The Ilocos Times

$30 million urgently needed to safeguard lives, food security and livelihoods   A sign warning of the dangers of Ebola outside a government hospital in Freetown on August 13, 2014. ( FAO ) Rome/Dakar —The Food and Agriculture Organization launched a new program on Oct. 8 to urgently assist 90 000 vulnerable households in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone whose food supplies and livelihoods are threatened by the disruptive effect the Ebola epidemic is having on rural economies, agricultural activities and markets. The Regional Response Programme for West Africa  will scale-up the work FAO is currently doing with governments, United Nations partners and local networks of agriculture, veterinary and forestry workers, to help stop the spread of the disease, meet immediate and long-term food and nutrition security needs and build resilience. FAO is urgently calling for $30 million to support activities linked to the programme over the next 12 months. Programme activities are

SENATOR Lorna Regina “Loren” B. Legarda is calling on all Filipinos all over to world to support Vigan City in its bid to become one of the New7Wonders Cities. “The search for the New7Wonders Cities is in the last phase with 14 cities remaining in the list. Let us all vote for Vigan City to be included in the final list of the New7Wonders Cities,” said Ms. Legarda. For the final phase, the voting is from 7 October to 7 December 2014. Filipinos can vote for Vigan through the website: www.new7wonders.com/en/cities . Voters will choose their 7 wonder cities in the said site. Voters can also use their phone but they can only choose one city in this manner. Detail on international phone voting can be seen on the website:  www.new7wonders.com/phonevoting . Ms. Legarda added: “By voting for Vigan City, we express not only our national pride but also our support to integrating the preservation of our culture and heritage in development plans and policies. The preservation

What is ethics? Ethics is about moral principles and rules of conduct. My ethics are the rules or standards governing the conduct by which I live my life and make all my decisions. One of the best ways of defining ethics is to take a quick look at what you believe and then think about how you would react when those beliefs are challenged. Your ethics govern your thought process so that when a problem arises or you need to try and work your way through a situation your solution is based on your ethics. Ethics are not born in a vacuum. Ethics are more like a jigsaw puzzle that is thrown together over time that when complete, makes up who you are and what you believe. From our earliest days of life, we start to learn from those around us. These learned behaviors add to the traits that we are already born with and help to shape us into the person we will become. As part of this learning process, we develop what will become our norms. Norms are our everyday way of looking at how t

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THE parable of the two sons (Mt 21,28-32) is very instructive about a particular aspect of our human condition, weakened as it is by sin. Yes, we tend to be inconsistent, and with that, are prone to other related anomalies like deceit, hypocrisy and pretension.   But we can also change. There is always hope in spite of that tendency. We have to continually remind ourselves that while we may be beset with all sorts of crazy anomalies, there is always hope, there is always some cure, there’s a good chance for conversion and transformation.   As the parable narrates, the first son said ‘no’ to his father’s request to work in the vineyard, but later on changed his mind and worked. The other son said ‘yes’ but did not go.   When Christ asked his listeners who between the sons did the father’s will, they answered the first, and Christ told them they were correct in saying so. That, of course, tells us that more than words, it is deeds that would fulfil God’s will or the will of anybody, for

A United Nations protocol providing access to and equitable sharing of the world's genetic resources is now in force effective October 12. Called the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization, it provides transparency and equity regarding associated traditional knowledge as well.   It gives legal framework to ensure that access and utilization of genetic resources coming from plants, animals, bacteria or other organisms for commercial, research or other purposes, be created on the basis of access and benefit-sharing agreements between providers and users.   This entails prior informed consent and mutually agreed benefit-sharing with indigenous communities, keeping in mind customs and community laws. Benefits received in exchange for access to genetic resources can be monetary or non-monetary, including, for instance, technology transfer, joint research or capacity-building activities.  

FROM BEING a humble but ferocious human rights lawyer during the height of martial law, Vice President Jejomar C. Binay rose from the political ranks and is now at an enviable position—for other politicians anyway. Not only is he a breath away from the highest political post in the country; he also put his children in important political posts—and in the process serving as a prime example why the anti-political dynasty bill should now really be passed. Makati—the country’s premiere city as well its financial capital—had not seen a mayor not surnamed Binay since 1986. The city may have progressed during the Binays’ combined almost 30-year term but this was a given. Makati would become progressive whoever was on the helm. In 2010, however, the Binay clan set their eyes on political posts outside Makati. And with the Binay patriarch winning in a come-from-behind fashion to win the vice presidency, he wasted no time in declaring his intention to seek the country’s highest post in 2016