Filed under: Green Culture, Ford, Green Daily, Asia
Ford Ecogrants funds conservation projects in the Philippines
Ford Philippines announced yesterday that it will give out grants worth nearly a million Philippine pesos to local four conservation and environmental groups. That sounds like a lot, but it's really just over $23,000US. The awards are part of Ford Philippines annual Ecogrants program. Only one of this year's grantees is related to carbon emissions or something else that we would usually report on, but this is an example of Ford's self-expressed statement that "Caring for the environment is part of the Ford DNA." The winners of the 2007 Ford Ecogrants were, in the words of Ford's announcment:
- Dr. Menandro Acda - for his project entitled "Recycling Waste Chicken Feathers For Low Cost Building Material in the Philippines". Dr. Acda is a repeat grantee from 2006. His project this year seeks to utilize the thousands of tons of chicken feathers as a binding agent for concrete blocks. The result is a cheap and effective building material which simultaneously rids farmers and the environment of thousands of tons of chicken feathers. The practice of the disposing of feathers through burning contributes to global warming while its burial takes years to decompose due to its keratin composition also badly contributing to the environment. The funding received from the Ford Ecogrants will be used for research and laboratory equipment as well as the procurement and transportation of the chicken feathers.
- Mr. Rodilo Lebino - For his project entitled, "Conservation and Rehabilitation of T'nalak Production" which seeks to reinvigorate the practices of the ethnic people of Cotabato in the ritual cloth weaving called T'nalak. The Ford grant money will be used to procure the weaving materials and implements for T'nalak production and training natives in the processes of T'nalak production.
- Clean and Green Foundation, Inc. - the Clean and Green foundations project, entitled "Orchids and Butterflies" seeks to create a greenhouse at the Orchidarium in Manila that will serve as a genuine repository and showcase area of endangered and rare Philippine flora.
- KLIMA- Climate Change Center – Manila Observatory – This repeat winner's project entitled "Schools on LOCo2 With The Low Carbon Diet For A Healthy Lifestyle," which is a continuation of last year's project seeks to promote awareness among the youth on global warming and harmful CO2 emissions. They aim to achieve this by creating educational and awareness materials in the form of posters, flyers and panels which they then tour around different schools. They also have talks and fora where students can get more information on global warming. The Ford grant money will be used to develop new educational material and awareness-generating campaigns.
[Source: Ford Philippines]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Norberto Bautista 12:36AM (2/16/2008)
Hi to the Ford Foundation Philippines,
Warm Greetings! Can I have a copy of digital pictures above, during the awarding of the eco-grant. I am from the Clean & Green Foundation. Thank you very much and More Power!
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poorboy 12:38PM (6/04/2008)
Hi and thanx for putting up this site concerning about the environment. I just dont know who and where to address my protest against this WORLD PYRO OLYMPICS, which is being held YEARLY in the PHILIPPINES. We need not to be very intelligent that these fireworks produces harmful elements on air and on sea after they have exploded. In some article posted on the net for example, Barium, for instance, is used to produce brilliant green colors in fireworks displays, despite being poisonous and radioactive. Copper compounds are used to produce blue colors, even though they contain dioxin, which has been linked to cancer. Cadmium, lithium, antimony, rubidium, strontium, lead and potassium nitrate are also commonly used to produce different effects, even though they can cause a host of respiratory and other health problems. These are just a few of the many harmful effect that fireworks can contribute to our environment. Their housing also which will fall from MANILA BAY that still contains harmful elements that could contaminate the ocean and devastate marine life. How about the physical waste that these fireworks will leave after? How much air and water pollution will a 15 minute(per country) of nonstop explosion can contribute to our dying earth. Why does the philippine government allow this event to happen in our country. Probably the authorities are collecting fair amount of money for granting this show. Even the powerful broadcast tv networks who calls for saving the environment are promoting this show. Whatta hypocritical acts on part of the governments and broadcast medias. I know that there are lot of people with true intentions of saving our environment. Just incase that u arent aware that fireworks are hazardous to nature and our health, i hope you include the banning of this show in your campaign for saving our mother earth. GINAGAWANG BASURAHAN NG DAYUHAN ANG DAGAT AT HANGIN NATIN with the permission of our government. BAN FIREWORKS DISPLAY. pardon me for my english... Thank you very much :)
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