by Les Taylor, Accountant and supporter of Miss Earth Australia
On Easter Saturday, 22 March 2008, a number of enthusiastic volunteers banded together to assist Sutherland Shire Council with a tree planting initiative at the Henry Lawson Reserve, Como. These volunteers were a number of young women who will be contesting the Australian Miss Earth award. Assisting these women in this initiative were a number of friends and family.
It was a cloudy Saturday, with much wet weather threatening, but the contestants demonstrated a willingness to literally “get down in the garden and get dirty and
muddy” as over a hundred saplings were planted in the reserve’s bushland. Sutherland Shire Council were on hand to supply equipment, tea, coffee, and gardening expertise in order to enable supporters of the 2008 Miss Earth Australia initiative to get active and passionate about the local environment. Indeed, the planting of trees has many positive benefits. Large trees facilitate the ecosystem by extracting carbon dioxide and returning oxygen to the atmosphere. This is through the process of photosynthesis. Also to be remembered is the fact that trees absorb toxins from water that runs off from storms, keep soil porus, and allow for storm water to be used by the soil rather than merely go into drains and be projected into the sea.
Trees also provide sources of shade and help to increase levels of humidity. Shade in turn reduces levels of radiated energy, which provides flow on benefits to other plant and animal life. When trees are in proximity to houses, the shade that is generated reduces energy consumption, particularly air-conditioning in the summer months.
Initiatives such as this will mean that in the longer term, the natural processes of the ecosystem will be enhanced. By increasing the levels of water and oxygen in the atmosphere, other inhabitants of the environment, both current and future, will be able to enjoy the benefits of unspoilt natural resources.
Days such as March 22 will, when organised consistently, enhance the regeneration of the environment in order that natural resources can be renewed, the visual and aesthetic aspects of the trees will be enhanced, and suburbs will become more colourful and attractive with a multitude of Australian trees and plantlife.
Above all, a wonderful team building exercise was facilitated by this planting. It got candidates working together in an actual garden setting, it reinforced the benefits of regular environmental renewal, and it reiterated the interrelationship between trees, oxygen, water, wildlife, and human life.
Miss Earth Takes Part in the UN
Convention on Climate Change
Newly crowned Miss Earth 2007 Jessica
Nicole Trisko did not waste any time upon
returning from her hometown, Canada after
winning the title. Along with Miss Earth
2004 Priscilla Meirelles (Brazil), Miss
Earth-Water and Director of Miss Earth
Foundation Catherine Untalan (Philippines)
and Miss Indonesia Earth 2007 Atri Aldoranti
and court, Trisko flew to Bali, Indonesia
where more than 15,000 environmental leaders
and representatives from countries all
over the world come together to discuss
issues on Climate Change.
Last December 10, 2007, the group together
with the executives of Carousel Productions,
Inc. and the national
organizers,
went to the Cool Energy Exhibition with the theme:
“Care for the Change”. More than 20
companies, non-government organizations and other
groups participated in this exposition held in
the Peninsula Island inside the Nusa Dua Resort
showcasing displays about wildlife conservation,
energy and forest preservation. One of the highlights
of this one week event which has been running
since December 8 and will commence on the 14th
is the live talk show participated in by the Miss
Earth beauties who took the opportunity to express
their strong support for renewable
energy, alternative fuel and the over-all
protection of our planet Earth. In a symbolic
ceremony, the queens put their thumbmarks
on a board to show their commitment to a
corporate project which aims to plant 1
Million trees all over Indonesia. “We
are one people, one planet, one Earth. The
same waters that touch the beautiful beaches
of Bali touch the beaches in Canada. We
must remeber that we are much closer to
each other. The Indonesians has been so
hospitable to us since we got here. I hope
our environmental leaders approach coming
up with solutions for climate change with
such warmth, passion and dedication. ”
said Trisko in a radio interview.
Their attendance
and representation in this very important global
environmental convention is a giant leap towards
the realization of the Miss Earth Foundation’s
goals in attaining a more sustainable environment
for the future generations. “We are very
much privileged to take part in this international
initiative to help combat climate change. Each
day, we feel its effects more and it shouldn’t
take big disasters or resource shortage for us
to take concrete actions.”shared Lorraine
Schuck, EVP for Carousel Productions, Inc. who
is behind the cause-oriented pageant.
This is
a proof that Miss Earth has not only been growing
but also, lives up to its advocacy year after
year.
Miss Earth 2006 joins “I
Love My Planet Earth” School Tour
In preparation for the Miss Earth 2007
on November 11, Miss Earth 2006 Hil Hernandez
arrived in Manila last September 7, 2007.
Very excited in her return to the Philippines
where she won the crown that made her
Mother Earth’s ambassadress, she
joined the Miss Philippines-Earth 2007
court in their “I Love My Planet
Earth” School Tour last September
10 in San Juan Elementary School in Cainta,
Rizal. The group was welcomed with the
school band and jubilant students and
school officials who were very happy to
be part of the awareness and education
campaign of the foundation. Hil had a
chance to go from classroom to classroom
giving the message of hope to the children
and
encouraging
them to be Earth savers as well. “I am very
glad to be one of the facilitators in this project.
The Philippines is a very beautiful country and
‘basura’ is destroying it. I encourage
the kids to practice good habits while they are
still very young. They can be very effective examples
to other children and even to the adults. We owe
the environment to the future generations.”
expressed our Miss Earth 2006 who hails from Chile.
When asked what she missed most when she left
the Philippines 2 months ago, she said, “I
missed the beautiful places I went to like Palawan
and Boracay. But above that, I look forward to
being amongst the Filipino people who are most
friendly and kind.”
Hil will
continue to be part of the school tours in her
stay here in the Philippines alongside her preparations
to bequeath her crown to the next guardian of
the Earth.
MEF extends support to the Philippine
government’s environmental efforts
September 4, 2007 was an eventful day
for the Miss Earth Foundation after strengthening
its commitment to help save the environment
with the local government of Pasig, the
Department of Environment and Natural
Resources and the Senate. Led by Project
Director of MEF and Miss Earth-Water 2006
Catherine Untalan, the Miss Philippines-Earth
2007 court composed of Jeanne Harn, Krystle
Dizon (Air), Sarah Katrina Minoza (Fire)
and Anna Katrina Bautista (Eco-Tourism)
graced the celebration of Luntiang Pasig
and the launching of the numerous projects
for Pasig Green City made possible through
the efforts of newly elected Mayor Bobby
Eusebio. From solid waste management programs,
intensive recycling in schools
and homes, treeplanting and greening urban areas
to converting government vehicles from diesel
or gas to LPG, the city dubbed as the recycling
capital in the Philippines is indeed serious
in their commitment to be a sustainable urban
area.
Afterwhich, the group
paid a courtesy call to the new DENR Secretary,
Hon. Lito Atienza in his office in Visayas
Avenue, Quezon City. The secretary who
has been a very active partner of the
group even in his mayoralty days in Manila
received full support from the group who
agreed to undergo a seminar in his office
to become more effective spokespersons
of the Philippine environment. Lil Earth
Angel 2007 winner Michaela Abuan was also
there to show that even the young cares
for the world we live in and would like
to contribute to save it. The next project
will be on September 15 during the International
Coastal Clean-up Day in San Dionisio,
Paranaque City.
Recognizing the importance
of legislation in protecting our natural resources,
the group proceeded to the Senate to encourage
our senators to pay more attention to the neglected
and often taken for granted issues of our environment
particularly for the passage of the Renewable
Energy Bill which failed to pass last Congress.
The rest of the charming Lil Earth Angels 2007
Court (Sabrina Chui Mae; Air, Izelle Josef Li;
Water, Hannah Silos; Fire and Chelsie Santos;
Eco-Tourism) were very effective in getting
the attention of our lawmakers in encouraging
them to do something to save our Mother Earth
for the children and the future generations.
Senators Pia Cayetano, Richard Gordon, Jinggoy
Estrada, Francis Escudero, Juan Ponce Enrile,
Jamby Madrigal, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda,
Gringo Honasan and Biofuels Act author Miguel
Zubiri III took time to have a short conversation
with the girls who expressed their concerns
and were responded too with pledges of support.
Senator Jinggoy Estrada responded rapidly to
this plea by sending the copy of a Senate Bill
he wrote in support of the Renewable Energy
movement to MEF.
It is the fervent hope of
these beauty queens and the Miss Earth Foundation
that these encounters are just beginnings of
a more dynamic campaign in national and global
levels to help abate the effects of climate
change that affects everyone.
“I Love My Planet Earth”
School Tour reaches the Asia’s Latin Capital
Apart from the scheduled tours in Metro
Manila from July to November, beauty queens
Miss Philippines-Earth 2007 Jeanne Harn
and Miss Earth-Water 2006 Cathy Untalan
had the privilege of visiting Zamboanga
City and Ipil in Zamboanga-Sibugay (Region
9-Western Mindanao) from July 24-27, 2007
to spread the message of caring for our
Mother Earth.
Through the efforts of Carousel Productions,
Inc. EVP and native to the town, Ms. Lorraine
Schuck and Vice-Mayor of Ipil Amy Olegario,
the party of 7 including the two sisters
of Ms. Schuck, Carol Iglesias and Councilor
Sophia of Rizal,
Ms. Peachy
Veneracion (Project Director of CPI) and Ms. Judith
Reyes (Finance Officer) spent 2 days in Ipil in
celebration of their 58th Anniversary.
The team
visited Ms. Schuck’s alma mater Marian College
and Ipil Central Elementary School, where they
spoke to more than a thousand elementary students.
They were also warmly welcomed in Universidad
de Zamboanga where they gave messages in their
Environment Symposium. Aside from teaching, the
beauty queens had a motorcade, radio and newspaper
interviews, judged a cooking contest which showcased
the creativity and kitchen expertise of the best
cooks per barangay, and their Miss Ipil 2007 whose
winners will eventually come to Manila to be trained
so they can conduct the school tour in their town
as well.
The team visited Ms.
Schuck’s alma mater Marian College
and Ipil Central Elementary School, where
they spoke to more than a thousand elementary
students. They were also warmly welcomed
in Universidad de Zamboanga where they
gave messages in their Environment Symposium.
Aside from teaching, the beauty queens
had a motorcade, radio and newspaper interviews,
judged a cooking contest which showcased
the creativity and kitchen expertise of
the best cooks per barangay, and their
Miss Ipil 2007 whose winners will eventually
come to Manila to be trained so they can
conduct the school tour in their town
as well.
This trip is a testimony
to the beauty and serenity of Zamboanga-Sibugay
as opposed to the image being falsely portrayed
and projected to many that plants fears in tourists
instead of encouraging them to visit. In contrary,
this haven of beautiful beaches and precious
pearls, is a place of warm and very hospitable
people who even surpass the sweetness of the
best fruits like marang, durian, mangosteen
and lanzones. The only terrorists are those
who bastardize the resources and sites that
everyone, not only Filipinos, should cherish
and enjoy in peace.
