ICC PH 2011 Invitation and Guidelines

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

Warm greetings!

The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) is the world’s largest volunteer effort for coastal health over the past 25 years. A satellite action at the Manila Bay was conducted last year with over 100 volunteers from various youth organizations and institutions.

On the event of the International Year of Forests as sanctioned by the United Nations, the previous ICC PH participants aim to spearhead another 2011 ICC Philippines youth action at the Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA) in Manila Bay on September 17, 2011.

RationaleThe Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Eco-Tourism Area (LPPCHEA) is a 175-Hectare (Ha) mangrove wetland area along the Manila Bay that serves as a sanctuary for rare and uncommon bird species. This coastal lagoon was declared a protected area under EO No. 1412 in 2007, and an array of national and international organizations such as the Haribon Foundation, Conservation International and Wetlands International have identified LPPCHEA as an Important Bird Area, a Key Biodiversity Area, and a priority site for biodiversity conservation.

Currently, the LPPCHEA is threatened by a 635 Ha reclamation project by the PRA aiming to establish an ambitious business center and a highway that will possibly cut through the reserve's mangroves to link it to the rest of Metro Manila. Reclamation in the Manila Bay has been identified as a cause for the rapid reduction of the bird population in the coastal lagoon from a peak of 28,000 birds in Manila Bay in the early 70's down to a present number of 5,000. It is also responsible for the reduction of daily fish catch by fisherfolk around Manila Bay from a high average of 15 kilos to 1-3 kilos per day.

We believe that it is in the people's interests to protect the LPPCHEA's wealth of biodiversity and ecosystem services, and as such aim to hold the 2011 ICC at the bird sanctuary as a show of force of environmental advocates and grassroots communities for the conservation of the coastal lagoon and the bounty of natural resources that thrives in it.

Guidelines

Registration in the ICC is voluntary and thus free, and can be done through signup sheets circulated by the event organizers. Pending updates on sponsorships and requests for support, volunteers will take care of their transportation, water and food rations, and cleanup materials. For a group of 20 volunteers, the estimate expenditure per person is P150.00. The cost for individual commuting will be announced soon.

Each volunteer is advised to bring packed snacks and lunch, a water bottle, alcohol or other sanitizing agent and a sack that will serve as garbage bags, in case no sponsorship is available. Other suggested items that you can bring include rubber boots, small towels, extra clothing, insect repellants and sunblock.

Volunteers are expected to arrive at the gathering site by 8:00AM. All participants will troop to the site together by 8:30AM and conduct a small program. The cleanup proper will commence at 9:00AM and will conclude at 11:30AM for lunch onsite. We request participants to wear ICC PH 2011 shirts if the minimum preorder pushes through, otherwise the event secretariat will announce the color of the shirt we encourage everyone to wear on cleanup day.

Volunteer individuals and organizations are encouraged to take an educational discussion on the forest situation and reclamation issue that runs for around 30 minutes. ED sessions must be requested at least 3 days before the target date.

To sign up or to inquire for further details, you can contact Mr. Kane (0935 127 0763) or Ms. Kevin (0999 713 2722).

ICC PH 2011 Event T-ShirtsThe ICC PH 2011 will have event tshirts for sale at P170.00. To preorder, you are required to give a down payment of P100.00. The shirts will be up for printing once we get a preorder of at least 100 pieces. Deadline of preorders is until September 8 5PM, and the distribution of shirts will be on September 15.

All proceeds of the T-Shirt sale will go to the operations of our campaign. Supporters who are unable to participate in the cleanup proper are encouraged to buy shirts as your contribution to the efforts. For preorders or inquiries, please contact Mr. Loi (0915 428 5476) or Mr. Benedik (0927 692 1316).

Pledge RequestsSince ICC PH 2011 is a purely volunteer effort, we are looking for donors who are willing to support the campaign in their individual or organizational capacity. The following are the pledges that individuals can provide:

Silver Pledge

Subsidizes the medical gloves, water ration, trash sack and transportation of a single volunteer.

P200.00

You will be acknowledged in the program and will get a token post card featuring shots from the event.

Gold Pledge

Subsidizes the medical gloves, water ration, trash sack and transportation of two volunteers, plus contingent suppies.

P500.00

You will be acknowledged in the program and will get a token post card and little book of nature.

Platinum Pledge

Subsidizes the medical gloves, water ration, trash sack and transportation of three volunteers, plus contingent supplies

P800.00

You will be acknowledged in the program and will get a token post card and an ICC PH 2011 T-Shirt.

Should you or any person you can refer be interested to pledge for the cleanup, kindly send the pledge by September 10 to Mr. Leon by texting him at 0917 562 6824.

We hope for your support in any of the endeavors within the campaign. Every act will collectively go a long way in deepening the public’s understanding of the issue, and popularizing the people’s defense of the LPPCHEA Bird Sanctuary.

Thank you very much and we look forward to your kind and timely response!

Event SecretariatInternational Coastal Cleanup PH 2011 UP Explore – Agham Youth – UdM SAVE – Kalikasan-PNE

About the Organizers

The University of the Philippines Explore (UP Explore) is a socio-civic, environmental student organization based in UP Diliman, that was revived in 2010 in the objective of educating and mobilizing youths and students in social and environmental issues from the perspective of the

grassroots. It is the main secretariat of the ICC PH 2011.

The Agham Youth is a student organization established in March 1999 in recognition of the need for a renewal of the advocacy for the development and utilization of science and technology that shall be of service to the broad masses of the people. It is a member of the ICC PH 2011 secretariat.

The Universidad de Manila Social Action and Voice for the Environment (UdM SAVE) is a patriotic, people-oriented and progressive student mass organization founded in 2011 with the objective of protecting and advancing our environment and natural resources for the genuine development of our nation. It is a member of

the ICC PH 2011 secretariat.

The Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan-PNE) is a network of people's organizations (POs), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and environmental advocates. It aims to address environmental issues but in such a way that primacy is given to the people—especially in the grassroots level—who constitute the overwhelming majority of the population. It is

the main advocacy partner of the ICC PH 2011.