There are so many things going on each day and we get so caught up with everything that life throws our way that it is hard to live mindfully and feel at peace. Concerns about our relationships, careers, responsibilities, current news affairs and the future are constantly hovering in our minds. These thoughts can put...
Author: Polly Cunanan (Polly Cunanan)
What are the Differences Between Permaculture, Organic Farming and Regenerative Agriculture?
Labels can be confusing. The terms permaculture, organic farming, and regenerative agriculture are a shift to natural methods of tending the land and you may have even used them interchangeably, but the fact is that each one represents a different approach to sustainable gardening and farming. If you’re still confused as to which refers to...
Why Planting Trees Alone Won’t Offset the World’s Carbon Emissions
Plant a tree, save our planet. We’ve all heard this before and for sure, the eco-warriors in us championed tree planting activities or at the very least, donated to organisations engaged in tree planting. With the climate change issue looming over us, have you ever wondered what would happen if the 7.9 billion people inhabiting...
Sustainable Fibres: What Is Abaca and How Is It Used?
I have grown up exposed to abaca, a type of tree that closely resembles a banana plant. I have played with its fibres, I have watched my Papa make ropes out of it and even weave beautiful solihiya hammocks and chairs. I have grown up using abaca bags and, at certain points of my childhood,...
10 Sustainable Start-Ups in Asia Helping to Forge a Greener Future
We’ve all been talking (and hopefully already taking actions) about living a green lifestyle to help combat climate change. That in our own little ways, we as individuals can do our share of the heavy-lifting to help our planet. Thankfully, there is a growing number of companies – big and small – who are also...
The Ethics of Hiring Domestic Workers and Household Help
As a Filipino, I find it very hard to write about the ethics of hiring domestic workers and household help. This type of work has been very much embedded in the Filipino culture and psyche, so much so that it is considered “invisible“. You know it is there – my family had household help as...
How the Philippines is Tackling Poverty By Addressing Its High Teenage Pregnancy Rates
Teenage pregnancy is a worldwide issue, but in the Philippines, it is viewed as a national social emergency. According to the United Nations Population Fund the Philippines has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates among the ASEAN member states. An average of 64,000 teenage girls, age 18 and below, give birth every year with...
What Asian Countries are Doing to Combat the Waste Crisis
Waste is piling up in different parts of Asia. The open dumpsites in India and the Philippines, and small mountains of trash along the streets of Cambodia are just some indications of the waste crisis in this region. To give you an idea of just how bad it is, East Asia Pacific alone is responsible...
Seaspiracy Concludes ‘Fishing is Bad, Go Vegan’, But Just How Feasible is This?
In case you missed it, there’s an environmental documentary on Netflix that’s making waves right now. This film is directed by Ali Tabrizi and it explores how the multi-billion-dollar commercial fishing industry – and its role in the problem of overfishing – is destroying marine life at a rapid rate. Seaspiracy doesn’t hold back on...
Growing Inequalities: Closing the Widening Inequality Gap Between Rich and Poor Countries
Goal 10 of the Sustainable Development Goals is reducing inequalities. It’s complete title is, “Reduce inequality within and among countries.” The United Nations website states: “Inequality within and among countries is a persistent cause for concern. Despite some positive signs toward reducing inequality in some dimensions, such as reducing relative income inequality in some countries...
Earth Day 2021: 10 Environmental Documentaries to Binge-Watch
Do you find yourself with a little more free time now thanks to lockdown-prompted alternative work arrangements? Are you tired of watching silly shows on TV and looking for a meaningful way to pass the time? Since Earth Day is fast approaching and in the hopes of awakening the eco-warrior in you, we’ve prepared just...
10 Ethical and Eco-Friendly Brands for Raincoats and Gumboots
A good pair of gumboots and a comfortable, waterproof raincoat are definitely must-haves for the rainy season. Who wants to get their OOTDs wet for a quick trip to the grocery store or when running errands, right? However, if you are a conscious consumer, it’s not easy to find these rainy day-essentials that will fashionably...