Grassroots environmental consciousness the GK way
- Digoy Fernandez -
OK, so I am an unabashed fan of the Gawad Kalinga process, and not just because I have so many friends both in the CFC-GK group(s) and participating organizations. Where else can you get a combination of so many beneficial factors, from group participation, to helping the poorest of the poor, to implanting spiritual growth? Now comes a new twist to the model: The instillation of environmental consciousness. This is a grassroots approach at its finest!
As many of us high-falluting economists find out later in life, many of the so-called trickle-down effects of big-ticket items turn out to be a tiny dribble, indeed, the proverbial torrent of goodies reduced to a teeny-weeny trickle because of the debilitating effects of corruption and waste. That is why NGOs find a true place in countries like the Philippines. The relative inefficiencies and inabilities of government in the delivery system provide the fodder within which NGOs can grow and prosper.
In the magazine section of a rival paper (ooops!), a GK community in a nearby province was taught how to help preserve the rapidly dwindling numbers of giant turtles. Environmental consciousness is being imparted to them by former Environment Secretary Bebet Gozun, acting in a private capacity as a GK volunteer. The potential for such teaching and nurturing is practically limitless: From following sound environmental practices in waste management, water savings and retention; the use of recyclable materials; lessening the use of electricity; and other similar initiatives. By making the GK — and probably other nearby — communities self-sustainable, we may just begin to see the beginning of a true environmental consciousness revolution. A more effective one because it starts from the grassroots.
Think about this: What if every upscale village and/ or organization decided to adopt a community and begin to introduce programs like this which would be one step toward the attainment of positive self-esteem for all concerned? From the environment, we could then move to other very commendable projects like livelihood generation and medical practice the barefoot doctor way.
Only lack of imagination and will power can possibly stand in the way.
