Corruption for a price of "environment degradation"

Corruption for a price of "environment degradation"

Corruption in its simplest term have varied facets. Corruption in its objective sense, was defined as a"deflection from morality, honesty and duty". In its extensive definition it is an act of abuse of power with the sole purpose of satisfying personal or group wants and interests. To give emphasizes, corruption is not limited to abuse of power, it extends to other resources, like influences, money, nature and even up to the basic necessities.

One of the most noticeable effects of corruption on the environment is in the water sector. Presently, our country is experiencing water shortage. This scenario will continue to worsen because as the water continues to be scarce, competition in water resources will increase.

Most people would only see the problem posed in front of them, and only few would take time to dig deeper and see the root of this problem. Corruption is just a cycle. In this case, as the supply of water decreases because most water reservoir dries up, there will now be a driving force for people to gain and stock more water than they did before; thus, corruption takes place, those who have more resources can gain more access to water and less water for those who have less resources. And the scarce water resource will now be even scarcer resource.

The cycle keeps on turning, as water keeps lacking then there would be less water supply for irrigation and other agricultural activities. Less water for irrigation means less agriculture products and less profit for the farmers then consumers and producers will have less food on their plates which now causes hunger.

Less water underground to cool the earth and on rivers and lakes will mean hotter temperature and less rainfall, and worse can lead to climate change or global warming.

As corruption continues and overuse of water is still present, then no doubt that this will cause the destruction of our environment.

(Transparency International: The global coalition against corruption. 2008. Web.)
www.feem-web.it/ess03/students/pellegr.pdf

What is Danger?

What is "Danger"

Years back, this is "Danger"...

  

War is Danger

    and

       Danger is War.

This is "Danger" today...

    

Massification,

Food Scarcity,

Industrialization,

Climate Change,

Environmental Degradation ...

Before us, they see danger only as a threat on life. Danger was equated with war. History tells us that threats of war has been in the international system for long long years. Through years, notions of danger have evolved. From war fares between countries to the notion of massification, industrialization, nuclearization of warfare, and environmental degradation. Back in the days, danger affects the country per se, but now, danger affects each and every human beings as an individual.

The reason for this change can be attributed to globalization. Because viable informations and technologies are now available to every and anyone, each and everyone of us are now an open book and thus more vulnerable.

Which is Responsible?

Modernization?

or

Dependency?

It is of importance to define first and distinguish the difference between modernization and dependency theory. Modernization shows evolutionary trends seen as the emergence of new forms of integrations, evolutionary upgrading, and an increasingly generalized adaptive capacity of a society. The developed countries are the ones we see as modernized like Japan, Russia, and the Western countries. All of them are equipped with up to date technologies for communications, military defenses, and medical advancements. Most likely, this said technologies can never be seen in third world or developing countries.

On the other hand, dependency theory in simple terms is the tendency of third world or developing countries to depend on developed countries. The term depend used can be said to deliberately be under the control of another country.

Following the modernization theory, a undeveloped country sees western country as the "model" country which they have to follow or to idolized. On the other hand, in dependency theory, a undeveloped country sees western country as a "tool" for their own success. If compared, the former is far better than the other. In modernization, undeveloped countries borrow experiences, methods and technologies from the western countries and exert effort to adapt it in their own ways while in dependency theory, undeveloped countries are relying on the western country itself and letting the bigger country control them in some ways.

In the Philippines, I believe that underdevelopment and income disparity can be attributed to dependency theory. It is apparent that in our country, the western have great influences in different aspects of our life. The western countries have great control over us; they have become a part of us and have intervened in the policies laid down before us.

Why is there always an Opposite?

Do you wonder why almost everything has its opposite? 

I do wonder why.

We have BLACK color and then there is also WHITE. You can choose to go Up or Down, or Left or Right. The world has NORTHERN part and SOUTHERN part, plus the EAST and the WEST. You can always turn ON and OFF your television set if your bored. In entering restaurants, you can either PUSH or PULL the doors. What is the difference between PROTONS and ELECTRONS or why does our batteries have POSITIVE and NEGATIVE charges. Sometimes you feel HOT then suddenly it feels COLD. Some trees are TALL and some are SHORT. Flowers and some plants can either be BEAUTIFUL or UGLY. The sun either RISE or SET.

In humans, why do distinctions between man and woman exist? 

Disclaimer: This picture was retrieved from http://www.faqs.org/photo-dict/phrase/2775/balance.html.

From the very beginning, our creator could have opt to design one mold. The mold which will bring in to existence similar and equal type of person. The question is why does He chose to create two distinct person. As for me, I see it as a way of God on how He wants to continue life on earth, to leave on the hands of the people how they will develop, adjust and balance out the world. Thousands of years ago, Men are always seen to be tough, hard and authoritative. Women, on the other hand, are sweet, helpless and subservient. The world back then are dominated by men. Men are SUPERIOR and women are INFERIOR. The concept of equalities does not exist. But as the world revolves and changes continues, the people also developed and learned to grow. In our modern world, equality was born and known all over.  Men learned to listen and to respect women. Our balance scale is now stable, but no one can tell if someday the scale may lean either to the left or the right. So if we know that we are one of the weights working as a balancer, let us just continue to live the way we have been living.

Because of Media

If there was no media, the Philippines and all Filipinos would have been clueless. The news came from hundreds of thousands kilometers away. Why does our own government did not knew of this, when states across the border already knew and have already imposed travel bans to Philippines. Thanks to advancement in media. Now Filipinos, if ever this threat would be true and will happen, will be prepared and alert and will be out from the center of mockery around the world.