gloria Arroyo

Here's a copy of the 2006 impeachment complaint against Gloria Arroyo. It was trashed by the GMA-loyal congressmen even before the content was heared and deliberated upon. Many of us know that more impeachable offenses has been committed after this complaint.

Click here to download

Photos of March 14 mass action

Click on the image to see more photos

Statement of the Ateneo Debate Society

Statement of the Ateneo Debate Society
Why We Should Call for Arroyo's Resignation

We have achieved moral certainty that there is enough
basis to call for resignation.

NBN-ZTE deal

There is an obvious, deliberate attempt to hide truth from the public about the anomalous circumstances surrounding the ZTE contract. Despite testimonies by Jun Lozada and Joey de Venecia pertaining to direct involvement of the President and by FG, Malacanang's only response was to invoke EO 464 and refuse to disclose records of the ZTE deal.

Hello Garci

Comelec officials have not been punished for glaring anomalies in the last presidential elections. Despite evidence showing Arroyo intervening by talking to a Comelec Commissioner, and an admission from Arroyo herself of doing so, justice still has not been served.

Extrajudicial killings

The administration has not answered for its involvement and continues to coddle implicated personalities like Gen. Palparan. International institutions, such as Amnesty International, have condemned the administration for, at the least, gross negligence resulting to the deaths of hundreds.

Other unanswered anomalies

The Fertilizer Fund scam exposed by Jocjoc Bolante, who explained how funds were diverted to Arroyo's 2004 campaign. The North Rail project, wherein the Philippine government purportedly lost hundreds of millions of pesos on an overpriced contract. The Telecoms Franchise Bill, where FG allegedly asked for a 50-million peso bribe for the President to lift her
veto.

Moral certainty is different from legal certainty.

Demanding evidence to meet legal certainty falls prey to the rhetoric of the Arroyo administration. Clearly, the law was framed to enable trust in the government by its people. In this situation, that trust has been breached. Legal certainty is not the absolute barometer for deciding when people should engage in protest action against a specific regime. Moral repugnance justifies a call for new, more credible leadership.

Meaningful reform is impossible under the Arroyo administration.

Efforts to institute reform have been co-opted. The Ombudsman is appointed by the administration and is perceived to be largely pandering to Arroyo's interest. The DOJ is run by Raul Gonzalez, who has proven to be extremely loyal to Arroyo. Laws like the anti-plunder law and institutions like the PAGC have been unable to hold the administration and its officials to task.

The current corruption problem is not a problem of legislation. While the existing laws are essential, and proposed ones like the Access to Information Bill can empower the citizenry in their desire to improve government accountability, they need to be accompanied by public confidence in the government's commitment and willingness to implement them. Corruption is an issue of leadership. Massive distrust in the highest official signifies that government is no longer perceived as effective in discharging its duties. This negativity only harms the nation in the long-run.

The logic that we should wait for other people to make up their minds or come out with more evidence is erroneous.

This is a chicken and egg argument. If we all take a lead, it becomes easier for institutions, like the CBCP, to heed our call. It also becomes easier for people with pertinent information to come out.

The potential ineptitude of the succeeding administration is not an excuse to allow an illegitimate regime to stay in power.

Should Noli de Castro become the President, the challenge is for the citizenry not to disengage simply because they achieved the goal of Arroyo's resignation, which was civil society's folly post-EDSA 2.

A military takeover will not necessarily follow from a call for resignation.

There was no military takeover when calls were made for Estrada to resign. Military adventurism has never worked without popular support, as evidenced by Oakwood and Manila Peninsula.

We believe that the removal of the Arroyo administration presents a crucial opportunity to institute reforms and changes to which this current administration has been deaf. A call for resignation is not only constitutional, but more importantly, moral.

Statement from Ateneo Debate Society

Joseph James E. Alcantara

IV AB Social Science, Ateneo de Manila University
Varsity Debater & Adjudicator, Ateneo Debate Society
Vice-President for PR & Comm., Ateneo Debate Society
Team Manager, Ateneo de Manila Track and Field Team
President, Social Science Circle
Moderator, Grade School Debate Club

Joke making the rounds: Magnanakaw

A thief broke into the Palace kitchen,
bumped into Evil Bitch and her husband.
They froze, thief flees screaming
"DIOS KO, MAGNANAKAW!"