Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Aking Dalangin...

muli na namang sumapit ang isang panibagong taon...

ang pagsalubong sa hinaharap ay isinasagawa ng marami sa pamamagitan ng mga panalangin... paghahanda ng iba't-ibang kakanin at mga prutas na bilog... may mga "amulet" ... mga paputok pantanggal (daw) ng malas... at iba't-iba pang mga pamahiin na kung magkaminsan ay mas higit pa nating napag-uukulan ng pansin...

gagawin ang lahat ng pamamaraan para lang makasunod sa mga pamahiin o kasabihan...

ang aking dalangin sa taong ito... sana ang pagtugon ng bawat indibidwal sa tawag ng kanyang misyon, sa pag-aadbokasiya, para sa kagalingan ng nakararami ay maging parang binhi ng palay, na tumutubo at namumunga sa pagkatao ng mga mananampalataya...

matugunan nawa natin ang hamon ng panahon ngayong 2009... amen

Thursday, December 18, 2008

kayang paikutin...


bago sa aking pang-unawa ang nangyayari sa Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (OMECO). nakapagdesisyon na ang mga BODs nito na P8,000.00 lamang na cash gift ang kayang ibigay ng kooperatiba sanhi ng katatayuang pinansiyal... nabuo ang desisyon noong december 9,2008...

sa hindi ko malamang kadahilanan... nagkaroon muli ng meeting na ginanap kahapon december 18,2008... ang agenda ay ang pagbibigay ng 14th month pay sa mga empleyado. tulad ng inaasahan... makakatanggap silang (mga empleyado) lahat nito. s'yempre pa ang pambayad sa NAPOCOR ang nabawasan sa pangyayaring ito...

nakakalungkot isipin na ang ating mga BODs ng OMECO ay sunud-sunuran sa kagustuhan ng kanilang general manager...

nakakahiya na kaya silang paikutin...

hindi kaya nahahamon ang kanilang kakayahang mag-isip?

ang kanilang kakayahang magpasya?

nasaan na ang kanilang prinsipyo?

ang lahat ba ng ito ay may katapat na salapi???

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

kaginhawahan at kahirapan, dapat pasalamatan...

sa panahon ng kasaganaan... halos wala tayong pagsidlan ng tuwa... maligaya at tunay na napakasarap ng buhay... sana ang panahong ito'y wala ng wakas!

sobrang kahirapan ang laging naisasangkalan (idinadahilan) sa maraming mga pagkakataon, kapag ang tao ay nakagagawa ng mga kamalian... mayroon pa ngang minumura at sinisisi ang Diyos... bakit Mo ako pinarurusahan ng ganito? ano ba ang kasalanan ko sa Iyo?

ganito rin ang naranasan at sinabi ni Job sa panahon ng mga pagsubok sa kanya... hindi siya sumuko... hindi nabawasan ang kanyang paniniwala at pananampalataya sa Ama... nalampasan n'ya ang lahat at nabalik muli sa kanya ang mga nawala ng mas higit pa sa dati... sinabi niya na ang kaginhawahan at kahirapan ay dapat pasalamatan.

pinili ni Job na magpakahirap upang sundin ang kalooban ng Diyos... tama 'yun!

pero kung kaya ikaw ay naghihirap dahil may mga taong umaagaw ng kabuhayang dapat ay para sa iyo... ibang usapan na 'yan!

kung ikaw ay nagpapakahirap para sa ikalulugod ng Diyos! ayos 'yan!

pero kung kaya ikaw ay nagpapakahirap dahil gusto mong malugod sa iyo ang dinidiyos mong TAO!!! ibang usapan na iyan...

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

OMECO 14th month pay...

kapag ang Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative ay nagbigay ng 14th month pay sa kanyang mga empleyado ang coop ay gagastos ng mahigit sa tatlong milyong piso... samantalang kung additional cash gift... ang gagastusin ng OMECO ay mahigit isang milyon lamang...

ayon sa special meeting ng OMECO BOD noong december 9,2008 sa NEA office,napagalaman ng mga BOD na under NEAs guideline... allowed ang coop na magbigay ng P5,000.00 pero P3,000.00 lang ang naibigay. kaya ang mga empleyado ay makakatanggap ng P8,000.00. additional P3,000.00 as per NEAs guideline at additional P5,000.00 as per resolution... hindi pwede ang 14th month pay kasi ang isinaalang-alang dito ay ang katatayuang pananalapi ng OMECO...

pero alam n'yo ba na may bagong info akong natanggap na nagtransfer na ng pondo si gm alex labrador mula sa mamburao para sa 14th month pay???

anak ng mga barakong bayawak!!! sana hindi ito magkatotoo...

alam kong hindi dapat na madamay ang mga empleyado sa mga nangyayari sa OMECO... pero hindi ba mayroon tayong kasabihan... "na habang maliit ang kumot magtiis munang mamaluktot?"

kunsabagay mayroon din namang kasabihan... " kung gusto mong magkaroon ng sariling pag-aari... manghiram ka at huwag mong isauli!!!"

Monday, December 15, 2008

me and my GOD...

december 16. unang araw ng simbang gabi. tradisyon na ng mga mananampalatayang katoliko ang dumalo sa siyam na araw na "misa de gallo". pansinin ang iba't-ibang religious organization sa bawat panig ng simbahan, pare-pareho kasi ang kanilang suot, depende sa kinaaniban.

minsan sa isang pagpupulong kami ay kinumbida upang magbigay ng paliwanag tungkol sa adbokasiya laban sa mina. nung sabihin sa akin na mahigit apatnapu ang bibigyan namin ng kamalayan sa masamang dulot ng pagmimina ay natuwa ako... religious organization ba naman eh... ibig sabihin mataas ang pagpapahalaga nila sa mga bagay na nilikha ng DIYOS... sa inregridad ng LUMIKHA...

kaya lang... maling-mali (yata) ako... sa umpisa pa lamang, halatang hindi interesado ang karamihan sa kanila... di pa kami nag-uumpisa marami na ang umalis! isinuot ko pa naman ang aking damit na pang-malakasan... sa ilang mga natira at nakinig sa amin... nakakadismaya pa ang ilang mga reaksyon, bibigyan ko kayo ng halimbawa. "napakaganda po ng pagkakagawa ng inyong presentasyon... kaya lang po parang "tono" ng makakaliwa"... isa pa, "mahirap pong makilahok d'yan kasi proyekto ng gobyerno yan!"...

sa aking pagmumuni-muni... ang mga mananampalataya ay hindi pa talaga mulat na ang mga bagay na nakakaapekto sa buhay at kabuhayan ng nakararami ay dapat na hindi ipinagwawalang bahala... ang ibig kong sabihin, ang kalakhan pa rin ng mga mananampalataya ay nakasentro lamang sa kanyang sarili at sa Diyos. walang pakialam sa iba... ang kailangan lamang mailigtas ay ang kanyang kaluluwa, bahala na yung iba. hindi na nila pakikialaman... hindi na sila makikisangkot sa mga pagkilos upang tutulan ang pagpasok ng mga dayuhang kompanya ng mina... kahit pa sabihing banta ito sa ating agrikultura... banta ito sa ating kabundukan... banta ito sa ating likas na yaman... banta ito sa ating buhay at kabuhayan... banta ito sa kalikasang ibinigay sa atin ng Poong Maykapal...

Be Honest... even if others are not... even if others will not... or even if others cannot... napakaganda... kaya lang... ang pananampalatayang walang kalakip na gawa ay pananampalatayang patay...

para sa kabatiran ng lahat... FAITH IS AN ACTION WORD... amen

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Sana lang...

noong maliit pa akong bata... naiinggit ako sa mga binata, kasi pinapayagan na silang lumakad at mamasyal na mag-isa. ako ni hindi ako makalabas sa kalye... baka daw masagasaan at kung anu-ano pang mga dahilan na madalas na nakakapag-pairita sa aking batang isip. bawal sila ng bawal... napakaraming bawal sa bata kaya nakakainggit ang maging binata...

lumipas ang ilang panahon naging ganap din akong binata... napakasaya ko ng magdiwang ako ng aking debut... makapaggagala na rin ako ng mag-isa masusunod ko na ang gusto ko ng walang bawal... kaya lang bakit ganun... andami pa ring hindi pwedeng gawin... ayaw ko ng banggitin kung anu-ano... basta maraming-marami pa ring bawal... naisip ko nakakainggit ang mga matatanda... kasi sila ang nagsasabi kung ano ang mga bawal at mga hindi pwedeng gawin ng mga bata at mga binata... naisip ko tuloy ambagal ko namang tumanda...

hanggang ngayon naghihintay pa akong tumanda... naiinip na ako... tangay ng aking pagkainip, nakipag-usap na lang ako sa isang medyo may katandaang lolo na sa tingin ko ay talentado... bakas sa kanyang mukha ang pakikidigma sa kinamulatang lipunan. maputi na ang buhok at kita na rin sa mukha ang mga gatla ng mahabang karanasan... makikita ang tagumpay sa pakikibaka sa buhay sa pamamagitan ng mga singsing at relong sa tingin ko pa lamang ay pawang mamahalin... sa umpisa ng aming kwentuhan ay napatunayan ko na tama ako, siya ang nagdedesisyon kung ano ang mga dapat at hindi dapat gawin ng kanyang mga anak. marami siyang kwento ng kanyang buhay... hirap na naranasan... umiyak sa mga kabiguan... natuwa sa mga naging tagumpay.

at sa dakong huli hindi ko napigil na hindi ipahayag ang aking pagkainggit sa isang tulad n'yang matanda... isang simpleng ngiti ang kanyang binitiwan at sinabi sa akin... "huwag kang mag-apura darating din ang panahon mo! ako na kinaiinggitan mo ang nagsasabi sa iyo... sa edad kong ito na malapit ng lubugan ng araw alam mo bang naiinggit ako sa isang bata?" muntik na akong mabuwal sa aking upuan sa aking narinig!!! sa kanyang pagpapatuloy ay sinabi niya... napakasarap maging isang bata... mayroon ka lamang kalaro, isang laruan, konting pagkain... masaya na! hindi naghahangad ng sobra-sobra... madaling masiyahan... konti lang ang pangangailangan!!!

habang naglalakad ako pauwi... tama siya... sana ang lahat ng tao ay maging katulad ng isang bata... walang muwang... walang malay... sa mga katiwalian...

sana lang hindi na ako tumanda...

Thursday, December 11, 2008

bakal, edukasyon at pulitika...

ang paghuhubog, pagkokorte o pagmomolde ng bakal ay nagiging madali sa pamamagitan at sa paggamit ng apoy...

ang edukasyon ay nakukuha sa pagbabasa, panonood, karanasan at sa pagbabahagi mula sa iba, nagiging madali ito kung kumpleto ka sa materyales... (i.e. internet etc.)

ang pulitika ay sining ng pamamahala... pwede kang magkahubog o magkahugis base sa iyong kinasangkutan... pwede kang matuto... ng kabutihan... at ng kasamaan...

ang bakal ay nasisira ng kalawang... (tunay na kalawang!)

sa edukasyon ay mayroon ding naninirang kalawang... (mga "guru" na walang prinsipyo at paninindigan... sweldo lang ang habol... nagagamit pa sa pandaraya!)

sa pilitika??? kakaunti na (yata) ang may sariling paninindigan... nawala na ang prinsipyong dati ay ipinakikipaglaban... kinain na ng sistema... kinalimutan na ang dangal... malaki ang impluwensiya ng malalaking "kalawang!!!"

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

boksing at lipunan...

pinatunayan na ni manny pacquiao na pwedeng manalo sa isang todong dehadong laban... naipakita n'ya na kung talagang magkakaroon ng isang totoong pagsasanay... tunay na disiplina... susundin ang nabuong plano... presto!!! matitiyak ang tagumpay...

ang takbo ng ating lipunan ay katulad ng boksing... kapag hindi nasunod ang alinman sa mga dapat gawin, tiyak ang kabiguang makakamit...

marami na tayong mga mahuhusay na boksingerong sumikat... at lumaos kaagad... ang dahilan? nalunod ng kanilang sariling "ihi"... inakalang wala ng tatalo sa kanila... gayundin sa ating lipunan... nailagay lang sa kapangyarihan... umabuso na...

sa boksing at sa lipunan iisa lang ang tiyak... kaawa-awa ang talunan...

walang makaalala... hanggang hindi lumulubog ang araw...

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Omeco Board of Directors... ano ba talaga?

nagkaroon na naman ng numbers game kahapon sa ginanap na pulong ng OMECO BODs sa NEA office kahapon. naghain ng motion si dir. samson para iterminate ang serbisyo ni alex labrador bilang general manager ng OMECO. three sa in favor at dalawa naman ang hindi favor sa termination ni labrador. marahil sa mga nakakaalam at nakakasubaybay sa isyu nakapagtataka ito... totoo yun kasi sa apat na BODs na kakampi ni labrador hindi nakarating si dela fuente (ewan ko kung sinadya o hindi), kung dumating kasi siya all three ang magiging score... tie breaker ang chairman of the board na si jerry villanada... pero dahil nga sa wala si dela fuente kaya nanalo sa division of the house ang tatlo at nai-move ang resolusyon 138 para maalis sa serbisyo si labrador.

kaya lang akalain n'yo ba na ang chairman na si jerry villananda ay hindi pumirma sa sa nasabing resolusyon? at sa halip nang dumating si dela fuente ay naghain pa sila na magkaroon ng panibagong resolusyon para mawalan ng bisa ang nauna ng napagdesisyunan...

sa tulong ng NEA lawyer ay ipinaliwanag sa kanila na ano ang pawawalang bisa gayong hindi naman siya naniniwala sa resolution 138, kasi nga hindi nya pinirmahan.

kaya para magkaroon ng silbi ang resolution 139, pinirmahan nya ang 138.

nagkaroon ng regular meeting dec.9 ng umaga, nabuo ang reso 138 (wala kasi si dela fuente). nagpatawag si villanada ng regular meeting dec.9 ng hapon (wala naman si servando, nasa clinic kasi na-high blood, binantayan sya ni samson) doon naman nabuo ang reso 139...

grabe nakakahiya talaga ang mga BODs na walang malasakit sa ating mga consumer...

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Panis na alak...

nagpunta ako sa isang karaniwang umpukan kasama ang mga katulad kong bugoy...
maganda at masaya ang mga kwentuhan... samut-sari... magagaling ang mga punchline... masaya talaga...

pagkatapos ng ilang bote ng brandy at gin... ang mga masasayang punchline ay napalitan na ng payabangan... mayroon ng mahirap paliwanagan... may hindi na makaintindi... mayroon ng dapat unawain... bunga kaya ito ng panis na alak???

sa isang simpleng inuman ito ay karaniwang nangyayari... naisip ko bakit sa ating lipunan ngayon, marami ring mayayabang... marami ring mahirap umintindi... marami ring dapat unawain... maraming mahirap pagpaliwanagan... hindi naman sila nakainom ng ... panis na alak...

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Labanang Pacquiao at Dela Hoya…

Sa nalalapit na paghaharap ng dalawang pinakamagagaling na boksingero ng mundo… maraming mga opinyon, pala-palagay o mga kuru-kuro an gating mga maririnig sa mga umpukan at kwentuhang kanto. May mga die hard na taga-hanga si pacman… gayundin si dela hoya. Totoo namang lahat ang kanilang mga sinasabi… marami ng mga pagkakataon ang ipinakita ng dalawang manlalarong ito ang kanilang galling, walang duda… pareho silang batikan, beterano, sa larangang kanilang pinaghaharian...

Ang kanilang laban sa December 7 (sa Pilipinas) ay nakikita ko ang isang matinding sagupaan… sagupaan ng mga manunugal!!! Babaha ng limpak-limpak na salapi saan mang panig ng mundo… pustahan doon pustahan dito… pansamantalang makakalimutan ang mga problema at ang malalalim na mga panlipunang issue… pansamantalang magkakasundo ang mga tao… aabangan ang pinananabikang laban ng mga pandaigdigang boksingero…

Sa isang banda ang isang maliit na boksingerong tulad ni Pacquiao ay lalaban sa isang malaking tulad ni dela hoya… sagisag ito at kumakatawan sa kasalukuyang takbo ng buhay ng mga Pilipino… ang ating bansa ay nabibilang sa 3rd class… iyan si Pacquiao sa laban na ‘to. Ang estados Unidos ay malakas at makapangyarihan… iyan si dela hoya… nagmamay-ari ng golden boy promotion… nangingibababaw ang impluwensiya…

Nakakatakot na magkaroon ng isang masamang panaginip ang bansang Pilipinas dahil lamang sa sobrang kayabangan ng mga kampo ni Pacquiao… masyado kaya silang nasakim sa laki ng perang nakataya… totoo naman manalo at matalo marami silang pera.

Sana nga manaig ang puso… o ang tapang at galing ng pinoy… kahit pa nga mahirap lumaban ng banggaan ang bisikleta sa isang kotse…

Para sa akin…

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Ang Kakapal…

Napadaan ako sa tulay ng pinamanaan… ang tulay na hindi na natapus-tapos…
Akalain n’yo bang marinig ko na ipinagmamalaki ng manager ng bambi fm, na si (fr.(?) roni omanio, na tapos na raw ang pinakapaborito kong tulay… at akalain n’yo rin ba nagkaroon na ito ng inauguration? Dinaluhan ito ni deputy speaker maria amelita “girlie” villaroza at ilan pang mga personalidad…
Anak ng baka!!! Fr. Roni… isa kang pari (kung utak pari ka pa nga)… sana tiningnan mo muna ang pinamanaan bridge bago ka nagsalita… tsk tsk tsk…
Sa amin ang tawag sa taong hindi totoo ang sinasabi ay… SINUNGALING!!!
Ang kakapal naman… isasahimpapawid pa at sasabihing yari na ang isang proyektong kitang-kita ng mga tao na hindi naman totoo… o baka naman YARI na ang pondong nakalaan dito??? Wow grabe talaga ang kakapal n’yo!!!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Pwede pala yun!!!

nakarinig ako ng reklamo sa radyo... tungkol sa installation ng kuryente sa isang sitio sa barangay ng bubog. ang reklamo ay ganito... "bakit doon pinadaan ang kuryente samantalang wala namang bahayan doon?"... may ilang mga sapantaha na may isang maimpluwensiyang tao na nakabili ng lupa sa lugar na iyon... nakatayo na sana ang mga poste kaya nga lang may nagreklamo sa radyo, kaya ayun ipinabunot at doon na ikakabit sa lugar na maraming mga bahayan ang makikinabang...

ang gusto ko lamang sabihin... kapag pala mayroong mga magrereklamo... at ipapakipaglaban ang kanilang mga karapatan... makakamtan din ang kaayusan...

Pwede pala yun!!!

kapuna-puna...

sa tuwing sasakay ako sa aking motorsiklo... hindi ko maiwasang makita ang kakaibang uri ng mga kalsada.

kahit hindi ako inhinyero... sa pagtaya at pagtingin mo pa lamang sa mga sementadong kalsada na "niyari" ng mga kontratista ng DPWH... makikita mo o matatantiya mo kaagad na ang mga ito ay sub-standard... marupok ang yari... hindi pa nagtatagal na mayari... sira na naman!!! por diyos por santo...

gaano ba ka-bobo ang mga inspektor ng mga ahensiyang ito na namamahala sa pagawaing ito ng pamahalaan upang makapasa ang ganitong uri ng proyekto?

pera-pera na lang ba talaga ang kapalit ng ating mga dangal? pipiliting itama ang mga mali sa tamang halaga?

ang pwesto sa pamahalaan at sa anumang posisyon sa gobyerno ay iapagkakaloob upang mailubog ka sa utang na loob?

kapuna-puna... kaya lang hinahayaan mo... kasi nakikinabang ka... ang masaklap hindi ka na nga nakakatulong sa matitino... tumitira ka pa...

maraming mga garapal... kapuna-puna...

Sunday, November 23, 2008

nakaka(t)awang mga taga-sunod...

ako ay isang taga-pakinig ng ilang mga magagaling na personalidad... si mariboy ysibido, fr (?) ronnie omanio, crispin perez, robert asignacion at meron pang mga iba dyan na hindi ko matandaan ang pangalan. halata ang kanilang talento o angking talino sa kanilang maliwanag na pagpapahayag. bakas ang prinsipyo sa kanilang mga kilos at galaw. maraming mga ideya ang pwede mong mapulot sa kanilang pagbabahagi. ang tinutukoy ko ay noon... inuulit ko... noon.. hindi ngayon!!!

nakapanghihinayang ang kanilang katalinuhan... nagagamit lamang ng kanilang mga bossing na pulitiko...

ang nabanggit kong mga pangalan ay mga masunuring taga-tahol ni villaroza at ni sato, gamit ang kani-kanilang mga himpilan ng radyo. ang kanilang pamarali sa tuwing magsasalita ay ang kanilang pagiging makatao, maka-diyos at makakalikasan. hindi mawawala sa kanilang mga talumpati ang kanilang pagmamahal sa mga tao. mas marami ang karatula kesa sa kanilang project... por diyos por santo... mula ng ako ay mamulat dito sa mundong ibabaw, kayo na ang mga nakaupo sa pinakamatataas na pwesto dito sa oksidental mindoro... iyan pa lamang ang inyong nagawa???

hindi kaya ito nakikita ng nabanggit kong mga pangalan??? nakaka(t)awa kayo... kinakain ang inyong mga prinsipyo ng salaping kinikita ninyo sa mga nagtitino-tinuang dalawang grupong pulitiko... kinakain kayo ng sistemang monopolyado ni jtv at sato... sa kanilang away (kuno?) pareho silang nakikinabang!!! at kayoooo! ang ginagawang sangkalan...

Ang Tao Kapag Hindi direktang apektado…

May nakikita akong isang palaisipan sa ugali ng mga tao sa kasalukuyan… ang tinutukoy ko rito ay ang mga taga-oksidental mindoro.

Bilang isa sa mga aktibong mamamayan na nakikisangkot/nakikilahok sa mga usapin/isyung panlipunan na nakakaapekto sa buhay at kabuhayan ng mga mamamayan. Katulad ng usapin sa Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (OMECO), isang malaking katotohanan ang nakatambad sa kalakhan ng mga konsyumer…

Ang pagkakaroon ng mahigit 243 milyong pisong pagkakautang ng OMECO sa NAPOCOR

Mula sa category A+ (outstanding) noong panahong pinamamahalaan ito ni Col. Zoilo Perez ay naging category D sa pamamahala ni Alex Labrador

Ilan lamang ito sa mga inihain/ipinarating ng mga convener ng SAVE OMECO MOVEMENT sa mga member consumer… nagkaroon na ng dalawang wave ng prayer rally… pero, still… marami pa ring mga tao ang nanonood lamang at hindi nakikisangkot, hindi sumasama sa rally…

Dalawa ang naiisip ko, una ay ang kawalang malay/pakialam sa mga isyu… mas interesado at kabisado pa nila kung ano na ang nangyayari kay diyosa o kay gagambino kesa sa mga panlipunang issue… ikalawa ay kapag hindi sila direktang apektado, hindi na sila makikialam… kikilos lamang sila kapag nasangkot na sila, kung tinatamaan na sila… kung kailan baka huli na ang lahat!!!

Kadalasan kasi nasasabi natin… kung nagpatingin lamang sana sya kaagad sa doctor, nagamot sana ang kayang sakit… hindi sana sya namatay…

Ang “social sin” ay ang hindi mo pakikisangkot sa mga panlipunang issue. Alam mo ng mali, pero hinahayaan mo lang… kasalanan ito hindi ba?

Ang “structural sin” ay ang pagiging bahagi mo nang kasalukuyang problema… kasalanan din itong tiyak, hindi ba?

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Radyo... komentaryo...

ako ay isa sa mga lokal na tagapakinig ng radyo... natutuwa ako sa mga palitan ng ideya at mga komentaryo... sa radyo ko rin natutunan (ipinapaliwanag ng mga brodkaster) ang pag-aanalisa sa mga balita, ads, at komentaryo...

try kong magkoment...

sa advertisement ng alak na inindorso ni fr. roni omanio... nagulantang ako, kasi hindi ba't isa siyang pari? bilang isang katoliko, malinaw sa akin na ang mga pari ang siyang tagapaghubog ng konsiyensya ng mga mananampalataya. sa pag-iindorso ng alak mukhang mali para sa akin... tama naman para kay fr roni? gusto ba niyang matutong uminom o maging lasinggero ang mga tao? maliban na lamang kung talagang hindi na siya pari??? kaya lang sa pagpapakilala nya may father pa rin syang ina-address sa kanyang sarili!!!

sana lang father roni... kung babalik ka sa pagkapari bumalik ka na at umalis sa poder ng pulitiko...

o kaya naman... umalis ka na sa pagkapari at lubusan mo ng yakapin ang utos sa iyo ng amo mong pulitiko...

(pwede na po ba... koment ko? :-/)

Thursday, November 13, 2008

pakikisangkot sa mga panlipunang issue...

sa kasalukuyang panahon... ay makikita mo pa rin ang kakulangan sa kamalayan ng karamihan sa mga panlipunang isyu na nakakaapekto sa buhay at kabuhayan ng mga mahihirap na mamamayan.

hanggang sa kasalukuyan sa kabila ng patuloy na pag-aadboksiya ng ibat'-ibang mga civic organization at ng simbahan sa pagbibigay ng information at education campaign... ang mga mamamayan ay hindi pa rin aktibong nakikisangkot upang labanan ang mga katiwaliang namamayani sa ating lipunan...

kulang pa talaga... kailangan pang magparami at magdagdag ng istrarehiya para magising ang mahimbing na tulog ng masang pilipino...

sa pamamagitan sana nito... may magising at may madagdag na tagapag-sulong ng isang payapa at maayos na lipunan... alang-alang sa susunod na henerasyon!!!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

mali nga ba?

Sa ating kasalukuyang panahon na ang ating bansa ay nasa krisis, hindi ba marapat lamang na matuto tayong mag-analisa?

Maraming mga salik (factor) na mas higit na nakapagpapabilis o nakapagpapalala ng paghihirap ng ating mga kababayan… hindi ligtas dito ang lahat.

Sa aking pakikipag-ugnayan at pakikipagkwentuhan… kasama na rin ang aking mga pansariling obserbasyon… Sa kasalukuyan, ang praktis ng karamihan sa ating mga pinoy sa pagtingin at pag-unawa sa mga bagay-bagay ay mukhang hindi tama…

Bakit ko nasabi?

Narito ang ilang mga halimbawa… sa pagkain… sa ating mga pinoy kapag hindi binibili hindi wasto ang pagkain… bakit? Kapag mayroong mga bisita o sa mga simpleng okasyon lamang, kaagad tayong gagayak upang mamalengke… sa ating hapag, mainit ang ulo kapag talbos ng kamote o gulay na inani sa likod-bahay ang nakahain. Mas higit na pinaglalaanan ng pera ang mga imported products, mansanas sa halip na bayabas, tsokolate sa halip na bukayo, … sa gamot… hindi tayo nagtitiwala sa mga sambong, lagundi, at iba pang halamang gamot… sa halip ang hinahanap natin kaagad kapag may kaunting sakit ay ang botika… ilan lamang iyan… maraming marami pa…

Biktima tayo ng mga teknolohiyang pabor sa mga dayuhan… mula sa ating kagamitan sa ating pagsilang… hanggang sa ating pagpanaw… karamihan sa ating gamit at ikinabubuhay mas lamang ang mula sa dayuhan…

Magsuri tayo… hindi malupit ang ating Diyos!!! Upang ang mga pangangailangan ng pinoy para siya mabuhay ng malusog ay manggaling pa sa ibang bansa…

Tingnan natin ang mga katutubo… halos hindi sila nakakakain ng pagkain mula sa palengke… ang pinanggagalingan at ang kanilang ikinabubuhay ay mula sa kalikasan… madalas pa nga na magkaroon ng mga medical mission, dahil naaawa tayo sa kanila. Pero sino nga ba ang higit na malusog sila o tayo??? Sa kanila ang karamihang sanhi ng kamatayan ay hindi kalusugan… sa atin? Pangunahin ang atake sa puso o stroke…

Maling pag-unawa sa mga bagay-bagay… ang isa sa sanhi ng patuloy na kahirapan…

Monday, November 3, 2008

Linggo ng mga Katutubo

sa occidental mindoro ay kasalukuyang ipinagdiriwang ang linggo ng mga katutubo ngayong ika-3 hanggang ika-9 ng november...
sa narinig kong mga paliwanag ng kanilang mga lider... partikular sa indigenous people rights act... o mas kilala sa tawag na batas ng katutubo, ay nakikita at nararamdaman ng mga mangyan na mas marami pang nasa Non Government Organization kaysa sa mga Government Organization ang nakakaalam ng batas na ito...

nakakalungkot isipin na ang mismong tagapagpatupad ng batas sana ang bumibitbit ng mga ganitong programa ang siya pang walang sapat na kamalayan ukol dito...
ayon sa ating mga nabasa at narinig... 1997 pa ang IPRA law... ang tagal-tagal na pero hindi pa rin ganap na nararamdaman...

lalo na ang tungkol sa ancestral domain claim o lupaing ninuno... lagi na lamang pamarali ng NCIP na wala silang sapat na pondo upang maisaayos ang mga boundaries na kanilang lupaing ninuno. ang mga katutubo pa at ang mga NGO's na umaagapay sa kanila ang gumagawa ng paraan upang ang mga kaukulang dokumento/papeles ay maisaayos... anong klaseng ahensya ito ng pamahalaan?

mayroon pang pangyayari na mismong ang kompanya ng mina ang nagbigay ng pondo sa NCIP para raw sa pagsusukat... bakit? mga katanungang mula sa mga mangyan...

ang tanong ko naman... sadya kayang mahal lamang ng pamahalaan ang mga mangyan sa panahon ng halalan???

sana naman sa linggong ito ng mga katutubo ay maipahayag nila ang kanilang mga saloobin at maunawaan naman sana ng bayang makikinig... katulad natin anak din ng Diyos ang mga mangyan!!!

Sunday, November 2, 2008

problema pa rin ng mga magsasaka... mula noon hanggang ngayon!!!

sa aking pakikipagtalastasan sa mga umpukan ng magsasaka... naroon pa rin ang walang hanggang pagdaing sa kanilang mga bayarin... kung tutuusin panahon ngayon ng anihan, dapat ay masasayang usapan ang naririnig mula sa kanilang mga labi. ngunit sa halip na magdiwang sa mga biyayang natanggap... lungkot pa rin ang bumabalot sa kanila. bakit? kasi ang mga puhunang inutang nila upang magamit sa kanilang pagtatanim ay kailangan ng bayaran!!! narinig ko sa isa ang ganitong linya... "ang nagastos ko sa isang ektarya kong lupa ay kinse mil, tatlong kaban ang dapat kong ibalik sa bawat isang libo. samakatwid forty five kaban ang mawawala sa ani kong isang daan, less eight bags sa thresher, eight bags sa gapas, ten bags sa buwis... seventy one bags lahat... kapag ibinilad ko ang natirang twenty nine... twenty seven na lang yun".

ako na ang nagtuos... 27 bags x 50 kilos per bag = 1,350 kilos x P16.75/kilo = P22,612.50 divided by six months (2 cropping lang bawat taon) = P3,768.75 ang kinita nya bawat buwan... samakatwid ang dapat lamang nyang gastusin ay hindi dapat na lumampas sa P125.625 sa bawat araw, para kumasya at hindi siya muling magkautang.

kaya lang paano kung mayroon kang dalawang anak? P125.625 divided by four na miyembro ng pamilya... P31.406 lamang ang bawat isa sa bawat araw ang dapat na pagkasyahin...

ang problema ng magsasaka noon hanggang ngayon... mataas na patubo ng kailangan nilang kapital para magkaroon sila ng produksiyon...

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Sitio Aruyan, Ligaya, Sablayan. Occidental Mindoro

Ang sitio Aruyan ay isang pamayanang pinananahanan ng mga katutubong mangyan (tao buhid)… nagsimula ang aming paglalakad ganap na ika-6:46 ng papadilim na hapon. Tanging ang landas na daang tao lamang ang aming tinatalunton. Kahit hindi umulan ng nakalipas na tatlong araw ay lubhang maputik at madulas pa rin ang daan. Umaahon at lumulusong kami sa mga dalisdis, sa mga daang tubig na bahagi ng natural na topograpiya ng kabundukan. Pinuntahan namin ang lugar na iyon sapagkat ang lupaing ninuno (ancestral domain) ng mga mangyan ay pinasok ng walang pahintulot ng Pitkin Petrolium Limited, isang kompanyang nagsasagawa ng Magneto Telluric Survey (MTS) para sa oil exploration.
Pinayagan ito ng pamahalaang national… kaya ano pa ang maaasahan sa aming mga opisyal? (kaalyado sila ni PGMA) Ang masaklap nga lang hindi nila sinusunod ang tamang proseso, ang “public consultation”!!! kaya kami ang nilapitan ng mga mangyan upang makipag-dialogue at maipahayag ang kanilang pagtutol sa nasabing proyekto…
Kahit ang aming mga kasamang mga katutubo na sanay sa lugar na iyon ay nakakaranas pa ring madupilas dahil sa dulas ng daan, lalo na kami. Hindi lang dupilas, may halo pang sadsad, luhod at salampak. Labing tatlo kaming magkakasamang umahon sa sitio Aruyan… siyam ang mangyan at apat kaming taga-patag. Tatlong oras at kalahati bago namin narating ang aruyan. Sa pinakatuktok ng bundok ay tanaw ang luntiang paligid… hindi pa gaanong naaabot ng mga iligalistang magkakahoy. Ang mga katutubo roon ay nabubuhay pa rin sa likas na yaman ng gubat at sa kanilang mga pananim na palay kaingin, saging, kamote at iba pang mga lamang ugat…
Kung magpapatuloy ang pagpasok ng minahan… hindi ko malubos maisip… napakalayo na ng kinapadparan ng mga mangyan… bundok na ang kanilang kinaroroonan… ang kanilang lupaing ninuno na tangi nilang kayamanan at pinanggagalingan ng kanilang buhay at kabuhayan… PAPASUKIN PA AT IBINIBIGAY SA MGA DAYUHAN???
nakaranas kaming matulog sa silong ng kahoy unan ang aming backpack ang sapin sa likod ay dahon ng palm tree. nakababa kami ng aruyan kinabukasan na ng hapon 4:45pm... nakarating sa aming bahay 7:16 ng gabi...

Monday, August 4, 2008

kwentong ikinweto sa mga kakwentuhan...

minsan sa aming maliit na umpukan sa harap ng aming mga hand tractor habang ang iba ay may pinapastulang kalabaw... ay nabuksan ang isang usapin tungkol sa nakalipas na pamamaraan ng pagsasaka... syempre pa nag-umpisa ito sa walang patumanggang pagtaas ng farm inputs at ng produktong petrolyo etsetera…

heto ang kwento… ang unang “bumangka” ay ang may tangan ng isang bagong handtractor…

”alam nyo bang sa sitwasyon ngayon ay kailangan na talagang makatuklas ang ating mga siyentipiko ng mga makabagong binhi na makapagbibigay sa atin ng maraming ani? Para naman makaahon tayo sa ating kasalukuyang kalagayan… aba eh parang ayaw ko ng magsaka ah”

sumagot ang isa pang kausap namin…

“ pero pare, hindi ba’t matagal ka ng nagtatanim ng sinasabi mong makabagong binhi?”

“oo, nga pero ang dapat ay yung mas marami pang ani kesa dito sa itinatanim ko”

Hindi nakatiis ang isang nagpapastol ng kalabaw…

“sa aking pagtingin kasi eh parang hindi yung malaking ani ang kailangan natin… para kasing kahit umani tayo ng sandamukal eh kulang at kulang pa rin… hanep naman kasi ang pagtaas ng mga bilihin lalo na yang tinamaan ng magaling na abono at mga pangkuhol na yan… aba e dyan na lang nauuwi ang inaani ko ah”

Syempre pa agad na sumang-ayon ang iba naming mga kausap… nagsalita pa nga ang katabi ko na… Bakit kasi nauso pa yang p---nang mga lason, lason na yan!!!

Mahaba ang naging usapan… hindi ako makakibo kasi very striking ang kanilang mga binibitiwang pananalita…

Ikinwento ko ito sa aking limang taong gulang na anak… out of the blue… mukha nga yatang may katwiran yung kausap ko kanina anak, na kahit sandamukal ang ating anihin sa ating bukid ay magkukulang kasi hindi natin mapigil ang pagmahal ng presyo ng mga ginagamit natin sa bukid… ang sagot ng aking anak? Isang simpleng… “kasalanan mo naman yun papa… alam mo ng mahal bumibili ka pa!”
Ang pinag-usapan namin ng anak ko ay ikinwento naman n’ya sa kanyang mama… (narinig ko ng hindi sinasadya) “mama ang papa talaga bili ng bili ng mga abono at saka ng mga pangpatay sa kuhol tapos nagrereklamo na mahal”.

Hindi ko na napakinggan ang sagot ni misis, umalis na ako kasi para akong napahiya sa bata… sa aking pagninilay… nasabi ko sa aking sarili na bakit nga ba panay ang aking reklamo sa patuloy na pagtaas ng mga bilihin gayong pwede naman itong maiwasan? Pwede namang gumawa ng mga organikong pataba… sa halip na bumili ng chemical fertilizer… wala itong gastos o kung meron man konti lang, makakatulong pa sa pagsasaayos o pagpapanumbalik ng kalikasan. ang mga pangkuhol naman ay pwedeng iwasan sa pamamagitan ng maayos na paghahanda ng lupa, paglalagay ng mga “attractant” sa bukid upang madaling pulutin ang kuhol… marami namang mga likas na pamamaraan ang pwedeng gamitin upang mapahalaan ang mga sakit at peste sa palay o halaman at marami pang iba na pwedeng gawin… kailangan nga lang ng sakripisyo, sipag at pagtitiyaga…

Kaya ang kwentong nakuha ko sa mga kakwentuhan ko na ikinwento ko sa aking anak na ikinuwento naman n’ya sa kanyang nanay ay ikikwento ko naman sa inyo… sana ikwento n’yo rin…

Sunday, June 22, 2008

another info from greenpeace...

Atlantic halibut
Atlantic, common or white halibut is one of the largest of the flatfish. Atlantic halibut grow slowly and mature late, making it vulnerable to overfishing. They live on the ocean bottom in varied depths of water and, like a chameleon, take on protective coloration to match the sand, mud or gravel of its surroundings. Atlantic halibut has a long history of commercial exploitation due to being a very popular table fish in both North America and Europe as far back as the late 1800s.


bluefin tuna
This fish is the largest species of tuna reaching lengths of up to ten feet long and weights of 1,500 pounds. Bluefin tuna are the world's most valuable fish for sushi because of its high oil content. An individual bluefin can be worth over $30,000.00 at the Tokyo fish auction. The high demand bluefin has taken its toll leaving severely depleted populations throughout its range. Bluefin also contains elevated levels of mercury and PCBs.

Chilean sea bass
Also called Patagonian toothfish, Chilean sea bass is one of the most sought-after fish in the world. The Chileans were the first to market toothfish commercially in the U.S., earning it the name Chilean sea bass, although it is really not a bass and it is not always caught in Chilean waters. The U.S. is the largest market for Chilean sea bass, followed by Japan and China. The once-obscure fish became a culinary celebrity during the 1990s however fish populations cannot keep up with the demand. Unless people stop eating Chilean sea bass, it may be commercially extinct within five years.

hoki
Hoki is a white fish and has different regional names such as blue hake, blue grenadier, and whiptail. In the U.S., hoki is mostly used in restaurants, though it's seldom noted on menus. Fast-food chains like hoki for its versatility and interchange it with pollock or cod. Most Americans have no clue that hoki is often what they're eating in fried-fish sandwiches and fish and chips.

orange roughy
Also called the slimehead, deep sea perch or red roughy, the orange roughy is a sedentary fish that dwells in deep cold waters. A slow-growing, late-maturing fish, orange roughy is one of the longest-living fish (up to 149 years) in the sea. In the U.S., orange roughy is sold skinned and filleted, fresh or frozen. In restaurants they are seen as a delicacy.


sharks
Sharks play a vital role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems and their stocks are in serious trouble. Sharks are harvested for their fins, meat, or liver oil. The most valuable part of a shark is usually its fins, which are the principal ingredient of shark fin soup. This traditional Chinese delicacy is increasingly in demand as, thanks to a booming Chinese economy, more people are able to afford it. More than one hundred million sharks are killed every year by commercial fisheries. Shark-finning and fisheries in which sharks are caught as bycatch are the greatest threats to sharks.

albacore tuna
Thunnus alalunga
Albacore is the only tuna species that may be marketed as "white meat tuna" in the U.S. and contributes to the bulk of the country's canned tuna supply.

Where they live
Albacore tuna is a highly migratory fish found throughout the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea. While albacore found in the North and South Pacific and the South Atlantic are fairly abundant, those in the North Atlantic and Indian Oceans and Mediterranean Sea are in shorter supply.

How they're caught
Longlining is the most common method used to catch albacore worldwide. Albacore is also caught by trolling and pole and line (a type of hook-and-line gear).

Causes for concern
Stock Status
Albacore tuna matures early, has a moderate life span, and produce a lot of eggs, making it inherently resilient to fishing pressure. Still, high levels of fishing have resulted in declining populations.
Destructive Fishing Methods
Longlining fishing method results in the bycatch of threatened or endangered sea turtles, sharks and seabirds in large numbers. Leatherback sea turtle, albatross and marlin species have critical stock status and are a particular concern for this fishery. Since there are no integrated international laws to reduce bycatch, international longline fleets are contributing heavily to the long-term decline of some of these threatened or endangered species.
Habitat Impacts
Scientists estimate the global oceans have lost 90% of their large predators, such as tuna. The cascading impacts on ocean ecosystems due to the loss of top predators is only now beginning to be understood.
Poor Fishery Management
International management of this highly migratory species provides no comprehensive observer program in the Atlantic, no requirement for reporting in logbooks and no bycatch plan in place. This results in incomplete data collection and reporting.
Pirate Fishing
Illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing further adds to uncertainties about albacore populations.

Atlantic cod or scrod
Gadus morhua
Most people associate Atlantic cod as the white fish found in popular fish and chips meals. Atlantic cod, a groundfish that hovers at the seafloor, grows fast and breeds at an early age. Many Atlantic cod stocks plummeted in the 1990s due to overfishing, and rebuilding efforts have not yet succeeded.

Where they live
Atlantic cod live along the seafloor on both sides of the North Atlantic Ocean. They can be found in Canadian and United States waters from Greenland to North Carolina, and along the coasts of Europe.

How they're caught
The primary fishing method for Atlantic cod is bottom trawling which involves dragging large nets across the seafloor. Fishermen also use gill nets, longlines, and hook and line to catch Atlantic cod. Atlantic cod are also targeted by pirate fisheries.

Causes for concern
Stock Status
Atlantic cod are overfished in U.S. waters and seriously depleted in Canadian waters. Despite strict management in the U.S. and Canada, cod stocks in these waters remain overfished and some Canadian populations are listed as endangered. Most populations in the northeastern Atlantic are also in poor condition.
Destructive Fishing Methods
Bottom trawling is the most common method used to catch Atlantic cod. Bottom trawling damages the seafloor, impacting marine habitats that are important to the survival of groundfish and other species. Bottom trawling is also indiscriminate and incidentally catches other fish and marine animals that are dumped overboard as bycatch.
Habitat Impacts
Severe depletion of cod has led to observed change in the food web in Eastern Canadian waters where other animals have moved into the niche that cod had previously filled.
Poor Fishery Management
U.S. and Canadian fisheries managers have closely studied population levels and implemented several regulations but were unable to prevent the extreme decline of cod stocks. Poor management continues to threaten the Atlantic cod's recovery.
Pirate Fishing
Illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing of cod in closed areas in the north eastern Atlantic are ongoing problems and contribute to declining stocks.
Fishing Communities Impacts
Coastal communities have lost thousands of jobs and billions of dollars as a result of the decline in Atlantic cod.


Atlantic halibut
Hippoglossus hippoglossus
Atlantic, common or white halibut is one of the largest of the flatfish. Atlantic halibut grow slowly and mature late, making it vulnerable to overfishing. They live on the ocean bottom in varied depths of water and, like a chameleon, take on protective coloration to match the sand, mud or gravel of its surroundings. Atlantic halibut has a long history of commercial exploitation due to being a very popular table fish in both North America and Europe as far back as the late 1800s.

Where they live
Atlantic halibut are found in the North Atlantic Ocean. In the eastern Atlantic, they occur from the Barents Sea in northern Europe to the Bay of Biscay off France, and around Iceland. In the western Atlantic, they range from Greenland and Labrador to Virginia.

How they're caught
Halibut is caught using a variety of destructive fishing methods including bottom trawling, gill netting and longlining, all of which are associated with high bycatch including marine mammals.

Why they're of concern
Stock Status
Atlantic Halibut populations in U.S. and Canadian waters crashed in the 20th century due to overfishing and remain depleted today. There is no commercial fishery for Atlantic halibut in the U.S., although, they are still caught as bycatch in other fisheries. Atlantic halibut is now listed as endangered by the IUCN.
Destructive Fishing Methods
The ecosystem impacts of removing this major predator are not known because they have not been studied, but similar removal of other major predators has had cascading effects on ecosystem structure.
Fishing Communities Impacts
A rebuilt, healthy stock of Atlantic Halibut could add substantial economic benefits to coastal fishing dependant communities.

Atlantic salmon
Salmo salar
Atlantic salmon's popularity has increased dramatically in recent years, in large part because of growing consumer interest in eating foods high in omega-3 fatty acids. Atlantic salmon is endangered in the wild, so virtually all Atlantic salmon sold commercially is farm raised.

Where they live
Wild Atlantic salmon are found swimming in the waters of the northern Atlantic Ocean and in rivers that flow into the Atlantic. Most farmed salmon comes from Canada, Norway, the United Kingdom and Chile. In the U.S., Maine and Washington also operate salmon farms.

How they're farmed
Salmon are farmed in open net pens and cages in coastal areas or in freshwater lakes.

Causes for concern
Stock Status
Wild Atlantic salmon is listed as endangered in the U.S., and is seriously depleted in its entire range in North America and Europe. In many rivers, Atlantic salmon is extinct.
Destructive Fishing Methods
The feed most commonly used for salmon farms consists of wild forage species. Salmon farming uses three pounds of wild fish to grow one pound of farmed salmon, which puts pressure on wild populations.
Habitat Impacts
Salmon farms may use pesticides and antibiotics to control outbreaks of disease among the fish. Chemicals and waste from most salmon farms are released directly into waters surrounding the farms. When consumers eat farmed salmon, they may also be eating residues from chemicals used in the farms.
Habitat Impacts
In some areas of the world where there is intensive salmon farming, coastal ecosystems have been altered resulting in declines of native species. Salmon farming endangers wild salmon populations. Parasites and diseases from farmed salmon can spread to wild fish swimming near the farms. When farmed salmon escape from salmon farms, they compete for food with wild fish, crowd natural spawning grounds and dilute the genetic pool of wild salmon species by interbreeding with them.
Fishing Communities Impact
In many areas, salmon farms have displaced local access to coastal resources or caused collapse of coastal food webs resulting in serious impacts local communities

Atlantic sea scallop
Placopecten magellanicus
Scallops, recognized for their beautiful outer shell, use a strong, circular muscle to clap their shells together, letting them "fly" through the water out of harm's way. It is this circular (abductor) muscle that is prized as seafood.

Where they live
The sea scallop burrows in the sandy bottom of the ocean floor. They live in the North and Mid-Atlantic Oceans. The population in the Mid-Atlantic region (North Carolina to New York) is currently being overfished.

How they're caught
To get the scallops out of the sand, fishermen typically use scallop dredges but may also use bottom trawling or, to a limited extent, may pick by hand.

Causes for concern
Stock Status
In the mid-Atlantic region, scallop stocks are currently being overfished. Since scallops grow fast, fishermen don't take a break from capturing them. Large areas of scallop habitat are dredged or bottom trawled at an extremely high frequency. This increases the damage to the habitat and provides no time for recovery.
Destructive Fishing Methods
Scallop dredging involves dragging heavy steel nets across the seafloor and, like bottom trawling, is very destructive to the seafloor. Dredging and trawling damages seafloor structures, like corals and sponges, which many species depend on for feeding, breeding and hiding from predators.
Habitat Impacts
Bycatch in the scallop fishery includes deep-sea corals and sponges, barndoor skates, and yellow tail flounder. Every year, this fishery kills nearly 1,000 loggerhead sea turtles while they are foraging in scallop beds in the mid-Atlantic.
Poor Fishery Management
The management of sea scallops operates to maximize profits to the industry and has little regard for the impacts on other fisheries, habitat or endangered sea turtles. Areas that are set aside to help rebuild groundfish populations, are designated as habitat for juvenile cod or are popular foraging areas for sea turtles are still accessed by the scallop dredge fleet.
Fishing Communities Impact
The habitat destruction caused by scallop dredging and trawling negatively impacts cod and other groundfish species, resulting in a huge negative economic impact on fishing dependent communities all along the eastern U.S. and Canada.


bigeye tuna
Thunnus obesus
A valuable tuna prized for its sashimi-quality flesh, bigeye is found throughout the world's oceans and the long-term ecosystem effects of removing large predators such as tuna are not fully understood. Bigeye tuna is sometimes referred to as ahi, as is yellowfin tuna.

Where they live
Bigeye tuna is a highly migratory species found in the subtropical and tropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. They are caught in commercial fisheries throughout the world.

How they're caught
Longline fishing is the most common method used to catch bigeye, but other gears such as purse seines, trolling and pole and line (a type of hook-and-line gear) are also used.

Causes for concern
Stock Status
Although bigeye matures and reproduces quickly, the population is declining. The bigeye stocks are in poor shape globally, with excessive fishing mortality on all of the stocks, as well as declining biomass in general. In the Atlantic, population declines have been occurring since the early 1990s.
Destructive Fishing Methods
Longlining results in the bycatch of threatened or endangered sea turtles, sharks and seabirds in large numbers. Albatross and marlin species have critical stock status and are a particular concern for this fishery. Since there are no integrated international laws to reduce bycatch, international longline fleets are contributing heavily to the long-term decline of some of these threatened or endangered species.
Habitat Impacts
The removal of large predators, like bigeye, from the ocean ecosystem may affect the interaction between all levels of species in the marine food web. Scientists estimate the global oceans have lost 90% of their large predators, such as tuna. The cascading impacts on ocean ecosystems due to the loss of top predators is only now beginning to be understood.
Poor Fishery Management
Agencies that manage bigeye fisheries do not have a comprehensive international enforcement program in the Atlantic of Pacific. This means that some countries have less strict regulations, allowing for more overfishing.
Pirate Fishing
Illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing is a problem for the species. Unreported catches of bigeye tuna by pirate longliners pose a risk to the certainty of their populations.
Fishing Communities Impacts
Many small developing Pacific island nations could increase their revenue with healthy bigeye stocks for their local fishing fleets to harvest -- instead of outsiders coming in to take the profits

bluefin tuna
Thunnus thynnus, Thunnus maccoyii, Thunnus orientalis
This fish is the largest species of tuna reaching lengths of up to ten feet long and weights of 1,500 pounds. Bluefin tuna are the world's most valuable fish for sushi because of its high oil content. An individual bluefin can be worth over $30,000.00 at the Tokyo fish auction. The high demand bluefin has taken its toll leaving severely depleted populations throughout its range. Bluefin also contains elevated levels of mercury and PCBs.

Where they live
Bluefin tuna are usually found in temperate seas, but because it's one of the few fish that has the ability to regulate its body temperature, they often feed in cool northern seas that hold an abundance of prey species. They range from the Gulf of Mexico north into Canada at least as far as Newfoundland and from Norway down to North Africa. The Mediterranean Sea is a major spawning and nursery area for N. Atlantic bluefin.

How they're caught
Fishermen use a variety of methods to catch bluefin tuna, including longlines, pole and line, fish traps and purse seines. Recently bluefin are being "ranched" where juvenile fish are caught by seining and then transferred to floating pens and grown to market size. This practice is exceptionally damaging to their population as none of those fish are ever allowed to spawn.

Causes for concern
Stock Status
Bluefin are slow to mature and many young fish are caught before they've had a change to reproduce, making them extremely vulnerable to fishing pressure. Bluefin tuna are severely depleted and still being overfished. The Atlantic population has declined by nearly 90% since the 1970s. The North Atlantic population is approaching commercial extinction.
Destructive Fishing Methods
Bycatch is very high with the use of longlines and purse seines. Thousands of sea turtles, sharks and marine mammals are entangled in this gear, endangering their populations. Since there are no integrated international laws to reduce bycatch, international longline fleets are contributing heavily to the long-term decline of some of these threatened or endangered species.
Habitat Impacts
Scientists estimate the global oceans have lost 90% of their large predators, such as tuna. The cascading impacts on ocean ecosystems due to the loss of top predators is only now beginning to be understood.
Poor Fishery Management
Fishery scientists have recommended to the managers to reduce the amount of bluefin killed for many years and this scientific advice has fallen on deaf ears because of their high market value. Southern bluefin have been experiencing overfishing for many years because of under reporting by the Japanese fleet.
Pirate Fishing
Illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing remains a problem throughout the world's tuna fisheries.
Fishing Communities Impacts
Because of the lack of fish, both the recreational and commercial fisheries for Atlantic bluefin tuna along the eastern U.S. have collapsed. This has resulted in the loss of thousands of jobs and millions of dollars to coastal communities


Chilean sea bass
Dissostichus eleginoides
Also called Patagonian toothfish, Chilean sea bass is one of the most sought-after fish in the world. The Chileans were the first to market toothfish commercially in the U.S., earning it the name Chilean sea bass, although it is really not a bass and it is not always caught in Chilean waters. The U.S. is the largest market for Chilean sea bass, followed by Japan and China. The once-obscure fish became a culinary celebrity during the 1990s however fish populations cannot keep up with the demand. Unless people stop eating Chilean sea bass, it may be commercially extinct within five years.

Where they live
Chilean sea bass is a deep-water species caught in southern ocean waters near and around Antarctica.

How they're caught
Chilean sea bass are caught using hooks attached to longlines that are strung behind fishing boats. Some Chilean sea bass is caught in waters off the coast of Chile, then iced and shipped to the U.S. fresh. However, the majority of Chilean sea bass is harvested in distant waters of Antarctica, frozen onboard factory vessels, and shipped several weeks to several months later. Both fresh and frozen Chilean sea bass are available for consumption in the U.S.

Causes for concern
Stock Status
Chilean sea bass stocks are seriously overfished and depleted. Chilean sea bass is a long-lived, slow growing fish that does not reach maturity until at least 10 years of age, making the species very vulnerable to overfishing.
Destructive Fishing Methods
The baited hooks of the long-lines used to catch Chilean sea bass attract sea birds, including endangered species such as petrels and albatrosses. The birds get caught on the hooks, and then are dragged underwater and drown. Sharks, skates, and rays are also caught incidentally and killed in this fishery.
Habitat Impacts
Chilean sea bass is a major predator, and the cascading effects on the ecosystem as a result of removing this species have not been determined.
Pirate Fishing
Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing is a major issue in the fishery, and makes effective management very difficult. In 2000, more than 16,000 tons of Chilean sea bass were legally harvested in the Antarctic management area. Estimates vary, but there may be up to twice that amount taken illegally. Some estimate that pirate fishing takes up to 80% of the catch.


Greenland halibut
Reinhardtius hippoglossoides
The Greenland halibut is a strange-looking, but popular seafood that lives in the deep, cold waters of the north Pacific and north Atlantic oceans. The halibut's left eye is positioned on its forehead, giving it an appearance of a cyclops when looking straight at it. Greenland halibut are long-lived, slow growing and mature late, making it very vulnerable to overfishing.

Where they live
Greenland halibut are widely distributed in the Northwest Atlantic. Their range covers a geographical area from Smith Sound, between Greenland and Canada, southward throughout Baffin Bay and Davis Strait to the northeastern coast of the U.S. and eastward along eastern Greenland to Iceland.

How they're caught
As a deep-water fish, the Greenland halibut is caught by bottom trawling.

Causes for concern
Stock Status
The Greenland habitat stock is overfished, overfishing is still occurring and the stock is showing no signs of recovery.
Destructive Fishing Methods
Bottom trawling damages the seafloor, impacting marine habitats that are important to the survival of groundfish and other species. Many species depend on seafloor structures like coral and sponges for feeding, breeding and hiding from predators. Bottom trawling is also indiscriminate and incidentally catches other fish and marine animals that are dumped overboard as bycatch.
Habitat Impacts
The Greenland halibut fishery routinely catches critically endangered species such as onion-eye grenadier and roundnose grenadier, and other moratoria species such as Atlantic cod, American plaice and white flounder. Total bycatch can be as high as 60% of the entire catch in some months.
Poor Fishery Management
Management measures were implemented in the mid-1990s, but ten years later the average fish size and overall population level continue to decline


grouper
Epinephelus morio
There are more than 85 species of grouper found worldwide. Groupers are relatively long-lived (up to 40 years) and reproduce for only a short period of time, making them especially vulnerable to overfishing.

Where they live
Temperate and tropical oceans worldwide

How they're caught
Red grouper are a bottom-dwelling fish that are caught by hook and line methods, longlining and gillnetting.

Causes for concern
Stock Status
The life history (long life, late maturity) of grouper make it vulnerable to overfishing. Most grouper populations, including those in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, have been overfished and overfishing is still occurring. Some populations have unknown status.
Destructive Fishing Methods
Fishing methods used in the grouper fishery are responsible for significant incidental catch. Bycatch includes sea turtles, juvenile groupers and other species of grouper that are protected by law.
Habitat Impacts
Red grouper are among top predators in the reef community food chain. Removal of this fish disrupts the balance of the fragile reef ecosystem.
Poor Fishery Management
Problems persist with management of U.S. grouper fisheries in setting catch limits higher than those recommended by scientists.


hoki
Macruronus novaezelandiae
Hoki is a white fish and has different regional names such as blue hake, blue grenadier, and whiptail. In the U.S., hoki is mostly used in restaurants, though it's seldom noted on menus. Fast-food chains like hoki for its versatility and interchange it with pollock or cod. Most Americans have no clue that hoki is often what they're eating in fried-fish sandwiches and fish and chips.

Where they live
Hoki are caught off the coasts of Australia and New Zealand in the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Older fish live offshore at mid-water levels and typically spawn on topographic features like seamounts or canyons.

How they're caught
Hoki is taken by offshore mid-water trawling and bottom trawling. The main fishing season runs between June and September when the fish are spawning.

Why they're of concern
Stock Status
Both the Australian and New Zealand hoki stocks are at or close to their lowest populations levels ever. Overfishing is the main cause of hoki's decline. The primary fishing season is during spawning when hoki aggregate, resulting in catches predominantly made up of juveniles. By taking too many young fish, the population cannot grow and rebuild. Scientists say that the odds of the hoki population recovering are low.
Destructive Fishing Methods
Bottom trawling damages seamount and canyon habitats, impacting marine areas that are important to the survival of other species. The ongoing bycatch of deep sea-corals in the hoki fishery indicates that trawls are continually occurring in new areas. Many species depend on coral and sponge habitats for feeding, breeding and hiding from predators. Bottom trawling is also indiscriminate and incidentally catches other fish and marine animals that are dumped overboard as bycatch.
Habitat Impacts
Bycatch in the New Zealand hoki fishery includes protected sharks, marine mammals and seabirds. Of particular concern are fur seals, albatross, petrels and basking, porbeagle and school sharks.
Poor Fishery Management
Some positive steps have been taken in the hoki fisheries, but considerable cause for concern remains. The Marine Stewardship Council certified the fishery, but in the time since certification the stock has continued to decline, catch levels have been reduced, and bycatch remains a significant problem.

monkfish
Lophius americanus
This bottom fish was at one time discarded when caught incidentally in the Atlantic cod and scallop fisheries. As these other fisheries declined, monkfish began to be marketed as gourmet fare. Unfortunately, high demand has encouraged heavy fishing and populations have become overfished off the U.S. Atlantic coast.

Where they live
Monkfish can be found on sand, mud and broken shell bottoms from shallow, coastal waters to over 2,625 feet depth in the areas between the Grand Banks and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada south to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

How they're caught
Monkfish are usually caught using bottom trawls, and to a lesser extent using gillnets. Monkfish is also harvested as bycatch in the scallop fishery where it is caught using scallop dredge.

Causes for concern
Stock Status
As catches of other groundfish like cod and halibut declined, more and more fishermen began to go after monkfish in the mid-Atlantic and New England waters and now monkfish populations are severely overfished.
Destructive Fishing Methods
Bottom trawling and dredging damage the seafloor, impacting marine habitats that are important to the survival of groundfish and other species. Many species depend on seafloor structures like coral and sponges for feeding, breeding and hiding from predators. Bottom trawling incidentally catches other fish and marine animals that are dumped overboard as bycatch.
Habitat Impacts
Dredging and bottom trawling often result in high incidental catch of other fish species that are discarded as bycatch. Bycatch in the scallop fishery, in which monkfish is sought as bycatch, includes deep-sea corals and sponges, barndoor skates, and yellow tail flounder and nearly 1000 loggerheads sea turtles every year.
Poor Fishery Management
U.S. monkfish stocks are assessed bi-annually but management has not prevented over fishing.


ocean quahog
Arctica islandica
Ocean quahogs, a clam, are among the longest lived, slowest growing marine organisms in the world. Ocean quahogs off Southern New England, in the mid-Atlantic Bight and on Georges Bank can live over 200 years.

Where they live
The geographic range of the ocean quahog is extensive. This species is found on the east coast of North America, off the southern coast of Iceland and along the European coast northward from the Bay of Cadiz, Spain, around the British Isles, in the North Sea, and off the Norwegian coast to the White Sea in Russia.

How they're caught
The principal gear used in the fishery is a hydraulic clam dredge, which use jets of water to dislodge ocean quahogs from sediments.

Causes for concern
Destructive Fishing Methods
The hydraulic dredges have severe impacts on seafloor habitats, including long-term changes to the seafloor structure through the creation of furrows. Fishery experts have concluded that all types of dredges have very high impacts on physical and biological habitat. Damaging the seafloor impacts marine habitats that are important to the survival of groundfish and other species. Many species depend on seafloor structures like coral and sponges for feeding, breeding and hiding from predators.
Habitat Impacts
Bycatch is another problem with this fishery. Bycatch includes worms, soft corals, lady crabs, rock crabs and horseshoe crabs in their search for quahogs.
Poor Fishery Management
Management has not addressed the effects of clam dredging on habitats and ecosystems.


orange roughy
Hoplostethus atlanticus
Also called the slimehead, deep sea perch or red roughy, the orange roughy is a sedentary fish that dwells in deep cold waters. A slow-growing, late-maturing fish, orange roughy is one of the longest-living fish (up to 149 years) in the sea. In the U.S., orange roughy is sold skinned and filleted, fresh or frozen. In restaurants they are seen as a delicacy.

Where they live
Orange roughy live in the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans. In the eastern Atlantic, they range from Iceland to South Africa. In the Indo-Pacific, they are distributed around New Zealand and off Chile. Orange roughy sold in U.S. markets are primarily from New Zealand, China, Namibia and Australia.

How they're caught
Orange roughy are primarily caught with bottom trawls on and around topographic features like seamounts and canyons where the fish aggregate to spawn. The main fishing season is from June to August, during the spawning season, when fish come together in aggregations and are easier to catch. Since they live in deep waters, it is only with the use of advanced technology that the fish can be located and caught.

Causes for concern
Stock Status
Many orange roughy stocks have already crashed, namely in New Zealand and Australia where they were first exploited in the late 1970s; and recently discovered stocks are decreasing rapidly. The fish are slow growing and late maturing, life history characteristics that lead to stocks having difficulty recovering once depleted. Orange roughy is the first commercially sought fish to be added to Australia's list of endangered species because of overfishing.
Destructive Fishing Methods
Bottom trawling damages seamount and canyon habitats, impacting marine areas that are important to the survival of other species. Bycatch in the orange roughy fishery has been shown to damage tree coral, a very slow growing coral that can live for 300 to 2,000 years. Many species depend on coral and sponge habitats for feeding, breeding and hiding from predators. Bottom trawling is also indiscriminate and incidentally catches other fish and marine animals that are dumped overboard as bycatch.
Habitat Impacts
Virtually every animal caught as bycatch in the orange roughy fishery dies because of the extreme depths that the fishery operates. Bycatch species include deep-sea sharks and dogfish, deep-sea catfish, slickheads, rattails and Basketwork eels

pollock
Theragra chalcogramma
Pollock are considered one of the most important fish resources in the world with 2.2 million tons caught each year valued $2 billion dollars worth of fish. Pollock serve as important prey for many marine mammals and are also consumed by humans in many forms -- most commonly as fish sticks or breaded fish fillets.

Where they live
Pollock live throughout the Northern Pacific with the largest population located in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska. They thrive in mid-bottom waters dwelling up to 3,281 feet in depth.

How they're caught
They are mostly fished using mid-water trawling and some bottom trawling.

Causes for concern
Stock Status
Alaska pollock stocks in the Gulf of Alaska, Aleutian Chain and Bogoslof area have not recovered from overfishing. For the last 5 consecutive years, survival of juvenile pollock has been well below average. The significant level of fishing during the winter spawning time further jeopardizes the long-term viability of pollock populations.
Destructive Fishing Methods
Midwater trawling is the primary method for catching pollock but it often comes in contact with the seafloor, causing significant damage. Trawling damage to the seafloor impacts marine habitats that are important to the survival of groundfish and other species. Many species depend on seafloor structures like coral and sponges for feeding, breeding and hiding from predators. Trawling for pollock occurs in several known coral and sponge habitats.
Habitat Impacts
Pollock is an important forage species for endangered Steller sea lions and northern fur seals, whose populations have declined sharply as fishing has removed millions of tons of their prey. There is increasingly clear evidence that pollock fisheries are jeopardizing the recovery of endangered Steller sea lions. Concern is also growing that the massive industrial pollock fisheries may be responsible for the rapid disappearance of northern fur seals from the once massive rookeries on the Pribilof Islands. In addition to marine mammals, several species of fish-eating pelagic sea birds are in decline in the same areas where intensive pollock fishing takes place.
Habitat Impacts
Bycatch in the pollock fishery is huge given the scale of the fishery. Crab, salmon, and groundfish species are routinely caught as bycatch. In 2007, 130,000 chinook salmon were caught as bycatch in the pollock fishery, setting a bycatch record that alarmed fishing dependent communities, environmentalists, and fishery managers.
Poor Fishery Management
Alaska pollock are identified as a major forage species, yet the North Pacific Management Council (NPFMC) manages the fishery for maximum sustainable catch without setting aside enough fish to meet nutritional needs of dependant animals, fish, and sea birds.
5 Illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing and heavy fishing pressure on the Russian side of the Bering Sea is having an unknown impact on Alaska pollock stocks.
Fishing Communities Impact
Pollock overfishing has an adverse effect on Alaska native communities throughout the southern half of the Bering Sea and the Aleutians, as well as the Gulf of Alaska. Localized depletion is forcing local fishermen to travel farther and farther offshore in search of fish that were once plentiful right off the beach, and in the process to face increasing risks for diminishing returns. The fishery also has a negative impact on native communities in Canada. In 2007, DNA sampling of chinook salmon bycatch in the pollock fishery revealed that more than 26,000 fish were of Yukon river origin. As a result of the huge bycatch in 2007, some First Nation subsistence communities upriver in the Canadian Yukon were not allowed to catch their full chinook sustenance quota that year.


redfish
Sebastes marinus, Sebastes fasciatus, Sebastes mentella
Redfish is a slow-growing, deepwater fish with bright-red or orange-red coloring. They are called redfish in New England and eastern Canada and should not be confused with redfish from the Gulf of Mexico, which are different. Ocean perch is a leading retail product in the Midwest, where the name "perch" is an easy sell because of its freshwater connotation.

Where they live
Redfish live in deep waters up to a depth of 3,000 feet. They live off the North/Northwest Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America.

How they're caught
Redfish are caught using bottom trawls and pelagic trawls.

Causes for concern
Stock Status
Redfish are vulnerable to overfishing because they are slow growing, long-lived and, even though they spawn every year, few young survive. Most stocks are now at historical lows and are considered depleted. By the mid-1950s, redfish stocks throughout the Northwest Atlantic were heavily exploited, and total landings began to decline in all sub-areas. Landings from the Gulf of Maine increased temporarily during the late 1970s, but have been declining throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Recent landings from this stock have remained at their lowest level since the 1930s.
Destructive Fishing Methods
Bottom trawling damages the seafloor, impacting marine habitats that are important to the survival of groundfish and other species. Many species depend on seafloor structures like coral and sponges for feeding, breeding and hiding from predators. Bottom trawling is also indiscriminate and incidentally catches other fish and marine animals that are dumped overboard as bycatch


red snapper
Lutjanus campechanus
Red snapper are a prized seafood and are caught commercially, as well as recreationally. They are a slow growing species that mature late. Many are caught before they have had a chance to reproduce.

Mislabeling of red snapper for consumers is a big problem with this fish. Genetic studies have shown that many fish sold as red snapper in the U.S. are not actually red snapper, but other species.

Where they live
Red snapper is a reef fish that inhabits the continental shelves of the Gulf of Mexico and northwest Atlantic Ocean from the Bay of Campeche, Mexico, to Massachusetts. They stay relatively close to the bottom, and inhabit rocky bottom, ledges, ridges, and artificial reefs, including offshore oilrigs and shipwrecks.

How they're caught
Commercial fishermen generally take snapper species with bottom longlines, wire-mesh fish traps, and vertical hook and line. Red snapper is also caught as bycatch in the shrimp fishery.

Causes for concern
Stock Status
Due to the life history characteristics of the Red Snapper (longevity of 50 years or more and late maturity), it's very susceptible to overfishing. The Gulf of Mexico red snapper stock is currently overfished by commercial and recreational fisheries. Also, high bycatch from shrimp fisheries result in the mortality of millions of juvenile red snapper.
Destructive Fishing Methods
The weights and lines used to fish red snapper can damage coral habitat, but the extent of the impacts is not known.
Habitat Impacts
The bycatch rate in the Gulf of Mexico fishery is 44% of the total catch, amounting to several hundred thousand pounds of finfish and sharks every year. Bycatch includes black sea bass, snappers, porgies, sharks, grunts, amberjacks, and groupers.
Poor Fishery Management
Management has failed to end overfishing of the Gulf of Mexico red snapper stocks and return red snapper stocks to healthy and sustainable levels. Instead of reducing the total allowable catch to scientifically acceptable levels to rebuild the stock, unproven technology to reduce bycatch in shrimp trawls and highly ineffective size limits were employed. At the same time, fishery managers set the total allowable catch at 50 percent above the level recommended by scientists.


sharks
superorder Selachimorpha
Sharks play a vital role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems and their stocks are in serious trouble. Sharks are harvested for their fins, meat, or liver oil. The most valuable part of a shark is usually its fins, which are the principal ingredient of shark fin soup. This traditional Chinese delicacy is increasingly in demand as, thanks to a booming Chinese economy, more people are able to afford it. More than one hundred million sharks are killed every year by commercial fisheries. Shark-finning and fisheries in which sharks are caught as bycatch are the greatest threats to sharks.

Where they live
Sharks are highly migratory and regularly cross national boundaries. Sharks range from the poles to the tropics and everywhere in between, they are worldwide in distribution. However, outside of Antarctica, there are no international limits on shark harvest.

How they're caught
Sharks are targeted by longlines and gillnets. Many are caught as bycatch in other fisheries. Seines, bottom trawls, hook and line, traps and just about all other gear types can have a bycatch of sharks.

Causes for concern
Stock Status
Shark populations have plummeted, and it is estimated that only 10% of original populations remain. Sharks are long lived, and they mature slowly and give birth to a few young at a time, making them highly vulnerable to overfishing. Many shark species are overfished, threatened or listed as endangered. Depleted populations of sharks can take several decades to recover.
Destructive Fishing Methods
Midwater gillnets used to catch sharks have very high bycatch rates of marine mammals, seabirds, sea turtles and billfish.
Habitat Impacts
Removing top predators like sharks can have significant cascading effects on ecosystems. Overfishing of great sharks in U.S. Atlantic waters has led to major ecosystem alterations, including huge population increases of shark prey species like cownose rays. The explosion of cownose ray populations has contributed to the devastation of a century-old bay scallop fishery.
Poor Fishery Management
Many species of shark are highly migratory, so fall outside of any one nation's jurisdiction. Few countries have management plans for sharks in their waters and where management exists, different species are often grouped together making it difficult to accurately assess stock structure and populations declines. The lack of information undermines improvements to management.

skates and rays
superorder Batoidea
Previously discarded as "trash fish," skates have become an increasingly important bycatch in other bottom trawl fisheries as the populations of other bottom-dwelling fish (such as cod and haddock) have declined.

Where they live
Skates are bottom-dwellers that live throughout the world's oceans.

How they're caught
Most skates and rays are caught as bycatch in groundfish bottom trawl fisheries.

Causes for concern
Stock Status
Skates and rays, like their close relatives the sharks, are highly vulnerable to overfishing because they grow slowly, are long-lived and have few young. Barndoor skates are severely depleted and are candidates for being listed as endangered species. Thorny skates are in decline and are listed as a species of special concern.
Destructive Fishing Methods
The majority of skates are caught as a result of bottom trawling. Bottom trawling damages the seafloor, impacting marine habitats that are important to the survival of groundfish and other species. Many species depend on seafloor structures like coral and sponges for feeding, breeding and hiding from predators.
Habitat Impacts
Bottom trawling is also indiscriminate, catching both intended and unintended species. These unintended species are often unmarketable, illegal or undersized fish that are subsequently discarded dead or dying as unwanted bycatch.
Poor Fishery Management
The skate fishery was unregulated before 2003 and little fishery data was collected before then. Data on skates and rays is deficient in most regions of the U.S. as well as worldwide. In the Northeast, a fishery management plan was put into place but management remains hampered due to a lack of data on four of seven Northeast skate species


swordfish
Xiphias gladius
Known for its sharp, pointed bill which is used for protection and hunting prey, swordfish are a highly migratory billfish prized by both recreational and commercial fishers. In addition to U.S. fisheries, more than 20 countries catch swordfish, including Singapore, Brazil, Panama and South Africa.

Where they live
Swordfish live in temperate seas all over the world including the Pacific Ocean off California, Oregon and Hawaii.

How they're caught
Longlines, a fishing method that results in the bycatch of threatened and endangered species, are the most common gear used to catch swordfish worldwide.

Causes for concern
Habitat Impacts
Fishing swordfish with longlines results in the bycatch of threatened or endangered sea turtles, sharks and seabirds in large numbers. Since there are no integrated international laws to reduce bycatch, international longline fleets are contributing heavily to the long-term decline of some of these threatened or endangered species.
Poor Fishery Management
Due to strict bycatch regulations in the U.S., longline-caught swordfish from these fleets is the only exception in the international fisheries that otherwise have unacceptable levels of bycatch. The fisheries in the waters off California, Oregon and Hawaii are well managed and are a good alternative to most imported sources.
Pirate Fishing
In the international swordfish fisheries, many nations have no comprehensive enforcement plan to prevent overfishing. Illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing vessels add further uncertainty to the issue of bycatch and overfishing in the pelagic longline fishery.

tropical shrimp
Metapenaeus monoceros, Penaeus spp.
Tropical shrimp, both farmed and wild caught, are warm water species. About 80% of the world's wild caught shrimp is tropical.

Where they live
Tropical shrimp live in the warm water areas of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Gulf of Mexico. Most of the shrimp farmed around the world comes from economically disadvantaged tropical nations, including India, Thailand, Indonesia, Ecuador, China, Bangladesh, Belize and Vietnam.

How they're caught
Wild caught shrimp are harvested with cast nets, haul seines, traps and beam trawls, but bottom trawling remains the most often used gear for offshore fishing. Farming methods for farmed shrimp range from simple ponds located in coastal areas to high-tech inland systems that filter and re-circulate their water.

Causes for concern
Stock Status
There are environmental problems with how most tropical shrimp are caught or farmed.
Destuctive Fishing Methods
Tropical shrimp farms are often located in coastal areas displacing local species and disrupting coastal food webs. About 3.7 million acres of coastal mangroves have been converted to shrimp farms, destroying important habitat for fish, birds and people. Untreated wastewater from some farms pollutes the coastal environment and contaminates groundwater. Disease and chemicals used in shrimp farming also contaminate surrounding waters. Farming shrimp also requires, on average, two pounds of wild fish to grow one pound of farmed shrimp and, as a result, farming shrimp actually uses more fish than it produces.
Habitat Impacts
Bottom trawling for shrimp results in significant damage to seafloor habitats, including areas used by other species for feeding, breeding and hiding from predators. Also, trawling for wild shrimp has the highest bycatch of any commercial fishery. For every pound of shrimp hauled in, 3 to 15 pounds of unwanted animals die in the process. Shrimp trawling incidentally catches and kills more than 1.8 million tons of marine life each year, including turtles, sharks and other animals--accounting for more than 25% of the world's wasted catch. Most bycatch, either dead or dying is thrown overboard.
Fishing Communities Impacts
Shrimp farming has displaced small-scale sustainable fisheries and coastal communities. The placement of shrimp farms often blocks access to coastal areas that were once common land in use by many local people. Non-violent mass protests against the industry have frequently been countered with threats and intimidation, and there are reports from at least 11 countries of protesters being murdered. In Bangladesh alone, there have been an estimated 150 murders lined to aquaculture disputes.

yellowfin tuna
Thunnus albacares
Yellowfin tuna are named for their bright yellow finlets, and dorsal and anal fins. This large tuna species can be black, dark blue or greenish on top with a yellow or silver belly. Yellowfin is a staple of the tuna canning industry and most often appears in the market as canned light tuna. It's also known as ahi when sold fresh and frozen, and is commonly found on sushi menus.

Where they live
Yellowfin tuna can be found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They migrate long distances throughout the year.

How they're caught
Most canned yellowfin are caught by purse seine fleets. Purse seines, even when "dolphin-safe," can take a heavy bycatch of unwanted fishes and other animals (including young tunas, sharks, and other pelagic fishes). Yellowfin are also caught by troll, handline, poll and line gear, and pelagic longlines.

The most serious threat to yellowfin tuna is the commercial fishery. This species is a popular target and the type of catch (purse seine) can capture huge schools at a time. In the U.S., yellowfin tuna is one of the primary fish for canned consumption.

Causes for concern
Stock Status
Overfishing of yellowfin is occurring throughout the Pacific Ocean. Fishing mortality in the Indian Ocean has increased dramatically since the mid-1980s. It has been estimated that fishing of yellowfin need to be reduced by 50% if the health of the population is to be restored.
Destructive FIshing Methods
Vulnerable marine life such as, sea turtles, sharks, sea birds, sea turtles and marine mammals are routinely caught as bycatch in the yellowfin fishery. Since there are no integrated international laws to reduce bycatch, international longline fleets are contributing heavily to the long-term decline of some of these threatened or endangered species.
Habitat Impacts
Scientists estimate the global oceans have lost 90% of their large predators, such as tuna. The cascading impacts on ocean ecosystem due to the loss of top predators is only now beginning to be understood. In the tropical Pacific, large-scale commercial fishing has been linked to ocean ecosystem changes, such as declines in large predator populations and increases the abundance of smaller species.
Poor Fishery Management
Management of yellowfin is generally week and precautionary limits are not being set. Few tuna fleets have independent observers on board to record vessel operations. This lack of supervision makes it much easier for fishermen to under-report their catch.
Pirate Fishing
Illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing remains a problem throughout the world's tuna fisheries.
Fishing Communities Impacts
The Pacific provides about 60% of the world's tuna each year and foreign fishing fleets make millions of dollars from sales in Japan, the US and Europe. Unfair and unsustainable seafood agreements negotiated by foreign countries mean that Pacific nations are usually only receiving 5-6% of the value of the catch caught by vessels in their waters. This puts a strain on the local economy and communities.

Balita mula sa mga kaalyado...

Around the world, there is a growing scientific consensus that our oceans are in crisis. Decades of destructive fishing practices and mismanagement have taken their toll on many of our fisheries. Three-quarters of all commercially valuable fish stocks are now exploited, overexploited or depleted. Worldwide, up to 90% of stocks of large predatory fish such as halibut, sharks, tuna and swordfish already have been fished away. According to a new study published this month in the journal Science, 96% of the world’s oceans have been damaged by human activity. Researchers predict that global fisheries could collapse by the middle of this century.

Monday, June 16, 2008

These genetically modified organisms (GMO)

These genetically modified organisms (GMO) can spread through nature and interbreed with natural organisms, thereby contaminating non 'GE' environments and future generations in an unforeseeable and uncontrollable way.
Their release is 'genetic pollution' and is a major threat because GMOs cannot be recalled once released into the environment.
Because of commercial interests, the public is being denied the right to know about GE ingredients in the food chain, and therefore losing the right to avoid them despite the presence of labelling laws in certain countries.
Biological diversity must be protected and respected as the global heritage of humankind, and one of our world's fundamental keys to survival. Governments are attempting to address the threat of GE with international regulations such as the Biosafety Protocol.

We believe:

GMOs should not be released into the environment as there is not adequate scientific understanding of their impact on the environment and human health.
We advocate immediate interim measures such as labelling of GE ingredients, and the segregation of genetically engineered crops and seeds from conventional ones.
We also oppose all patents on plants, animals and humans, as well as patents on their genes. Life is not an industrial commodity. When we force life forms and our world's food supply to conform to human economic models rather than their natural ones, we do so at our own peril.

Romania — Environmental activists today placed an entire island under strict quarantine after finding illegal genetically modified (GMO) soya being grown there.
Bralia Island in Romania is normally a quiet farming area on the Danube river but now it is the site of a huge environmental contamination by soya that has been genetically modified by the agricultural-chemical company, Monsanto.

The peaceful action in Romania began early in the morning when 30 Greenpeace activists from across Europe set up a 'decontamination station' at the ferry harbour area on Braila Island.

All vehicles leaving the island were decontaminated by being thoroughly washed to prevent the genetic contamination from spreading further.

It is illegal for member states of the European Union (EU) which includes Romania, to cultivate GMO Soya. Greenpeace is calling on the Romanian government and the European Commission to act immediately to locate and destroy all of the illegally cultivated GMO Soya.

"We have taken action to protect the rest of Romania from contamination by these illegal GMO crops, which pose massive risks to the environment, biodiversity and human heath. Romanian people have overwhelmingly rejected GMO," said Gabriel Paun, Greenpeace Romania, GMO campaigner.

"This is not the first time Greenpeace has discovered illegal GMO production in Romania, the situation is out of control. The Government must immediately locate and destroy all of the crops before they enter the food chain."

At the same time as activists were decontaminating Bralia Island in Romania, more activists were busy taking action against another site of GMO contamination in France. 20 volunteers painted a field of illegally grown GMO maize (corn) bright red, in order to expose its location.

The GMO maize, known as MON810, is another genetically modified product being pushed onto consumers by Monsanto. The GMO maize is being illegally grown, as either the farmer, or the French government have failed to inform the public of its presence as required under French law.

"By failing to take control, the Romanian and French governments are allowing biotech companies such as Monsanto, to run riot over their environment and ignore the wishes of European people; contaminating their food and their fields" said Myrto Pispini, Greenpeace International GMO campaigner.

Nakakatuwa at kahanga-hanga ang pagmamalasakit ng mga taong ito sa kanilang mga kababayan... kailan kaya mangyayari ang ganito sa ating minamahal na bansang Pilipinas?... sana sa lalong madaling panahon bago pa maging huli na ang lahat! kung kailan wala na tayong magagawa...

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Court upholds ban on aerial spraying in Davao

A Davao court has upheld an ordinance banning aerial spraying operation, recognizing the constitutionality of the local government order and the need to protect the health of the public.

Online news site MindaNews reported Monday that Judge Renato Fuentes of the Davao City regional trial court-Branch 17 threw out a legal challenge to the ordinance.

"After a very extensive review and careful evaluation of the voluminous records submitted, arguments and complicated positions from the parties, the court cannot sustain the theory and position of the petitioners in assailing the validity and constitutionality of the subject City Ordinance," Fuentes said in a 37-page decision.

The decision cleared the way for the Davao City government to implement the ordinance, six months after it was approved, and three months after the court suspended its implementation.

Fuentes over the weekend junked the petition of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA), saying the reasons for creating the ordinance was beyond question.

Stressing health concerns, Fuentes said there is "not only a necessity but a strong demand of urgency for the passing of said city ordinance."

The judge cited a testimony from Richard Billington, a British national who worked as an executive of bio-chemical company Dow AgroSciences European Development Center.

"When confronted with the label of the fungicide Dithane, he admitted that his company has warned the public users of its dangerous effects to the health of human being with a disclaimer of responsibility of the company in case any untoward incident resulting in the adverse effect of said fungicide," the decision said.

Fuentes added that Billington's admission of the dangerous effect of Dithane "is enough to put the public to be aware of the said immediate danger poised by the particular fungicide."

He added that the disclaimer of the chemical's manufacturer "was patent admission of the chemical's adverse effect to the people."

However, the decision is the second blow to the city's banana industry after the City Council approval.

Last April, PBGEA petitioned to stop the implementation of the ordinance, claiming it is unconstitutional and did not give them enough time to prepare to shift from aerial to ground spraying.

PBGEA told the court it would need at least three years to shift to an alternative method in applying pesticides in the plantations and an investment of at least P400 million.

Ang Organic Rice

Ano ba ang Organikong Bigas?

Ang Organic Rice o ang Organikong Bigas ay produkto o bunga ng palay na hindi ginamitan ng anumang mga sintetikong kemikal, katulad ng mga komersiyal na abono, pestisidyo, pamatay damo, fungicide, at iba pang kauri nito.

May palay ba na magiging produktibo ng walang kemikal?

Mayroon. Ang mga palay na ito ay mula sa mga tradisyunal o katutubong uri ng palay na pinagka-utangan ng loob ng ating mga ninuno. May mga MASIPAG lines na mula sa natural na pagpapalahi ng palay na magkatuwang na isinagawa ng mga siyentipiko at mga magsasaka. Sa natural na pagpapalahing ginawa (cross breeding) ang mga binhing dati ay seasonal kung umani ay napaunlad, napaghusay at sa kasalukuyan ay may mahigit ng 800 Variety na ang nalilikha sa buong bansa. Ang napatunayan ng akma dito sa Luzon at naitatanim na ng mga magsasaka at inaanihan ng maganda ay mahigit 200 uri na. Kabilang na sa mga ito ang black, red, aromatic at iba pa...
Sa madaling salita ang mga palay na ito ay hindi nakadepende sa mga kemikal, inaanihan ito sa pamamagitan lamang ng mga likas na pataba na mismong ang mga magsasaka ang gumagawa. Ang mga materyales ay mula sa mga alagang hayop at halaman na nasa kanilang mga bukid at bakuran.

Ano ang kaibahan ng Organikong Bigas sa karaniwang bigas?

Ang Organikong bigas ay ligtas kainin at mas masustansiya kaysa sa karaniwan.

Sapagkat ang ginamit na pataba sa mga palay na ito ay natural at kumpleto, ang sustansiyang taglay nito ay mas mataas kaysa sa ginamitan ng mga kemikal.

Sapagkat ang mga ito ay hindi ginamitan ng kahit na anong uri ng abono at pestisidyo, nakatitiyak tayo na ang bigas na ito ay walang lason, kaya’t ligtas na gawing pagkain.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Carbonized Rice hull

Ang ipa o rice hull ang itinuturing na pinaka-walang silbing bagay na nakukuha sa palay kung ang ating tatanungin ay ang mga millers at ang ibang mga magsasaka dito sa ating rehiyon. Ang pagtatapon ng ipa ay isa sa napakalaking problema ng mga millers na nagtatapon at nagsusunog nito sa mga tabing daan, ang usok at ang abo nito ay nakakaperwisyo sa mga motorista, pasahero at sa mga mismong nakatira malapit sa lugar. Sa ngayon ang ipa ay p’wede ng mapagkakitaan.

Ang ipa ang nasa pinakalabas na bahagi na siyang nakabalot sa butil ng palay. Ito ay natatanggal sa pamamagitan ng milling at kadalasan ay sinusunog lamang o nagiging basura na kakalat-kalat. Ang mga mananaliksik mula sa PhilRice ay nakatuklas na ang walang silbing ipa na ito ay maging uling upang magamit sa iba’t-ibang kapakinabangan.

Ang inuling na ipa ay galing mula sa isang hindi kumpletong pagsunog dito. Namamalagi ito sa kanyang anyo ng pagiging ipa maliban lamang sa pagiging maitim nito. ito ay nagtataglay ng Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium at mga micronutrients na kailangan sa paglaki at pagtubo ng halaman. Sapagkat ito ay inuling, ito ay ligtas sa mga organismo ng sakit. Ito ay maraming gamit, mula sa agrikultura at maging sa industrial, bukod pa rito, ito ay natuklasang nakagagamot at nagagamit na rin sa ating mga tahanan.

Bawat taon, ang Pilipinas ay nakapagpu-produce ng halos 3.1 metriko tonelada ng ipa mula sa 14 na milyong metriko tonelada ng palay. Subalit ang karamihan sa mga ito ay nasasayang lamang sapagkat marami sa ating mga magsasaka at mga negosyante ay limitado ang kaalaman kung paano ito maayos na mapapamahalaan.

Ang atin pong mga babanggitin ay makakatulong upang hindi lamang mapamahalaan ng maayos ang ating mga ipa, bagkus ay makakatulong na maiiwas ang ating kapaligiran at ang pagkalagay sa panganib ng kalusugan ng tao, kaalinsabay ang pagpapataas ng ani ng mga gagamit nito.

Ang mga problemang matutugunan ng inuling na ipa:
•Rice hull disposal
•Environmental hazards
•Mataas na presyo ng farm inputs tulad ng abono at pestisidyo
•Mahirap bunuting mga punla
•Maruming tubig
•Mataas na presyo ng fuel
•Agricultural Land Degredation

Mga pakinabang na nakukuha sa inuling na ipa:
1.Panghalo o panlahok sa Organikong Pataba
•Kapag ito ay inihalo sa ibang mga organikong materyales, ang inuling na ipa ay isa sa magandang pinanggagalingan ng organikong pataba
•Ang magandang kalidad ng organikong pataba ay binubuo ng:
-dumi ng hayop (4 na bahagi)
-inuling na ipa (4 na bahagi)
-berdeng halaman (2 bahagi)

2.Bilang Soil Conditioner
•Ang paghahalo ng 10-15 sako ng inuling na ipa sa organikong pataba na ilalagay sa punlaan may sukat na 400 square meters ay sapat na upang maging madali na itong bunutin
•Nakakatulong din ito upang maibalik ang nutrients at iba pang micro-elements sa lupa, na nawawala dahil sa walang tigil nating pagtatanim.
•Nakakatulong din ito upang maibalik ang struktura ng lupa, tulad ng water holding capacity, pagiging buhaghag, at ang pagkakaroon nito ng aeration.

3.Nagagamit na tirahan ng mga helpful microorganisms
•Kapag ang inuling na ipa ay hinaluan ng mga microorganisms mas higit itong nagiging kapakipakinabang, sapagkat ang inuling na ipa ay mainam na tirahan ng mga ito. Sa composting mas higit na nagiging mabilis ang pagkabulok nito.
•Ang inuling na ipa ay mahusay na attractant ng mga nitrogen fixing bacteria na karaniwang nakikita o nakukuha sa ugat ng mga berdeng halaman

4.As water purifier / waste water filter
•Ang uling ay nakakasala ng mga dumi sa tubig, nagiging epektibo ito at maaari na rin nating magamit sa bahay o maging gawin itong inumin
•Ang inuling na ipa ay epektibo rin sa para makapag-re-cyle ng tubig.

5.Nagagamit na pangkontrol ng peste
•Sa kanyang likas na itim na kulay, ang inuling na ipa nakapag-iimbak ng init mula sa araw. may taglay din itong silica na nakapagdudulot ng iritasyon sa mga golden kuhol. kung ito ay ilalagay pagkatapos ng huling paglilinang ang mga golden kuhol ay hindi gaanong makagapang, at madali na para sa mga magsasaka na sila ay pulutin.

6.Nagagamit na panggatong
•Ang inuling na ipa ay hindi nagbago ng anyo at maganda ding alternatibong panggatong, kung ihahambing sa karaniwang ipa na ginagamit nating panggatong, madali itong sindihan at madali ring makapag-produce ng init

7.As deodorizer / odor suppressant
.ang paglalagay ng uling na ipa (nakalagay sa pinong screen) sa loob ng refrigerator ay nakakatulong upang maalis ang masamang amoy nito na dulot ng mga sari-saring laman nito.