Editorial
Environment as election issue
FOR decades since postwar, election campaign issues, whether national or local, revolved mainly around corruption, peace and order, education, infrastructure development and poverty. And still, for decades while discussions and debates on platforms were largely treated an essential component of the political circus, and were largely never taken seriously, what with the unabated massive vote-buying that was seen as the final determining factor in most elections.
But fortunately in recent years, most have began to appreciate the importance of public governance, having directly experienced how government policies and the conduct of their elected officials have these affected their family lives and livelihood. For instance, today, more than at anytime in the past, people are beginning to appreciate how corruption in all levels of public office and government service has deprived them of opportunities for a better life in their own communities.
While the discussion of these traditional election issues remain important and compelling in deciding the 2010 elections, the importance of safeguarding environment as a major political issue can no longer be ignored, especially on the heels of the unprecedented level of destruction suffered by thousands of families across the country wrought by natural calamities.
Our people can no longer deny that continued degradation of our environment directly caused massive flooding, mudslide and landslides, food poisoning owing to presence of high level of toxic chemicals in farm and fish products, rising prices of farm and fish products owing to decreased supply, loss of potable water for household use, etc. People can now relate to the consequences of wanton cutting and uprooting of trees in their surroundings, the unregulated development of subdivisions, irresponsible disposal of waste and garbage, dynamite fishing, unregulated quarrying and operation of fish pens, the pollution of our rivers and seas with chemicals and human wastes, encroachment on accreted land, etc.
In the light of these, would-be candidates for national and local posts must perforce demonstrate to all and sundry what their visions are for the preservation of our environment and surroundings. Their platforms for the environment should address the following basic concerns: 1) Waste disposal management 2) Forestation 3) Clean up of rivers and improvement on the quality of water 4) Informal settlers 5) Quarrying 6) Illegal fishing 7) Sewage in the communities.
How our families and communities will survive calamities from hereon will now largely depend on how our future political leaders’ vision and plans for our environment and surroundings.
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