According to the National Geographic, the biggest threats to the health of the world’s oceans are mostly human activities. “More than 80 percent of marine pollution comes from land-based activities, from coral bleaching to sea level rise, entire marine ecosystems are rapidly changing.”
It also said that global warming is causing alterations in ocean chemistry and many oceanic processes, and it is threatening many species of marine animals that cannot cope with higher temperatures. “Overfishing is a serious problem in many parts of the world. Conservationists advocate creating expansive marine reserves to protect the biodiversity of the oceans,” it added.
This is why SM Cares and long-time program partner, the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, recently held the second Virtual Green Film Festival which showcased two short videos. By focusing on protecting the world’s oceans, the live stream was part of a continuing program to educate the public about the importance of marine conservation.
Held last April 22 in celebration of Earth Day with the theme “Celebrating Earth Day: Protecting the Ocean from Surface to Bottom,” more than 500 students and professionals from all over the country attended the online event.
The first feature was “How’s My Fishing,” which revolved around illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Philippines, its socio-economic impacts and how it is affecting not only our seafood supplies but also the quality of the seafood we eat.
The second film, titled “Emden Deep Expedition: Filipino Scientist Reaching the 3rd Deepest Trench in the World,” featured microbial oceanographer Dr. Deo Onda and his experience being the first Filipino scientist to join an exploration of the third deepest spot on earth, the Emden Deep found in the Philippine Trench.
In addition to the film viewing, the event also included presentations and a live panel discussion moderated by U.S. Embassy Deputy for Environment, Science and Technology, and Health Ashley Tokic with IUU Fishing Specialist for USAID Fish Right Project Rollan Geronimo, Dr. Onda, and SM Supermalls Corporate Compliance Manager Belinda Gonzales.
“The films were chosen to hopefully spark this generation’s interests in the protection of our seas and oceans,” said Gonzales.
“We hope this online screening connects you with others interested in critical issues affecting the environment, saving our oceans, and meeting the challenge of climate change as a collective effort that must be prioritized,” said U.S. Embassy in the Philippines Charge d’ Affaires John Law.
The 2nd Virtual Green Film Festival supports the UN’s Sustainability Development Goals, particularly “SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities,” “SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production,” and “SDG 14: Life Below Water.”
SM Cares is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Supermalls. Its other external initiatives for the environment include the Trash to Cash recycling market; the Plastic Waste Collection and Electronic Waste Collection programs, and the AweSMSeas campaign on marine plastic pollution, in partnership with USAID and Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PRRCFI), to name a few.