The Good Balita

From the town hall in Copenhagen to the streets in Manila, the winning CNN/YouTube video entry from the Philippines is playing everywhere to communicate the effects of climate change to the citizens of the planet.

The video called “Raise Your Voice by Filipino environmental advocates” is one of the winning entries for the CNN/YouTube Debates online competition held to raise awareness on environmental issues in time for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in Denmark set to happen this week.

Produced by Paul Darwynn Garilao and Alfonso Orioste, Jr., the six-minute documentary film discussed disaster preparedness and the need to shift to alternative energy resources. As of press time, the video has 7,000 views with 38 comments.

Local scenario

In the Senate, Senator Loren Legarda shared, “I am inspired by your passion to lead the youth in standing against climate change and getting your voice heard by our world leaders.” The senator, a staunch advocate of the environment, will also participate in the conference. She furthered, “Being one with you in calling for environmental protection and climate change adaption, I am glad to share with you that I have endorsed your video entry in all my social networking sites. I do hope that we can work together in our shared advocacy.”

De La Salle University –Manila, where the Pinoys graduated, will show the video on LCD screen. Next year, the Marketing Communications Office plans to invite the winners as keynote speakers in a forum.

In a recent environmental awareness event in University of Sto. Thomas, the video was watched by hundreds of nursing students.

Rhomir Yanquiling, an English professor from Pangasinan State University, campaigned the video to his students. “Convincing my students to watch the video is in a way to raise awareness about climate change,” the professor shared.

At the southern portion of the country where massive and brutal killings took place, Mindanao TV aired the documentary film in one morning news show.

A global video

Although majority of Filipinos are watching the video, citizens from other countries are also taking time to view the short documentary film. A recent YouTube analytics reveals that it is now being watched from many countries. Here is the breakdown of audience share: Philippines – 31%, United States – 20%, United Kingdom – 14%, Spain – 12%, Germany – 12%, Canada – 3.4%, Netherlands – 3.4%, Brazil – 1.7%, Hong Kong – 1.7%, Italy – 1.7%.

In Copenhagen, the organizers have set up big screens in town hall meetings for the multi-media presentations and the “Raise Your Voice” entries. Global leaders from 193 nations are expected to watch the Pinoys’ documentary film.

Ana Lindenham, a Filipina blogger and architectural student in Copenhagen, said more Filipinos appreciated the video when it made the cut. She invites the Pinoys in community engagements to raise awareness on climate change.

A government worker in the Silicon Valley, Loreto Dimaandal said the Worldwide Filipino Alliance worked to win so the young guys can participate in the conference. Convinced that nuclear energy is the cleanest source of energy, Loreto shared, “If handed properly, the re-commissioning of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant will help alleviate the energy problem, provide much-needed occupation and revenues for the people, will entice investors, at the same time helping keep the environment clean.”

In Brazil, Breno Coehlo who is another winner of CNN/YouTube Debates contest shared that he is promoting the Pinoy entry. Coehlo recently won in another video contest for the United Nations Ambassador last October 2009. “The first time I saw your video was actually part of it in an editing I saw a day I learned about the contest. I guess it was a promo video.”

Coehlo referred to the promotional video of COP15 in which the Pinoys were featured together with an Italian, German, Indian, and Finnish. Coehlo, a photography teacher at Faculdade Estacio de Sa in Vitoria in Brazil, commented, “your video is very strong. It really got me into it. The scenes you selected were particularly special for the video. A few days ago, some friends and I were discussing the subject here, and you put in your video almost the same point of view I had…”

In return, Garilao linked the “Global Warming Project” in his social networking sites and spread about the campaign to his fellow Pinoys. “Even if we are yet to meet Breno in Copenhagen, we share the same passion with him in raising our voice to the global leaders,” he said.

The two Pinoys and Coehlo are considering to work together to make more visible the climate change’ adverse effects.

Skepticism despite victory

There are always two sides of the coin. Although the documentary film is receiving praises from all around the world, it is not spared from skeptical opinions.

While campaigning for the video, Garilao and Orioste shared they encountered some skeptics who believe global warming is just a hoax. When he blasted an e-mail, he received one opposing reply from a well known blogger who shared “I believe that human activities don’t contribute to the effects of global warming as it is a natural cycle.”

Even their YouTube’s channel is filled with negative comments on climate change. YouTube user Derrickjon said, “Go and actually learn about this fraud called global warming. Yes there is a global warming but it isn’t humans is (sic) the cause of this. People open your eyes.”

“That’s the purpose of discussions. Whether you believe climate change is a cause of human activities or just a natural occurrence, the point is that discussions on climate change have been raised, “Orioste ended.

 

Related posts:

1. Garilao, Orioste’s Copenhagen video diary on Google
2. 2 Pinoys win in CNN/YouTube Debates contest
3. Vote for Pinoys in CNN/YouTube climate change video title
4. Pinoys join global leaders in CNN/YouTube Debate
5. Pinoys raise voice for UN Climate Change Summit

 

 

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