In 2002 highlighting the celebration of the International Year of the Mountains, the Human Development International and partner organizations made the Call to Save Mount Apo and the Mountains of the World. .. and even years before that HDI has raise said concern and together with partners made efforts to meet the enormous challenge that continues to the present times. Many have made notable sacrifices to save, protect and restore the mountain and some almost died in its dedication to save this Tribal Gods abode. And together we made Mount Apo as tall as other mountains as it champion the Cause to Save the Mountains of the World by the call made at its summit that was endorsed by the then U.N. Secretary General Kofi Anan, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Former President Fidel Ramos and others. Today the call does not only frontlines Philippine global environment advocacies but has become a global movement that has contributed inputs in the U.N. Resolution on Sustainable Mountain Development in collaboration with DENR, DFA and the Philippine Mission to the U.N. in New York . Recently, we the movers of the call are saddened that years of collaborative efforts and the very essence of the call can just be ruined by an irresponsible decision to open Davao del Sur side to climbing activities despite the forewarning and recommendation to ban climbing activities during the drought period..as well as being numbed to the advise by the majority of the board and the peoples sentiments that Mount Apos interest and safety must not be jeopardize. Such insensitive and irresponsible decision poses danger to Mount Apo and the planet knowing that every year forest fires wreak devastation across the world that contribute to the greenhouse effect; .The movers of the Call strongly denounces this decision since there are just too much at stake due to the vulnerability of the mountain to forest fire at this period. Even in the United States and Australia with advance fire fighting capability camping activities are prohibited during summer when the vegetation dries out that increases the risk of fire.; - and how much more at Mount Apo that is currently being plagued by drought where forest vegetation has gone dry and becomes dry fuel that can burn and spread easily with the prevailing high temperature. Even if they say, that climbers have already booked and arrangements made, safety of the mountain must not be breached. Yes, they said that the more than 800 climbers that climbed this Lenten season have returned with no fire occurrence! This is even worst because we have risk the safety of the mountain. Safety is ultimate much so that the probability of forest fire is high and so much is at stake that climbing should have not been allowed. We should strictly adhere to the culture of prevention than the culture of reaction much so that we dont have the capability and resources to put off forest wildfire thus prevention must be iron clad policy. No amount of insistence and justification can outweigh safety for it is an ultimate safeguard. The decision to close some sides of the mountain to climbing activities and open Davao Del Sur side is meaningless since it has not address the issue to prevent forest fire during the prevailing drought in fact it is no solution at all! This indecision that hinders to execute a unified and concerted action poses a serious threat to the mountains safety much so if this practice is allowed to continue. It will also compromise the Protected Areas and Management Board effectiveness to make sound policy decisions that serve the interest of the mountain that must be rectified to make PAMB a cohesive force where members do not look at their own interest but the interest of the whole. Friends Mount Apo through the years has taught us many things including the hard lessons of the forest fires in the 80s and 90s and others that theres a need for us endowed with greater intelligence, - not only to be in command of ones physical habits, but also of ones desires, ones mind, and become attuned to the laws of nature and apply what have been taught. Thus if we must control our thoughts that dictate our actions and conscious of our responsibility as guardian of Mount Apo and the knowledge that our lives beat as one with this precious natural legacy, then through individual and collective actions we can save and restore this important life giving resource, - Mount Apo!
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mt apo induction climbby borjeous16,083 views
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