Philippine's Project NOAH

As the President of the Philippines, President Benigno S. Aquino III became upset with the much said FAIL weather forecasts, DOST (Department of Science and Technology) came up with a response by creating the "Project NOAH" or the (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards).

The Project aims to harness technologies and management services for disaster risk reduction activities by the the DOST through other Philippine agencies such as PAGASA, PHIVOLCS and DOST-ASTI (Advanced Science and Technology Institute, in partnership with UP National Institute of Geological Science and the UP College of Engineering.

Launched last July 6, 2012 many had their hopes up with the project and for those who doesn't know, it is still in its BETA stage.

According to the Official Gazette of the Philippines, the project has different components but as of now we could only feel and experience the functionality of one of them.

As of now, what NOAH has is the Weather Hazard Information Project (WHIP) which of course, based on its title, relays an expected accurate weather information from rainfall to weather systems that will hit the country.

Other components that NOAH will have or be completed in 2013 - 2014 are:

- Distribution of Hydrometeorological Devices in hard-hit areas in the Philippines (Hydromet)

- Disaster Risk Exposure Assessment for Migration - Light Detection and Ranging (DREAM-LIDAR)


- Enhancing Geohazards Mapping through LIDAR


- Coastal Hazards and Storm Surge Assessment and Mitigation (CHASSAM)


- Flood Information Network (FloodNET) Project


- Local Development of Doppler Radar Systems (LaDDeRS)


- Landslide Sensors Development Project

As the project aims to relay accurate information or high percentage on its forecasts about possible hazards / calamities to come, technology seems to be a major issue that the project encountered.
A year is about to pass and most of us were waiting for the completion of this enormous project and hoping that they have the full support they needed from the government.

The Greenest Olympics?

(Image from Living Green Magazine)

Have you noticed the "?" in my title? Well, this is because I'm not really decided which side should I believe. Please take a tour at my post to find out more about the London Olympics.

As the London Olympics is nearing its end, have you ever heard that they tried to make it the greenest Olympics in modern history? According to what I’ve read from “Go Green” contributor Michelle Hallahan, LOCOG ( London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games ) have taken much effort to make this possible.     

       

What they have done:

·         It was built on once-contaminated industrial land in the degenerated East end of London

·         Providing both new wildlife habitats and significant flood alleviation

·         The greenest built Olympic and Paralympic stadium in history repurposed old gas pipes in much of its construction

London 2012 is the first Olympic and Paralympic Games to measure its carbon footprint over the entire project term and also reused or recycled over 98 per cent of waste in the demolition phase, and 99 per cent in construction of the Olympic Park.  London 2012 also pledged to deliver an event that favored public transport, targeting one million extra walking and cycling journeys in London every day of the games.

Before this tremendous event take place, the event organizers spent four years to be certified BS8901, the British ‘Sustainable Events Management’ standard. To achieve this they did went on greening the supply chain, managing waste to minimize landfill use, reusing or repurposing materials where possible, and educating the audience (of over 1 million people!) about environmental aspects of the games.

As I read the article, I’ve noticed a noticeable comment left by an audience. (Where I later found that if the name was stated correctly / truthfully was someone who is also well known in what I categorize as “the green field”)

 Well, it seems that a lot was not mentioned in the press release if what he was saying was right. About the sponsors, the energy management, and even bike lanes for those who try to conserve energy…

Making what I’ve read and stated above, mostly false.

How about you? What’s your opinion about the issue? Whose side says the truth?

Well, we all know that anyone will try to hide the stench of their activities. It’s up to us to decide whose side are we taking.

So, whose side are you with?

The Journal : August Monsoon

The Journal: August Monsoon

Location: Quezon City, Philippines

Date: (August 7, 2012)

Time: 10:12 AM ( GMT – 8 Pacific Time )

Photos/Text By: Reilly Reverie

Schools & Office ( Private & Public for NCR ) was now suspended according to the office of the President.

I’m currently watching the news as of the moment and am witnessing serious flooding in different parts of Luzon. I can’t even count the leaks at our ceiling but currently the situation was quite stable for us here. The rain stops falling for almost 20 minutes now and great was my expectation for the flood to subside though a certain “barangay” is now requesting to cut their electric supply and even rubber boats were having a hard time during the rescue.

The creek behind us overflows and gladly it still doesn’t reach our doorsteps as of the moment. If you look at the image below, (sorry for the quality it’s the best I’ve got) is my own way of measuring the water level of the creek.

( during ) ( as it stabilizes ) ( after the monsoon )

The blue plastic bag serves as my measuring guide.

Time: 11:21 AM ( GMT – 8 Pacific Time )

As we pack our things for preparation of the worst case scenario, heavy rain pours again. I went outside to have a clear view of the gray sky and as the situation becomes calm for a while we’re still on Red Signal and some of the dams were now turning back to their normal levels.

While landslides and road cracks happen in Baguio ( Northern Part of Luzon ), Laguna ( Southern Part of Luzon ) declared that they are in State of Calamity and from this image I got from the news, some of them has to stay at rooftops for even their two story houses were fully submerged due to flood.

The sad part about this is that, according to DENR ( Department of Environment and Natural Resources ) Chief, “Heavy Rains” were now to be considered as normal scenarios that would be encountered by the Philippines.

As the President and his members plan for a long-term solution for the situation ( where preparations to accomplishment will also take long periods of time ), same questions were read over and over through the internet.

“Is this part of Climate Change / Global Warming”

They say it’s not part of it but the outcome makes it acceptable to the question.

As tons of garbage and trash were flooded to the streams, bays and sea shores… Awareness seeks its way to the peoples consciousness – heart.

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