Posts by C-Help Team
Protecting the Protectors: A Human Rights Month Call for Environmental Justice in the Philippines
This Human Rights Month, the Community Legal Help and Public Interest Centre, Inc. (C-HELP) stands in solidarity with Environmental Human Rights Defenders (EHRDs) who safeguard our people and planet. We commemorate this occasion by affirming their vital role in protecting communities and ecosystems. In every corner of the country, this solidarity takes shape in real…
Read MoreDigging a Grave with Concrete: The Human Cost of Reclaiming Manila Bay
There’s a burning rage growing inside every person’s chest every time it rains hard in Manila. It is undeniable how people in Metro Manila grapple through floodwaters every time there’s a weather disturbance. In a span of minutes of torrential rains, Manila alleys become easily inundated. People are tired of romanticizing resilience as they endure…
Read MoreThe Truth Behind “Eco-Friendly” Labels: What Filipino Consumers Need to Know
Take a walk down any grocery aisle and you’ll spot a rainbow of products boasting green labels: “eco-friendly,” “recyclable,” “biodegradable.” It’s a tempting promise—who wouldn’t want their everyday purchases to help save the planet? But here’s the catch: not everything wrapped in green is as good for the environment as it claims. More and more…
Read MoreWriting for the Planet – How a Community’s Words Took on Plastic Pollution
Shining a spotlight on one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time—plastic pollution—the Community Legal Help and Public Interest Centre launched an essay writing contest themed ‘HOW DO WE SOLVE THE PLASTIC POLLUTION PROBLEM?’ Through this initiative, C-Help invited young voices from the community to share their ideas, experiences, and visions for a…
Read MoreThe Road to Ruin? PTMP’s Fossil Fuel Drive and the Climate Consequences
Image by gloverbh222 from Pixabay These rainy days hit differently. As floods rise and classes get suspended again, I cannot help but think about how climate change is worsening our monsoon — and how it’s all tied to our dependence on fossil fuels. So while I glance out the window with my work from home…
Read MoreThe Living Bay – Debunking The Death Of Manila Bay
Photo taken by Silina Alvarado For many years, people have described Manila Bay in all sorts of ways – polluted, dying, forgotten. What’s there to save, right? If you stroll by the bay in Mall of Asia, the image of a large, decaying body of water with foul smell and floating scraps and wastes…
Read MoreA David and Goliath legal battle to save Manila Bay
Image by Ruediger from Pixabay When I learned about the case of PAMALAKAYA, et al. v. PRA and DENR, the story of David v. Goliath came to my mind. In the biblical story of David v. Goliath, David was a young shepherd who was small and inexperienced yet with courage, agility and faith in God,…
Read MoreAfter the holiday shopping spree
It seems New Year has been associated by many with buying something new for oneself and loved ones. Some buy new shoes, bags, and t-shirts for the sake of having something new to wear, or show off to others, and feel good about it. After the holiday buying spree, waste of all kinds, including gift…
Read MoreEnvironmental Human Rights Defender’s Guide Against SLAPP Suits
Environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs) are often the target of various forms of threats and intimidation. These threats and intimidation range from simple harassment to physical, mental, and psychological assault, including incarceration or worse – death. Many have fallen victim to extrajudicial killings, and illegal or warrantless arrests. In fact, the Philippines has notoriously been…
Read MoreWhat It Means To Lose Migratory Birds And Their Habitats In Manila Bay
Image by Joe from Pixabay Over half a century ago, life was teeming in Manila Bay. Fisherfolks enjoy the bounty of the sea as it is blessed with a variety of fish and marine species. Coastal residents gather seashells along its shores and the mangroves that nourish fish, shrimps and other organisms also act as…
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