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MANILA, Philippines – More than a decade since getting into advocacy work, Filipina conservationist Anna Oposa readily shares her lessons learned as well as trends in the environmental movement that came and went.
Oposa, who founded non-profit organization Save Philippine Seas in 2013, emphasizes the need to make conservation work a sustainable path for young people.
The following are excerpts from a recent interview for The Green Report. Listen to the full episode here.
On trends in environmental conservation
I always say that I feel like there are trends in conservation. The big trend when I started was species conservation which is probably why I got into sharks. And then there was a big push on waste management and plastics and zero waste. And now it’s climate change. [Naiiba] ‘yung themes (The themes have changed) and priorities but nothing ever dies.
Of course, we’re still talking about sharks and marine litter, so in that sense, yes. And then, syempre mayroon pa ring (of course, there’s still that) mindset na (that) environmental conservation equals tree planting or coastal cleanup. And our job is always to keep pushing the limits of what people define as conservation. Marami pa ring problema. I always say, ‘di naman ako maubusan ng trabaho kasi ang dami problema ng Pilipinas, ‘di ba?
(There are still a lot of problems. I always say, I will not run out of work because there are a lot of problems in the Philippines.)
On collaborations with private sector
My dad’s an environmental lawyer and he wrote about climate change in 1988. And he said, “Noong nagsulat ako about climate change, pinapagtawanan lang ako. Tapos ngayon, hinahanap ka na.” (When I was writing about climate change before, they’re ridiculing me. Now, they’re asking for you.)
People want to have programs on climate change, on marine litter, on sharks, on species conservation, which he did not experience when he was starting out. Ang layo na rin ng narating ng environmental movement. (The environmental movement has gone a long way.)
Now there’s more support, there’s more funding from the corporate sector. Lahat sila kailangan ng (All of them need) CSR, Corporate Social Responsibility. And with the passing of the Extended Producer Responsibility Act also, talagang part na siya ng DNA ng mga companies to do something for waste management and sustainability. (It’s become part of companies’ DNA to do something for waste management and sustainability.)
On her father, environmental lawyer Tony Oposa
I think my dad has always been a very innovative lawyer. Hindi siya litigator na who defends criminals or ano. (He’s not a litigator who defends criminals.)
He always says this: He’s the lawyer of fish and trees and he was very different. And he’s also very articulate. He’s a great storyteller and watching him in his advocacy, na-realize ko na it’s okay pala to be different. (I realized it’s okay to be different.)
Because like I said earlier, I used to be so insecure about not being a scientist or not being a biologist. And seeing him being able to convince, like he’s really such a great advocate. And I realized, parang kaya ko rin ‘yun gawing path, as a speaker, as a storyteller, as someone who likes working with communities and mobilizing communities.
I think that’s the biggest influence that he’s given me. He’s given me permission to be creative, to be resourceful. I remember lagi niyang sinasabi, huwag mong isipin ang pera. ‘Pag clear ‘yung vision mo, makaka-attract ka ng supporters. (I remember he always says, don’t think about the money. If your vision is clear, you will attract supporters.)
It’s vision before fundraising. And I know it sounds so simple, but I’ve met so many people who are like, “I can’t start it because I don’t have funds.” And that’s never been a mindset I had. And I think that’s also what attracts supporters of Save Philippine Seas because our voice is clear, our vision is clear. And then, so far naman, okay pa naman kami, 15 years. (So far we’re still okay.)
On asking for the right compensation for advocacy work
Mayroon pa ring misconception na kailangan volunteer work ‘to. (There’s still a misconception that this should be volunteer work.) And I think that’s something that I’ve been trying to change. Our work is an advocacy, but we’re not a charity. We need resources to be able to pay our team to survive.
Kasi (Because), you cannot talk about — you cannot work in sustainability if you yourself, you can’t sustain a lifestyle. And, I’ve had many negotiations with companies when they ask, “Bakit ‘nyo kailangan mag-charge ng ganito?” (Why do you have to charge this much?)
And I have to break [it] down. And it’s also saying, “I know what we’re worth and I know the kind of results that we can get.”
On her message to young women
My message would be to don’t get in your own way. Because a lot of the conversations I’ve had, especially with young women, hindi nila ginagawa ang isang bagay kasi inuunahan na nila — nauunahan sila ng takot, nauunahan sila ng insecurities, nauunahan sila na ma-ju-judge sila ng ibang tao for not doing a perfect job.
(They will not do it because they’re preceded by fear, insecurities. They’re stumped that others will judge them for not doing a perfect job.)
When in fact, fortune favors the bold. So what if you fail at something? I used to be such a perfectionist and a people pleaser and I’ve realized na when you do that, you box yourself out of opportunities. The only way to begin is to begin. And once you get that ball rolling, then you learn. – Rappler.com
