Letter to President Obama

Dear Mr. President,

This is a big opportunity for me to be given a chance to address with you my concerns about the problem in Climate Change. Actually, at first I am hesitant to write you a letter; because there are no assurance that you will able to read this since you have so many concerns to be deal with and should prioritize. But again, I said to myself there is no wrong in trying. I wish that you will be able to read my personal letter to you and help me to fight Climate Change. It is all right with me if you would not be able to read it immediately, what important to me is that at least I have reach your heart on this particular matter.

When you were elected as the President of the most powerful country in the whole world, I knew that they are lot of changes that will be happen not only to the United States of America but also to the whole world. The whole world was waiting for this kind of things to happen- CHANGE. For this, you did not fail us when you included in your speech the phrase: YES WE CAN! The hearts of the people while listening to you at that time were uplifted. We can fell it in our hearts that you were really serious and sincere when you said it. You have given your country and the whole world a guarantee that we wanted to hear from most powerful individual, President like you. You have given us hope, which it is not yet too late to change in order for us to achieve our goal to have a clean, safe and prosper place to live.

Mr. President, Climate change is already happening and represents one of the greatest environmental, social and economic threats facing the planet. One of the countries who were affected by this obstacle is the Philippines, the country where I live. Climate Change impacts have been manifested in the Philippines by the extreme weather occurrence such as floods, drought, forest fires, landslide and increase in tropical cyclones. Evidenced of Climate Change were Typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng hit the Philippines last September 26 and October 9, 2009. In the midst of this weather, at least 540 Filipino people have been confirmed killed, destroyed homes and farms in the said typhoons.

Agriculture is the sector most affected by tropical cyclones. Typhoon damage rose to more than 1% of GDP at 1.17%, the highest. Mr. President, the decline in production and productivity will possibly threaten the country's food security. Likewise, frequent occurrence of extreme events has affected rainfall and inflow patterns of the reservoirs. There is also evidence correlating El Niño occurrences with the epidemics on dengue. Massive coral bleaching in various reefs throughout the Philippines occurred during the El Niño episode. Fish kills and high mortality of cultured giant clams and severe red tide outbreaks were also observed after strong El Niño periods. The worst incidence of red tide in Manila Bay occurred in 1992, another El Niño period. On February 7, 2010, the projected damage to rice and corn crops in Negros Occidental caused by the El Nino phenomenon soared to P717,132,000. Consequently, the supply of rice, corn and vegetable were affected. The price increased from time to time because of lack of supply.

Mr. President, Climate change could reduce income from farming and fishing, possibly driving some women into sex works and thereby increase HIV infection. The effects of climate change have driven women in communities in coastal areas in poor countries like the Philippines into dangerous work, and sometimes even the flesh trade. In the Philippines, small brothels usually pop up near the coastal areas where many women perform sexual services for transient seafarers. But as the sea’s resources are depleted due to overpopulation and over fishing, fishermen start losing their livelihood and women are forced to share the traditional role of the man in providing for the family.

Further, some women often pick out shellfish by the coastlines, which exposed to storm surges. Women who can no longer endure this kind of work often go out to find other jobs, while some are tempted to go into prostitution.Mr. President, the Filipinos were aware that U.S Government extended its helping hands to the Philippine Government. This action was proven when the Philippines were suffered from Typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng last year. The U.S sent professional group of people to help us to regain from aftermath of typhoon. However, Mr. President , we are not sure if the Philippine Government were using all the financial aid you have given to our country in mitigating Climate change.

For this, I am knocking to your good heart Mr. President to set an example to the leaders of the whole world to put their priorities in fighting Climate change before their personal interest. I believe Mr. President, fighting Climate change is very important because is it is the root of all other major problem that our planet currently suffering from, like problem in poverty, environment, education and population. All of these are the effect of Climate change. We cannot solve the problem at the same time. This is impossible thing to do. What we need to do Mr. President is to trace the root cause of all these problem- which is Climate Change. The whole world Mr. President needs you, the way Filipino people needs you. All people of this planet are relying on you Mr. President. Let the other country look up to you by setting an example to them. Once they have learned the progress of your action, the other country will definitely use the same method in fighting climate change.
Furthermore, it is not enough Mr. President to give financial aid to other country especially to the third world country for their needs in fighting Climate Change. You should make necessary follow up on the progress of their proposed projects and those countries and officers who misuse the funds should be punished through the help of U.S by monitoring their trial just to make sure that will be put in jail. By this, country like Philippines will be alarm from this kind of rule. Officers who are assigned to the proposed project in fighting Climate change would not tempt to corrupt the funds that allotted for this project.

Mr. President helps us to take an action in fighting Climate change. Fighting Climate change will not just benefit my country but also the whole world as well because it would result to have a better, safer, more supply of food to all of us. Once we have solve the problem with Climate change everything will follow.

Climate Change is already affecting our lives and places we live, and has the potential to dramatically impact the lives of future generations. If we don't act now, we will leave a much larger problem to our children. However, if we will join in to stop climate change, we can reduce its impact on our lives, on our environment and on future generations. So let's raise our hands and participate in saving the life of mother earth.

Let the “change” happen Mr. President and let us witness such change.
More Power!

Yours Sincerely,
Maria Evelyn Cerdeno
Philippines