Greenpeace to ask CHR to hold carbon polluters accountable

Greenpeace Southeast Asia is set to file before the Philippines' Commission on Human Rights a petition to hold big carbon polluters accountable for damage caused to the environment.
 

Greenpeace Southeast Asia Project Leader Anna Abad said, "Greenpeace Southeast Asia, other NGOs and personalities will submit a petition to the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines asking for an investigation into responsibility of the world's biggest carbon polluters for violating or threatening to violate human rights, due to the companies' contribution to climate climate change and ocean acidification."
 

However, the petition will be filed with the CHR only after its new Commissioners have been appointed.
 

Right now, Greenpeace is asking for help for signatories to its petition posted online.
 

In its online petition, a photo of one Elma Reyes, whose livelihood was damaged by Typhoon Glenda, is asking for help to hold accountable responsible carbon pollutants. 
 

Petitioners believe carbon pollution has significantly impacted climate change.
 

"I will not give up and allow big companies to continue to dig up coal and drill for oil and gas that is fueling climate change and increasing the risk of more intense typhoons," Reyes said in the online petition.
 

Prior to the filing, Greenpeace Southeast Asia and Greenpeace Australia organized NGOs and local communities from Vanuatu, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Fiji and Solomon Islands for a climate change workshop which culminated in a Climate Justice declaration.
 

The workshop was held in Vanuatu, also recently hit by a strong typhoon. 
 

"The President of Vanuatu warmly received the People’s Declaration for Climate Justice, but he did not sign it.  
 

The purpose of the declaration is to demonstrate the willingness of people to use national, regional, and international mechanisms to hold the big carbon polluters responsible for breaching their responsibility to protect human rights," Abad said.
 

Part of the workshop included a mural painting led by Filipino dolphin muralist AG Saño, who said, "I feel I was made to paint so no less than stoked everytime. Pero 'yung pakiramdam 'pag nakakapagkwento ng storya or mensahe, iba pa 'yun."
 

The mural is on display in Port Villa in Vanuatu. —KG, GMA News