Disturbing news

The M/V Solar I, an oil tanker chartered by Petron, the country’s largest oil refiner, sank off the coast of Guimaras Island in Central Philippines. Copious amounts of deadly, viscous fuel have reached several islands in the Visayas region (hello, including the island where I was born, Negros!) and are now spreading and slithering their way to the Guimaras Strait. Aside from the virgin white sand beaches, a number of marine sanctuaries and unspoiled coral reefs and mangrove forests are now in danger of being engulfed by this dark and silent monster. It has already destroyed an important feeding and breeding ground for fish and other species in the area. Protected species such as the dugong, green and hawksbill turtles, and several cetacean species live along the Strait and are now in danger of disappearing completely.

WWF (formerly known as the World Wildlife Fund, one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations in the world) hopes everyone involved and affected by this disaster—from the coastguard, to the oil industry, local fishermen and coastal communities—would cooperate in creating a national oil spill contingency plan to handle this crisis. I don’t know if there is a real plan out there from the government, but I hope someone mobilizes these people soon. There are species and industries literally dying out there as we speak!

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE go out there and do your part to save our environment. Go to WWF’s website for more information about the accident, then check out WWF-Philippines’ site to find out about the different ways on how you could help. Do something! You could even just talk about this with your family, friends, and co-workers. Or email them. Remember, every little thing counts. We could all make a difference.