Threat of climate change is real

The United Nations has sounded another urgent call for help to alleviate the immediate effects of El Niño, reportedly one of the worst in recent history, on the agriculture production of many developing countries, as well as the direct survival of affected families.

This call for relief aid is being made on behalf of 60 million people across the world plagued by droughts, floods, and other extreme weather disturbances caused by El Niño.

Even Southeast Asia has not been spared. And Thailand has been the first country to issue an appeal for help, citing four consecutive years of below-average rainfall that have left water reserves critically low and irrigation channels in the heart of the country dry.

Many Thai rice farmers are reportedly left with not enough water to start planting their second crops, and compounded by the past years’ lean harvests, have been affected by continuous poor incomes and rising debts.

While agriculture experts are saying that the expected lower production in Thailand’s rice will not affect world prices, since the country’s buffer stock is an all-time high because of lower global demand, the farmers’ lives are at risk if no immediate help is forthcoming.

The Philippines is similarly facing the same problems from the drought, although on a lower scale. The former abundance of water resources in Mindanao apparently no longer holds true as Earth enters what scientists regard as the last — but harshest — El Niño year.

No end in sight

An anticipated changing of the weather, seen towards the end of the year or early next year, however is not to be a source of comfort. The ensuing La Niña, according to weather experts, will likely be one of the worst also in modern times.

For farmers all over the world, the coming rains may not be a source of relief to parched lands, especially if this will come in torrents that will inundate — or even wash away — whatever they will manage to plant.

This is why the UN plea includes a call for aid not just to stave off hunger, but also to build farming and fishing communities’ capacity to prepare for worse climate changes in the coming years.

Precious water

Valenzuela’s Guri Dam, for example, once touted as among the biggest water reservoirs in the world, is drying up. Not only is this jeopardizing the country’s electricity supply, it is also threatening the water resources of this troubled economy.

Yes, water is — as had been warned by many environmental scientists — becoming a precious commodity for the human race. As water supply levels continue to drop with El Niño, the threat of rationing is becoming more apparent.

What this is telling mankind, during these times when the weather has turned strange to all of us, is that the era of hydroelectricity as an alternative source of energy may be a thing of the past — because water is now becoming too precious to be used to generate power.

The threat of climate change brought about by global warming is real, and while the Philippines is not as badly affected as India, Thailand or countries in South and Central America, what Mindanao is currently experiencing is a precursor and warning of what we may face in the near future.

Comprehensive water plan

Part of the mitigation would be the conservation of our water resources, not only for irrigation, but also for drinking and sanitation. More than ever, the country needs to be aware of its precious water resources, and to come up with a plan that would extend to at least two decades, the period that many environmental scientist believe is needed before any real positive change may be seen from the recent Paris accord on global warming.

Part of this needed planning would be a commitment by the government to make its citizens more aware of the growing value of water to the nation’s survival during the El Niño periods, which has been getting more severe over the years.

Despite the periods of “abundance” during the periods of La Niña, Filipinos must learn that, just like oil, water can now be abused to the detriment of mankind. But unlike oil’s more abstract effect on global warming, water shortages strike directly and deeply into a human’s gut.

Kai Sotto – future basketball star?

Kai Sotto is more a curiosity now, but potentially may be a future hope and star of Philippine basketball. Kai is a lanky kid standing 6 feet 10 inches only at the young age of 13 years. His father is Ervin Sotto, former PBA player, with height of 6 feet and 7 inches and his mother is Pamela Sotto, relatively tall herself, at 5 feet and 11 inches.

Kai attended several basketball camps and displayed dexterity and athleticism not usually seen for someone with his height and age. Observers believe that given the right training and competitive exposure, Kai has the potential to be a dominant player by the time he plays at the collegiate level.

Arben Santos, an active supporter of Ateneo Blue Eagles and a prominent member of the shipping industry, recently met Kai’s parents to discuss how to assist Kai maximize opportunities to advance his education and playing skills.

Arben is known in the Blue Eagle circle as the adviser of former Ateneo players such as Enrico Villanueva, Richie Alvarez, Larry Fonacier, and LA Tenorio, who all completed college education while playing, and are now stars in their own right at the PBA.

Kai recently successfully passed the high school academic entrance examination at Ateneo de Manila University, and is now practicing with the school’s high school team. Arben assured Kai’s parents that Kai will get the needed training program, and at the same time, a well-rounded education provided he continues to meet the academic standards throughout his school years.

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