Ash, the environment, more community service and young women

Dear Ashleigh,

Happy Birthday!!! Oh my goodness, it seems we’ve known you forever and you have been part of our family all along, but looking back, it’s been not even two years since we officially added you to the ranks of the ever growing, ever improving Cropper clan. And you are for sure part of the improvement. You add richly to our perspective and our strength.

---A New notice in the marketplace---

TO THE BUYING PUBLIC:

In support to the city ordinance #234 regulating the use of plastic shopping bags on both dry & wet goods, the Tabo sa Pao requesting our buyer public to bring their own Re-usable, &Re washable shopping bags starting April 4, 2012. Tabo sa Pao Management

We have been thinking for a long time what the topic of your birthday blog would be—should we pick a person to link you to or a topic that would interest you? We chose the latter, only there are two topics: we chose the environment and young women--two topics close to your heart, one your profession and the other your calling. We thought it would be interesting to give you the Amlan, Negros Oriental, Philippines version of environmental issues, and a vision of Young LDS women and men in our District here. I think it will give you hope.

We see it as hopeful, because at some levels, people here care very much for their environment, and some understand very well the causes and effects of pollution and waste. There are government agencies involved in waste management, recycling, protection of resources, prevention, etc. There are laws and legislation that govern and regulate use of resources. But at the same time, there are two factors that balance against that. One is wide spread corruption.

This country is said to be one of the most corrupt on earth, with corruption defined as political power being used for personal gain. This plays out in many environmental ways, but the most devastating of those is that government officials legislate against using the resources from all lands, under the guise of environmental protection, then they buy up big stretches of protected land, then they ravage those lands themselves, and gain the profits, but of course don’t enforce the laws, so huge stretches of forest are logged and not replanted, mined and not regulated. We are told there are even chain saws with silencers on them so that people can’t tell where the violations are going on. It is far worse than if private land owners were using their land and managing the resources carefully like land owners have done for generations here. The result is, that in places where these government officials have clear cut, there are horrible, fatal land-slides in the mountains, and flooding in the valleys when a typhoon hits, and much greater devastation than would ever have otherwise occurred. It’s tragic.

The corruption in government contribute greatly to the second tragic factor that effects the environment. The people are poor—far more poor than people should be in a country with never ending natural resources—and so they can’t afford the luxury of managing their resources as they might like to. They fish too much from the same waters, and the fish are getting smaller and fewer. They use tons of plastic bags because they are cheap and convenient, but then those show up all over beaches and waterways.

The good news is that on local levels, the people are trying and succeeding in making a difference, and community clean-up efforts are organized, trees are planted, local ordinances are passed and enforced.

The small Municipality of Amlan has a no smoking ordinance! Imagine. There are cities in Europe and America—much more developed and seemingly ahead—that are not this progressive.

There are small areas that are marine protected. No fishing is allowed there. (see also the sign below with the fish drawn on it)

There are agencies that encourage the research and development of job-creating renewable resource industry and agriculture, like goat milk production, and coconut water collection (coconuts are harvested and the meat and shells are used but the water from them, electrolyte-rich though it is, isn’t for the most part being collected)

This is from a week of environmental and community service/clean-up in which our branch's members and the missionaries from our Zone participated. It is called Gawad Kalinga, which means "give care". Look it up on the internet. It is an amazing program that is sweeping across the Philippines and is gaining some real international attention.


















There were 75 teams of 15 on each team. We had about 35 people all in all helping from the LDS community and missionaries. The before and afters are pretty groovy. Notice the Mormon Helping Hands vests. YEAH!!


Gotta have music to pump up the volunteers. The band is called Recycles. All their instruments are made from recycled materials. They sounded great.









DreAMLANd. Diversified Resources for an Ecological AMLAN Development. This is our towns logo, as seen on the new fire truck. Pretty clever.












The Rhinosouras Beetle. Eats young coconut buds. Good for the beetle bad for the coconuts. (Dean somehow thought this picture is environmentally linked and wants to include it)














Throw your garbage you get fined and go to jail.


















The week after Gawad Kalinga was the District Youth Conference. Here are some of the young women, showing off the decorated flipflops they made. And some others dressed for the social dance night where the theme was "Once Upon A Time". The youth also learned of the Law of Chastity, with I courageously taught in spite of the language barrier--not an easy task if all are on the same language page! They had scripture study each morning with their seminary teachers, workshops on practical skills to improve their lot temporally, and lots of good food and fun. Probably the biggest difference you would notice if you visited a Youth activity here is that the kids don't have the same sense of cool factor as at home. Sure, some are more shy than others, and some are bold, but all seem to be pretty good sports about trying new things and participating. They LOVE to dress up, and costumes are a must. Boys and girls were dressed up in costume for the dance, and then again for the talent show. The girls are showing of the crafts they made--cool decorated flip flops, and wood blocks with sayings. One cool picture is a cute duet in the talent show. All had a lot of good clean fun--not much different than the same event in Provo or Ashland.










































The Bouncers.























Thanks to you Ashleigh for your passion about our earth and our environment. Thanks for the work you do in Young Women to change lives and reflect God's love to his daughters. We love you and love to think of the difference you are making in the world and in our family. Happy Birthday!!!