Filipinos join global ‘March for Science’ on Earth Day

Saturday, April 22, marked the first ever "March for Science", organized to counter the "assault" on the field across the globe.

The statement from the organizers on the official website MarchforScience.com reads, "In the face of an alarming trend toward discrediting scientific consensus and restricting scientific discovery, we might ask instead: can we afford not to speak out in its defense?"

The Philippine chapter of 350.org — a group that advocates the reduction of the CO2 in the atmosphere to the safe number 350 parts per million — convened at the Quezon Memorial Circle on Saturday to stand with the community of scientists promoting fact-based thinking.

https://t.co/HQtj3WpBDW Philippines joins Manila's #MarchforScience to call for climate action this Earth Day pic.twitter.com/vzdUi2jjE2

— 350 East Asia (@350EastAsia) April 22, 2017

"#MarchForScience, march for the people!" Philippine activists chant at Quezon Memorial Circle, Metro Manila pic.twitter.com/hdP3uI5V0z

— 350 East Asia (@350EastAsia) April 22, 2017

350.org Philippines was joined by Agham Youth and activists in their call to phase out fossil fuels and shift to renewable energy.

Reuters reported that hundreds of satellite marches are planned across the United States and worldwide — including in Australia, Brazil, Canada, many nations in Europe, Japan, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, and South Korea.

Science and justice demand that we act on climate change - in the Philippines and around the world #MarchForScience #GlobalScienceMarch pic.twitter.com/C0GxBJkRtj

— 350 East Asia (@350EastAsia) April 22, 2017

Malacañang on the same day affirmed its commitment to fight climate change while protecting the country's economy.

"This occasion is a good reminder of the Philippines’ commitment to the global call to fight climate change and uphold climate justice as well as our country’s solidarity to the rest of the world in spreading that while we pursue economic development programs, we continuously aspire for sustainable, climate change-resilient living," Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said.

President Rodrigo Duterte, despite an earlier refusal to honor it, ratified the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in February.

350.org Philippines in a statement said that they are calling on the Duterte administration to hasten industrialization through clean energy and green investments. — AT, GMA News