BusinessMirror May 21, 2023

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

COOPERATION of multistakeholders and consumer behavioral change are necessary to make the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law, or Republic Act (RA) 11898, succeed in addressing the perennial plastic waste problem in the country and advancing a circular economy towards a more sustainable future.

In a recent media briefing, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga flagged the critical need to produce volumes of products and packaging sustainably based on market demand.

The EPR is, I feel, a very concrete first step in putting order in this system,” she told reporters, referring to the policy that requires big companies and enterprises to be ecologically responsible throughout the life cycle of their products—from manufacturing to usage and post-consumer stage— by establishing EPR programs and mechanisms that guarantee effective ways to manage plastic packaging waste with focus on reduc-

tion, recovery, treatment, recycling and/or disposal.

Such legislative measure lapsed into law on July 23, 2022.

Earlier this year, Loyzaga signed its implementing rules and regulations (IRR). She noted that RA 11898 “is a good start and a wiser approach to waste reduction” that enables producers to become environmentally responsible and balances the process of handling wastes all throughout.

Promising law

NOW that the EPR law is in place, hopes are high that it will create positive impacts on the country’s economy and environment.

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WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

Th is law, per National Solid Waste Management Commission Vice Chairman Crispian Lao, opens the potential income generation of a minimum of P15.1 billion and 5,000 to 7,000 green jobs creation in the recovery and recycling infrastructure.

A bove all, it will help lessen the ever-growing environmental problems the country has been facing since time immemorial. The DENR cited a study in 2021, which shows that the Philippines is the “single, largest contributor” to the ocean plastic waste problem worldwide at a whopping 356,371 tons.

The World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines also found that Filipinos consume an average of 20 kilograms of plastics annually, of which more than 75 percent becomes waste.

Atty. Jonas R. Leones, DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs, revealed that based on the data of the Environmental Management Bureau, only about 672 (13 percent) of the 4,000 obliged enterprises have registered under the EPR law. He said: “For now, our first step is to rally industries to help us also.”

EPR is proven to address packaging collection through recycling meaningfully and through various EPR schemes that require companies to pay for the collection, sorting and recycling of their plastic packaging,” added the DENR chief.

Early adopter

EVEN prior to the enactment of the EPR law, “green” practices, including sustainable plastic waste management, have been already apparent in the private sector.

L ao pointed to, for instance, global food and beverage giant Nestlé, which has been practicing plastic neutrality here and abroad in the past recent years.

The company, in fact, has already diverted 64,000 metric tons of plastic packaging waste from landfills, oceans, lakes and rivers with such a banner program. Th is could be attributed mainly to initiatives like taking out the secondary plastic of sachet products with the use of paper packs, and “lightweighting” or reducing their sizes to avoid unnecessary wastage in terms of packaging materials. Nestlé is also the first fast-moving consumer goods brand to replace plastic straws with a paper-made one for its ready-to-drink offering.

Nestlé Philippines has actively campaigned for the passage of the EPR Act via continued dialogue with policymakers and active engagement in the legislative process. A couple of years before it was passed into law, the company had already started its voluntary practice of the EPR through various initiatives toward plastic neutrality.

“ Those are just some of the key initiatives that we’ve done. But, of course, we’ve committed as well that by 2025, we will cut our use of virgin plastics by one-third and de -

sign 100 percent of our packaging for recyclability. As of today, globally, Nestlé has already achieved 88 percent that our packaging is recyclable or reusable already. And so we’re on track so far,” said Nestlé Philippines Corporate Affairs Head Jose Uy III.

Collective acts

GIVEN the milestones so far achieved by the multinational, the goals of the EPR law are undoubtedly achievable also with the cooperation of industry players and stakeholders.

Plastic waste is a global problem in which everybody has a stake. Through collaboration, we will find workable solutions,” Uy emphasized.

The targets set under RA 11898 include the recovery of waste of the plastic product footprint generated by 20 percent and 80 percent in 2023 and 2028, respectively.

On the other hand, the deadline for establishing the Compliance Auditing Manual and Accreditation System is in September of this year. Meanwhile, the EPR Compliance Audit Report is required for submission in July 2024.

Also within one year, from the EPR law effectivity, we are required to already assess the volume or the footprint of the other generated waste,” DENR Undersecretary Atty. Annaliza Teh pointed out. “These are the immediate next steps that we have to do. That’s why we are also setting up, accordingly, our organizations so that we can

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

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comply with all these immediate next steps that we need to deliver under the law.”

She also cited the need to provide support to informal sectors, resources for the establishment of circularity infrastructure, pushing for capacity development, promotion of incentives, and imposition of fines and penalties to sustain the system.

Crucial to those are transparency and accountability that we need to mobilize on the part of the government so that we can support really our long-term goal of achieving circularity,” Teh underscored.

For her, involvement from the local government units is also important. Proof of which was the activity called the “Project Transform” held in Bataan on May 9, 2023, wherein 17 companies registered under the EPR law.

It’s really a whole-of-society approach. We need the government, the private sector, the academe, and the development partners to be there to really come up with these infrastructures to achieve the targets,” Teh said.

W hile the EPR law mainly

requires compliance among the large-scale companies and producers, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are also enjoined to do their share in plastic waste management and help accelerate circularity in the country.

The DENR undersecretary bared that there are exemptions or a flexible approach in engaging the MSMEs, which comprise over 99 percent of all registered businesses in the country today.

They will be supported by the government, through the Department of Trade and Industry, for their compliance, she noted.

For its part, the Philippine Alliance for Recycling and Materials Sustainability (PARMS) has actually opened its doors for EPR membership to MSMEs.

Instead of just focusing on the big companies who are already prepared, what we have done is that we extend that hand like a ’big brother, small brother’ concept, so that we can help the smaller players to comply with EPR. For the big players who have already done their homework over the past few years, it is now a time for us to help

others, including the MSMEs,” said Lao, who is also the founding president of PARMS. He was referring to 224 MSMEs on their roster who are willing to support and participate EPR on a voluntary basis. “ We already have a roadmap and a program to execute EPR and comply with the challenging mandates of the law.”

W hile adherence to RA 11898 has a price that may be a turn-off for small business players with limited financial means, they are reminded of an economic prize to be seized from transitioning towards more sustainable solutions.

“ When we talk of sustainability, we look at it as an investment and not as a cost. We believe that companies taking action on ESG [environmental, social and governance] will be rewarded for their efforts by discerning consumers. They will face reduced regulatory and supply chain risks. So I think in that way we feel that it is already a good investment,” Uy asserted. “ There are many benefits like, for instance, it drives investor confidence also when they see that you’re doing good for the environ-

ment. There is also such a thing as employee attraction. So it affects a lot of myriad of stakeholders when you really take action on ESG.”

Not to be ignored in the whole plastic ecosystem, of course, are the consumers who must have behavioral change.

Yulo-Loyzaga advised them to purchase goods that are sustainably packaged in order to inspire more producers to comply with the EPR law. How we treat plastics is a matter of chemistry. There needs to be an investment in research for recycling and upcycling. We cannot stay with today’s state of science and technology. There must be a way to actually produce a material with the durability that we need at the cost that is affordable and actually in the kind of environmental impact that we actually like to have for these,”

Yulo-Loyzaga stressed.

The World BusinessMirror

Are you who you say you are? TSA tests facial recognition technology to boost airport security

The Associated Press

BALTIMORE—A passenger walks up to an airport security checkpoint, slips an ID card into a slot and looks into a camera atop a small screen. The screen flashes “Photo Complete” and the person walks through—all without having to hand over their identification to the TSA officer sitting behind the screen.

It’s all part of a pilot project by the Transportation Security Administration to assess the use of facial recognition technology at a number of airports across the country.

“What we are trying to do with this is aid the officers to actually determine that you are who you say who you are,” said Jason Lim, identity management capabilities manager, during a demonstration of the technology to reporters at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. The effort comes at a time when the use of various forms of technology to enhance security and streamline procedures is only increasing.

TSA says the pilot is voluntary and

accurate, but critics have raised concerns about questions of bias in facial recognition technology and possible repercussions for passengers who want to opt out.

The technology is currently in 16 airports. In addition to Baltimore, it’s being used at Reagan National near Washington, D.C., airports in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Jose, and Gulfport-Biloxi and Jackson in Mississippi. However, it’s not at every TSA checkpoint so not every traveler going through those airports would necessarily experience it.

Travelers put their driver’s license into a slot that reads the card or place their passport photo against a card reader. Then they look at a camera on a screen about the size of an iPad, which captures their image and compares it to their ID. The technology is both checking to make sure the people at the airport match the ID they present and that the identification is in fact real. A TSA officer is still there and signs off on the screening.

A small sign alerts travelers that their photo will be taken as part of

the pilot and that they can opt out if they’d like. It also includes a QR code for them to get more information.

Since it’s come out the pilot has come under scrutiny by some elected officials and privacy advocates. In a February letter to TSA, five senators—four Democrats and an Independent who is part of the Democratic caucus—demanded the agency stop the program, saying:

“Increasing biometric surveillance of Americans by the government represents a risk to civil liberties and privacy rights.”

As various forms of technology that use biometric information like face IDs, retina scans or fingerprint matches have become more pervasive in both the private sector and the federal government, it’s raised concerns among privacy advocates about how this data is collected, who has access to it and what happens if it gets hacked.

Meg Foster, a justice fellow at Georgetown University’s Center on Privacy and Technology, said there are concerns about bias within the algorithms of various facial recognition technologies. Some have a harder time recognizing faces of minorities, for example.

And there’s the concern of outside hackers figuring out ways to hack into government systems for nefarious aims.

With regard to the TSA pilot, Foster said she has concerns that while the agency says it’s not currently storing the biometric data it collects, what if that changes in the future? And while people are allowed to opt out, she said it’s not fair to put the onus on harried passengers who might be worried about missing their flight if they do.

“They might be concerned that if they object to face recognition, that they’re going to be under further suspicion,” Foster said.

Jeramie Scott, with the Electronic Privacy Information Center, said that while it’s voluntary now it might not be for long. He noted that David Pekoske, who heads TSA, said during a talk in April that eventually the use of biometrics would be required because they’re more effective and efficient, although he gave no timeline.

Scott said he’d prefer TSA not use the technology at all. At the least, he’d like to see an outside audit to verify that the technology isn’t disproportionally affecting

certain groups and that the images are deleted immediately.

TSA says the goal of the pilot is to improve the accuracy of the identity verification without slowing down the speed at which passengers pass through the checkpoints—a key issue for an agency that sees 2.4 million passengers daily. The agency said early results are positive and have shown no discernable difference in the algorithm’s ability to recognize passengers based on things like age, gender, race and ethnicity.

Lim said the images aren’t being compiled into a database, and that photos and IDs are deleted. Since this is an assessment, in limited circumstances some data is collected and shared with the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate. TSA says that data is deleted after 24 months.

Lim said the camera only turns on when a person puts in their ID card—so it’s not randomly gathering images of people at the airport. That also gives passengers control over whether they want to use it, he said. And he said that research has shown that while some algorithms

do perform worse with certain demographics, it also shows that higher-quality algorithms, like the one the agency uses, are much more accurate. He said using the best available cameras also is a factor.

“We take these privacy concerns and civil rights concerns very seriously, because we touch so many people every day,” he said. Retired TSA official Keith Jeffries said the pandemic greatly accelerated the rollout of various types of this “touchless” technology, whereby a passenger isn’t handing over a document to an agent. And he envisioned a “checkpoint of the future” where a passenger’s face can be used to check their bags, go through the security checkpoints and board the plane—all with little to no need to pull out a boarding card or ID documents.

He acknowledged the privacy concerns and lack of trust many people have when it comes to giving biometric data to the federal government, but said in many ways the use of biometrics is already deeply embedded in society through the use of privately owned technology. “Technology is here to stay,” he said.

Beaching around like a millennial

Families with millennial and Gen Z children have to level up and no longer settle with the beach resorts of the minimum acceptable or “pwede na” standards.

The good thing is property firm Millennial Resorts Corp. has felt the pulse of today’s generation and has developed unique hideaways for a consummate experience.

Located at the far end of San Juan, Batangas is Laiya Beach which has been a favorite dating back to the 1960s because of its powdery shores and scenic seascapes. Over the past decade, this once-remote colony has become easier to reach with the roadworkd and the influx of trendy resorts.

A classy playground in the

area is Club Laiya, a sprawling beach township of Landco Pacific Corp., which has been luring the younger set with its unorthodox lodgings—Cocoons and the Camperisti.

Cocoons is a huge cylinder accommodation with minimalist features and amenities, with the sala placed outside the unit and the common toilet and bath located a stone’s throw away.

Camperisti, meanwhile, is a cozy trailer van which is like a self-contained house on wheels with home elements such as a bedroom with a queen bed, dining-slash-receiving area, mini kitchen and sink, a working or dining table by the window, an automated toilet, and a bathroom. Its perimeter, which is shaded by

a parasol, can also double up as a receiving area and grillery for evening barbecues.

Despite its seeming compact floor area, the American-style van can comfortably sleep 5 persons as the sofa sets are converted into beds. It will also give you that snug and exciting outlander experience without having to own one.

The best part is that the sparkling sea and Captain Barbozza, a Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired resto-bar, are just literally just a few steps away. The beach is teeming with water recreation facilities such as jetski, banana boat and kayak so you can explore

the vast expanse of Laiya’s coast. And if you simply prefer watch the world go by, you can laze at multi-level swimming pools and cabanas.

On the other side of Batangas is Calatagan South Beach or CaSoBe, another township which is inspired by its popular namesake in Miami, Florida. It also has the Cocoons capsule lodging, and the more spacious Crusoe Cabins which are stylized log cabins made out of steel container vans.

Named after fictional character Robinson Crusoe, the Cabins is a comfy family suite with a compact kitchen and pantry, sala,

a day bed, and a multi-purpose veranda which looks out into the sea or the courtyard.

The resort complex will keep you occupied with its Acquaria waterpark, beach volleyball courts, a tournament-grade basketball court, and water recreational facilities. CaSoBe also lends out bikes for leisurely pedaling within the enclave.

Down south in Mindanao, the Island Garden City of Samal has been the excursion place of many mainlanders from Davao City for the longest time. But with the progress the proverbial “Land of Promise” has been undergoing in

recent years, the leisure lifestyle experience of the locals has been taken a notch higher with the entry of prestigious players in the tourism industry.

Beach bums can now hie off to Playa Azalea, a master-planned exclusive seaside community which is modeled after its sister first-class properties in Batangas. Situated just a few minutes away from the island’s port, this township is punctuated with towering coconut palms, fruit trees and mangroves, stunning rock formations, and a sweeping view of Davao City’s Lanang district across the tranquil Davao Gulf.

Named after the brightly-colored fragrant flower that grow abundantly in the area, its main lodging is the signature Crusoe Cabins which are clustered within a landscaped garden, with Captain Barbozza conveniently located at the center. Across it is the Aqua Water Park for pool lovers, which overlooks the crystalline water just a few meters below the cliff.

Guests can circumnavigate the island on a motorcycle and swing by the Monfort Bat Sanctuary, the world’s largest colony of Rousette fruit bats at 2.3 million, Mangongawong and Hagimit Falls, and Sanipaan Marine Park which is popularly known as Vanishing Island, a sandbar which is submerged by high tide.

While it doesn’t have its own dive center, Playa Azalea can arrange underwater expeditions for scuba dives around Samal and the adjoining Talikud Island.

With the new and novel beach concepts out there for the taking, families can now beach around like a millennial.

With the long, hot summer still upon us, our natural gravitation is to look to the sea and head off to the beach to somehow beat the scorching heat. Beaching around these has become more complex these days, with the advances in resort development, amenities and the social media which will chronicle the seaside getaway.

DOST rolls out study on STI needs in PHL shipbuilding, ship

THE Philippines has been the fourth largest ship producer in terms of gross tonnage since 2010, the Department of Trade and Industry 2017 data reveals. This requires the country to seriously deal with the shipbuilding and ship repair (SBSR) industry’s great potential and big challenges.

In this r egard, the study being implemented by the Department of Science and Technology’s Metals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC) has started to gain the interest and involvement of the SBSR industry stakeholders.

T he DOST-MIRDC’s 2023 industry study is assessing the current capabilities of the industry on its significant role in economic building and its vast potential in better serving the requirements of the market.

In a dialogue DOST-MIRDC and DOST Region VII held in Lahug, Cebu City, on April 19, representatives from SBSR industry players, including the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), Shipyard Association of the Philippines and the academe, provided insights on the status, requirements and potential direction of the industry.

The weak capability in design, the decreasing skilled human resources and the need for certification were among the most immediate requirements that were raised.

One SBSR player shared that the demand for ship repair is bigger than that for shipbuilding, but the industry “lacks support from the government.”

The biggest issue raised was building the industry’s capability to be able to serve the requirements of the domestic market.

T he basic need is design, to which agreed Engr. Jacklyn Descartin, chairman of the Naval Architecture and Maritime Engineering at the University of Cebu Maritime Education and Training Center.

Descartin explained that the industry’s weakness in design is caused by lack of both software and hardware in training and educational facilities.

S he said the university has produced graduates, who were taught manual drawing, but it is trying to catch up with the shift in technology.

“From basic AutoCAD,” she said, “the academe has improved the capabilities in design.”

She added that the problem is technology transfer, referring to the capability of using software in analyzing the results of the design and determining options on design flaws.

Marina representatives Vincent Cavalida,

repair

James Verallo and Noel Taliman agreed.

According to them, the various softwares they are using were acquired from abroad, and which give them insufficient technological training.

It was also raised that the issue is not the Filipinos’ lack of capability, but the lack of certification and dwindling number of skilled human resources.

Sky de la Torre of the Philippine Trigon Shipyard Corp. said the government should set up a center for the SBSR that consolidates all the necessary assistance the industry needs—software, hardware and technical assistance on how to approach common scenarios in the shipyard, among others.

The SBSR center will address the basic and most crucial needs of the industry players and will provide a high-impact intervention to the industry, he explained.

This SBSR center will not require a huge space,” de la Torre noted.

H e added that the Philippine Shipyard Association can provide technical people, while the local government unit of Northern Cebu can donate the land or property.

At the same time, as the DOST-MIRDC team carries out the industry study, a project proposal for another collaboration is being reviewed by its partners in South Korea.

Stemming from the success of the Mold Technology Support Center, an Official Development Assistance grant from South Korea, the project on capability-building in the SBSR industry is another partnership that may be implemented.

T he DOST-MIRDC is the sole government agency mandated to serve the requirements and assist the metals, engineering and allied industries to achieve increased productivity and competitiveness.

T he industry study being carried out by the DOST-MIRDC will not only serve to accomplish the center’s targets on information exchange services.

T he center, with its close coordination with the South Korean project partners, the SBSR industry players, the academe, and the DOST VII, will play a significant role in the building up of technical capabilities.

While the industry study being conducted by the DOST-MIRDC will pinpoint the S&T needs of the SBSR industry players, it will define and establish the project framework so that the assistance from South Korean partners will be tailor fit to ensure the benefits will be felt, the market needs will be addressed, and full industry potential for growth and productivity will be achieved.

Usher, Wehlo, Mapua set July meet; to give awards on disaster resilience

THE Universal Structural Health Evaluation and Recording System (Usher) Technologies, the only Filipino-made structural monitoring system, announced the holding of a conference, and giving of awards on disaster resilience.

Dubbed as “Philippine National Disaster Resilience Conference,” the event will be held on July 27.

The conference is in collaboration with Mapua University School of Civil, Environmental and Geological Engineering, and Localized Weather, Environment and Hydromet Monitoring System (Wehlo).

Dr. Francis Aldrine A. Uy, dean of the School of Civil, Environmental and Geological Engineering at Mapua University, said the conference aims to provide a dynamic platform for professionals and stakeholders to share valuable insights, experiences and best practices in disaster risk reduction and management.

Meanwhile, the partners also announced the holding of the “2023 National Disaster Resilience Champions: Recognizing Our Local Heroes” Awards.

The deadline for submission of entries is on June 16, 2023.

Uy said the awards “will recognize and celebrate the exceptional individuals who have made remarkable contributions in building and strengthening community resilience.”

The awards are designed to honor professionals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the following categories: Disaster Prevention, Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Rehabilitation and Recovery.

The online application form for the awards is available at https://forms.gle/ nY2z3PAmCH1r21aD8.

The top five winners will each receive a generous cash prize, certificate of recognition, an exquisite trophy and extensive publicity and exposure through

Biotech can help save world’s aquaculture from climate change

our organization’s official website and influential social media platforms.

The finalists will have a unique opportunity to showcase their expertise and success stories during the conference.

Uy said the local government units’ (LGUs’) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices’ tireless efforts have played pivotal roles in enhancing disaster resilience within the community.

“We believe that your participation in these events will not only provide a platform to showcase your achievements but also foster collaboration, knowledge-sharing and inspire others to take action in their respective communities,” said Uy, who is also the president and CEO of Usher Technologies and project leader of Wehlo.

“Your active participation in the ‘Philippine National Disaster Resilience Conference’ and in the ‘2023 National Disaster Resilience Champions: Recognizing our Local Heroes’ awards will contribute immensely to the success of these initiatives. It will offer you a remarkable opportunity to network with fellow professionals, exchange knowledge, and present your office’s best practices and initiatives in disaster resilience,” Uy pointed out.

Multi-awarded Usher Technologies is committed to the advancement of disaster risk reduction and management solutions, including earthquake monitoring. By leveraging innovative technologies and fostering collaboration, it strives to build resilient communities and safeguard lives and infrastructure in the face of natural disasters.

Mapua University is a renowned educational institution in the Philippines, recognized for its excellence in engineering and technology education. Its School of Civil, Environmental and Geological Engineering is developing competent professionals who play crucial roles in addressing societal challenges.

While genetic engineering applications to aquaculture research is at its incipient stage worldwide, the technology has great promise in helping the sector mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change, and sustain its contribution to world’s fish supply.

This is according to Dr. Eric Hallerman, a professor at the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

He discussed how biotechnology could contribute to climate change resiliency of aquaculture and fisheries during a webinar via Zoom organized by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, Inc. (ISAAA Inc.) on March 31.

Aquaculture is a diverse sector with about 600 cultured species, as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations reported.

However, only 15 species contribute significantly to world production.

With the prevailing and worsening conditions brought about by climate change to the fishes’ natural habitats, tools that can improve the species’ resiliency are necessary.

Hallerman presented gene transfer and gene editing as promising techniques to shield the world’s aquaculture from the climate crisis.

“Fishes are excellent systems for gene transfer and gene editing,” Hallerman pointed out.

The main reason behind this is that fish can produce multiple offspring. At the same time, researchers have designed protocols for the successful artificial induction of spawning in cultured fish species.

Furthermore, fish eggs are large, and the development of the embryo or larvae occurs outside the moth -

er’s body, enabling successful modification of valuable traits in fish.

Gene editing has been used to improve fish species’ productivity, disease resistance and sustainability.

The current thrust of aquaculture research worldwide is to improve fish species’ growth and muscle development.

The growth hormone gene has been successfully employed in Nile tilapia, channel catfish, carps, loach, and other species through traditional gene transfer.

A research breakthrough occurred in 2015 when Aquabounty, a US biotech firm, developed the AquAdvantage Atlantic.

Approved for commercialization by the US Food and Drug Administration, a genetically engineered salmon grows rapidly, causing the production time to be halved and feed efficiency boosted by 10 percent.

It was the world’s first commercialized product of animal biotechnology. Besides the US, AquAdvantage is also available in Canada and pending approval in other countries.

Inspired by a double muscling that naturally occurs in some cattle breeds, scientists have used gene editing to knockout fish’s myostatin gene. This technique has been proven effective in increasing the muscle growth of Nile tilapia, common carp, rainbow trout, yellow catfish, olive flounder, and other species.

In 2022, Japan approved the production of two fish species exhibiting doubled muscle production. The red sea bream and tiger pufferfish, developed by the Regional Fish Institute, are sold online in Japan and recognized as no different from conventionallybred fish.

With the advent of extreme weather situations, biotech applications in aquaculture have expanded to improving fish species’ resilience to climate change.

One focus of this research is improving tolerance of fish to heat stress. This has been achieved in earlier studies employing conventional selective breeding and molecular marker-assisted breeding.

The current thrust of aquaculture research is finding molecular targets for gene transfer or gene editing.

Hallerman also mentioned the need to edit aquatic species’ hemoglobin to improve their oxygen uptake.

This research thrust has a great promise for sustaining productivity in the Philippines’ milkfish industry.

Largely grown in land-based bonds in Pangasinan, milkfish farms are highly densely populated, which subjects fish stocks to physiological and social stress.

Fish kills are not uncommon particularly in hot weather phenomenon, like what the country experiences these days.

High fish densities in ponds increase susceptibility of fish stocks to parasites and pathogens, making genetic improvement for disease resistance a high breeding priority.

Researchers from the University of Idaho and partners successfully knocked out a gene in grass carp which led to a reduced viral infection that causes hemorrhagic disease affecting the kidney cells.

Besides fish, protocols for gene editing of other aquaculture species have been published. University of China researchers have used the CRISPR system in Pacific oyster eggs, addressing the challenge of editing mollusks’ tiny eggs distributed in the water column.

CRISPR, which stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, is the most popular gene editing tool. It was designed based on some bacteria’s natural gene-editing system and works like molecular scissors to cut a particular DNA sequence to improve the quality of the target plant or animal.

For crustaceans, which fertilize internally, the Chinese Academy of Sciences has used CRISPR for ridgetail white prawns. There are no reports yet about the use of gene editing in seaweeds.

“Biotechnology can make unique contributions that classical breeding cannot,” Hallerman concluded. However, biotechnology will only serve those contributions by conducting more fundamental research on molecular mechanisms for critical traits, risk-scaled enabling policies, and better public understanding and acceptance of the technology. Applications of biotechnology in aquaculture will only be available to help address food security and mitigate climate change, with the approval of the concerned government agencies to put animal biotechnology regulations in place, pointed out Dr. Ramon Clarete, chief of party of Building Safe Agricultural Food Enterprises (B-SAFE), a US Department of Agriculture-funded Food for Progress program.

B-SAFE, in partnership with ISAAA Inc., has been conducting webinars on biotechnology to assist the public in understanding the benefits and potential of biotechnology. Through these continuous activities, the general public is being helped to become aware of biosciences’ power in improving people’s lives.

Kristine Grace Tome is a Program Officer at ISAAA Inc.

PCAARRD’s innovative projects featured in intl meet

THE 2023 International Conference on Sustainable Agrivironment Education, Entrepreneurship, and Community Development (Icsaved) showcased innovative projects from the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOSTPCAARRD).

The event highlighted the council’s efforts to promote sustainable agriculture and environmental practices.

Held recently with a hybrid setup at the Teatro Ilocandia in Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Ilocos Norte, the conference aimed to provide a platform for experts, practitioners and students to engage in discussions on achieving sustainable agriculture and environment through education, entrepreneurship and community development in this era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The conference’s program included

four tracks or themes: 1) Data Science, Technology and Innovations in Agrivironment Education and Entrepreneurship; 2) Agriculture, Fishery and Environmental Conservation, Protection and Management; 3) The Future of Agricultural Education in the Era of Industrial Revolution; and 4) Challenges and Opportunities on Scientific and Technological Entrepreneurship and Governance.

Partial results of the DOSTPCAARRD-funded project, “Assessment of the Digital Readiness of Vegetable Farmers in Selected Areas in Calabarzon,” were showcased in the first track.

Despite the significant impacts of technological innovations from Agri 4.0, Prof. Julieta de los Reyes, project leader from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, pointed out that not all farmers possess the same set of access or skills to utilize any of these technological advances optimally.

Hence, the project seeks to discover vegetable farmers’ digital readiness in

Calabarzon.

Findings revealed that only a few vegetable farmers are considered digitally ready due to multiple impediments, such as ability, affordability and awareness.

Preliminary recommendations were made on how the digital readiness of the farmers can be improved, including tailor-fit training programs to farmers’ needs, conduct of awareness campaigns, enhancement of affordability of gadgets and internet connectivity, and increasing youth involvement.

On the second track, the DOSTPCAARRD-funded project, “Developing a Mobile Traceability System for Tuna in Davao Region, Philippines,” under Prof. Miko Mariz Castro of the University of the Philippines Mindanao was featured.

Project Research Staff Faizal John

P. Untal noted the current issues faced by the tuna sector regarding food safety and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources had issued administrative circulars and orders to respond to these problems and meet the standards of importing countries.

In support, the project aims to develop a traceability system for tuna and a digital platform to trace the key value-chain players of the industry.

Initial assessment suggests using a mobile application in android phones as its digital tool. The overall goal is that the proposed traceability system shall contribute to the potential increase in the marketability of Philippine tuna in compliance with the global standard for traceability and safety.

The two-day conference, co-organized by MMSU and the Philippine Association of Agri-vironment Educators and Entrepreneurs Inc., was in accordance with the current priorities of the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources sector in the Harmonized National R&D Agenda. Maritoni B. Suizo and Polianne G. Tiamson/S&T Media Services

By Kristine Grace N. Tome Special to the BusinessMirror

AQUACULTURE’S contribution to the global supply of fisheries products has grown from 4 percent in 1970 to over 50 percent today. However, that capability faces constraints, and aquaculture’s productivity may not be sustainable due to extreme weather situations like the current El Niño weather phenomenon in the Philippines.

PHL bishop: New leadership will strengthen Caritas’s mission

CARITAS Philippines has welcomed the election of Archbishop Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo as the new president of Caritas Internationalis, a Vaticanbased confederation of more than 160 Catholic charities around the world.

Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, president of Caritas Philippines, said Kikuchi’s election “reaffirms our commitment to prioritizing the needs of the marginalized.”

“We believe his leadership will further strengthen our collective efforts to uplift the lives of those in need,” said Bagaforo, who is currently in Rome for the confederation’s 22nd general assembly.

“We look forward to working closely with him to advance social justice and integral human development,” he said.

More than 400 delegates taking part in the assembly elected Kikuchi, who is also the current secretary general of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, on May 13 to serve a four-year term.

Replacing Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the former archbishop of Manila who has been leading the Dicastery for Evangelization since 2019, Kikuchi is the second president of Caritas Internationalis from Asia.

The new leader has been associated with Caritas since 1995, starting as a volunteer in the Refugees’ Camp in Bukavu, Zaire.

The assembly on May 15 also elected Kirsty Robertson as the new vice president of Caritas Internationalis and Alistair Dutton as the new secretary general for a mandate of four years.

Robertson has been the CEO of Caritas Australia since 2019. She previously held various positions at Caritas Australia, including Pacific Programs Coordinator and Communications Group Leader.

She was also CEO at Mary MacKillop Today and held numerous leadership roles in other faith-based aid and development organizations.

Currently Executive Director of SCIAF (Caritas Scotland), Dutton has more than 25 years of experience in the humanitarian field, has led projects in more than 70 countries and first worked with Caritas in 1996.

From 2009 to 2014, he served as the Humanitarian Director of Caritas Internationalis.

In 2014, Dutton was also the CEO of the Sphere Project, the international humanitarian standards body. From 2005 to 2009 he was head of the Humanitarian Programmes Unit for Africa of Christian Aid.

Look to the future

THE  new head of Caritas Internationalis said that the Vatican’s preeminent charity would look to the future of its global aid mission, seeking to close out a tumultuous period that prompted Pope Francis to oust the previous leadership team.

It was the first general assembly since Francis in November removed the Caritas president, vice presidents, secretary general, treasurer and ecclesiastic assistant after an outside investigation into bullying complaints found management problems at the Rome headquarters.

Dutton acknowledged the chapter representatives had questions about the pope’s unusual intervention and that he himself feared walking into an assembly “where people were angry and frustrated and were looking backwards.”

But he said the spirit of the meeting was instead one of a family looking to learn from the past and move forward.

“I know the past is there, but we

really haven’t dwelt on it,” Dutton told reporters. “We’ve been trying to look now to the future.”

Dutton, a British former Jesuit novice, spoke alongside Archbishop Kikuchi, new treasurer Patrick De Bucquois of Belgium and Robertson, the organization’s first woman vice president.

Robertson said it was particularly significant for a woman to hold the position that represents Caritas in official, Catholic Church events that are often dominated by male clerics.

“The face of poverty is the face of a woman,” she told reporters. “Therefore, it is only right and just, I think, to see the face of women at all levels in our confederation.”

Dutton replaces Aloysius John, a French citizen of Indian descent who was ousted in November after the staff at the Caritas headquarters complained of a toxic work environment.

On the eve of the general assembly, John accused the Vatican of staging a “brutal power grab” fueled by a “colonialist” attitude of northern, wealthy Caritas chapters over poorer ones in the developing world.

Caritas Asia reelects president for a second 4-year term MEANWHILE , Caritas Asia, one of seven regional offices of the Catholic Church’s humanitarian agency Caritas Internationalis, reelected Bangladeshi Dr. Benedict Alo D’Rozario as its president.

His reelection came during the Caritas Regional Assembly in Rome, a day before the 22nd General Assembly of Caritas Internationalis. He will serve for a second and last term of another four years.

D’Rozario was first elected into the post in 2019, making him the first lay person to fill the role, succeeding Archbishop Kikuchi.

Caritas Asia is composed of 24 regional offices.

D’Rozario, 66, served in Caritas Bangladesh for 29 years. He retired in 2016 after serving as the agency’s executive director for 11 years.

Pope Francis last year placed the Caritas Internationalis management under temporary administration to supposedly improve its management rules and procedures.

Almost six months ago, through a decree, he appointed Dr. Pier Francesco Pineli as temporary administrator of Caritas Internationalis.

The decree also named Dr. Maria Amparo Alonso Escobar and Jesuit Fr. Manuel Morujão as support to Pinelli “for the personal and spiritual accompaniment of the employees.”

Throughout the period, they were assisted by Tagle, president emeritus of Caritas Internationalis, who was responsible for relations with the local Churches and Caritas’s network. CBCP News and Associated Press

Pope issues new constitution for Vatican

VATICAN—Pope Francis on Saturday issued a new constitution of the Vatican City State that further emphasizes the power of the pope over the sovereign state.

The new constitution, called “the Fundamental Law of Vatican City State,” is the third in history and replaces a law promulgated by St. John Paul II in 2000.

The first constitution was issued in 1929 following the signing of the Lateran Pacts, which founded the city state of the Vatican and guaranteed its sovereignty.

The new law will go into effect June 7.

In an interview with Vatican News published Saturday, Vincenzo Buonomo, a jurist and rector of the Pontifical Lateran University, noted that the new law now uses the words “power” and “powers” to refer only to the pope, while other bodies of the state exercise “legislative, executive and judicial functions.”

Pope Francis said he issued the new fundamental law “to meet the

READING the Torah, there is no doubt about motherhood’s important role in Jewish literature and life.

The Hebrew Bible is replete with stories of women who feel incomplete without children, although Orthodox interpretation holds that only men are commanded to “be fruitful and multiply.”

Unable to bear children, Sarah offers her handmaid Hagar to her husband, Abraham, so he can father a child. Rachel longs for deliverance from infertility, saying “Give me children or I shall die,” and Hannah provides a model for Jewish personal prayer when she fervently prays for a child on the steps of the Temple in Jerusalem.

Women are not, however, expected to place motherhood ahead of their own wellbeing. For example, Jewish law not only permits but requires that a pregnancy be terminated when it jeopardizes the life of the mother.

Of course, many stories in Jewish sacred texts celebrate women for reasons that have nothing to do with parenting—from Queen Esther’s bravery in the Book of Esther to the powerful judge Deborah in the Book of Judges and wise women like Beruriah, who is quoted in the Talmud.

Yet the value placed on motherhood is clear—not only in Jewish texts, but also in Jewish traditions.

For centuries, ritual practices have celebrated the birth of children. Yet they have not always given new mothers an opportunity to celebrate on their own terms or share their own feelings.

As a scholar of Judaism and gender, though, I have seen how this is changing, as Jewish women reinvent meaningful traditions or develop new ones.

Medieval mothers

ACCORDING to historian Elisheva Baumgarten, medieval Jewish women in northern and eastern Europe observed a monthlong period of lying-in after the birth, where they were cared for at home by friends.

Upon its conclusion, the new mother would then go to synagogue on the Sabbath to say prayers of thanks and have special tunes sung in her honor.

If she had borne a boy, she might craft an embroidered wimpel—a band used to bind a Torah scroll closed when it is not being read—made from a strip of the cloth used to swaddle her son during his circumcision ceremony, often called a bris or brit milah.

In her book “Painted Pomegranates and Needlepoint Rabbis,” religion scholar Jodi Eichler-Levine analyzes this practice as a way for new mothers, confined to the women’s section of the synagogue, to insert themselves into what is otherwise an all-male ritual space.

Describing the emergence of a modern Jewish crafting movement, Eichler-Levine also notes that “in recent years, the wimpel has made a comeback,” created by mothers and grandmothers to honor the birth of children regardless of their sex.

Behind the ‘mehitza’

WHEN my oldest child was born 26 years ago, options for celebrating her birth in the Jewish community in Johannesburg, South Africa, were limited. After we brought her home from the hospital, my husband and I attended Shabbat services at the Orthodox synagogue he had grown up in.

As I looked on from behind the “mehitza,” the screen that separates men’s and women’s areas in Orthodox congregations, he was honored by being called up to the Torah during the service, and our daughter’s name was announced to the community.

I, on the other hand, was encouraged to privately “bentsch gommel”: recite the prayer for having survived an illness or a perilous journey.

Then we went home. And that was it. This seemed an underwhelming way to acknowledge her arrival and my having given birth to her.

Elsewhere, Jewish feminists had begun creating new rituals to mark moments in women’s and girls’ lives—but in the late 1990s, that innovation was not yet felt in Johannesburg.

I located a copy of “The New Jewish Baby Book,” imported from the United States. Written by essayist and novelist Anita Diamant, the guide included sample rituals for welcoming the birth of a girl.

Together with my mother-in-law, a psychoanalyst who loved to cater a stylish celebration, and my sister-in-law, a journalist with a gift for powerful public speech, we crafted a ritual to take place in my in-law’s home that announced our daughter’s name and offered the women in our family a more significant role.

It was an opportunity for me, as her mother, to acknowledge the beloved grandmothers and biblical figures for whom she was named and to express my hopes that a life of meaning, connection and community lay ahead of her.

Tradition for the 21st century

THOUGH we didn’t realize it at the time, the ritual we created reflected many themes of contemporary Jewish feminist innovation.

In the book “Inventing Jewish Ritual,” anthropologist Vanessa Ochs describes how a movement among liberal Jews to engage in ritual innovation began in the 1970s. Alongside secular do-it-yourself texts like “Our Bodies, Ourselves,” which urged women to take ownership over their sexual and reproductive health, Jewish women began to design novel rituals that marked transformative moments in women’s lives.

These included moments that had long gone unremarked in Jewish public life, including the onset of menstruation, pregnancy, birth, miscarriage, infertility, abortion and menopause.

Our family ritual shared many features with those being developed by other Jewish parents around the world.

My daughter’s naming ceremony was created from a template that allowed for improvisation and personalization. It enabled a new shared experience, and it took place outside the synagogue, in the less regulated space of a private home.

Rituals to mark the birth of girls are now widely accepted across all Jewish denominations. Templates and sample prayers are available in books like Israeli professor and politician Aliza Lavie’s anthology, “A Jewish Woman’s Prayer Book,” and websites like ritualwell.org.

More recently, new rituals have been created to allow a woman to reflect upon the impact that becoming a mother has on her life. The mikveh, or ritual bath, plays a central role in observance of Jewish laws relating to family purity, which may involve women immersing after menstruation and after giving birth.

Jewish feminists have sought to reclaim the practice of ritual immersion to mark other developments in women’s lives, including becoming a mother, and to shift the focus of ritual from the moment of transition in status to the shift in perspective brought by occupying a new role.

The poet Hila Ratzabi, for example, created “A Rebirth Ritual for Mothers” to be used at any time after a birth, providing an opportunity to reflect on how becoming a mother has transformed one’s life.

The ritual includes sharing reflections on the challenging and empowering moments in the birth, the experience of motherhood and the experience of immersion, and includes these touching words:

As I step toward these healing waters, I acknowledge the great transitions I underwent in becoming a mother.

needs of our day.”

The law, he added, which is “the foundation and reference of all other legislation and regulations in the State, confirms the singular peculiarity and autonomy of the

Vatican legal system.”

The Governorate of Vatican City State oversees the administration and government of Vatican City.

Pope Francis said this body, “with its own organizational

structure, contributes to the proper mission of the State and is at the service of the Successor of Peter, to whom it is directly accountable.” Hannah Brockhaus/Catholic News Agency

I come to the mikveh to acknowledge that these powerful birth experiences made me a mother, and I choose to step into my power.

I come to the mikveh to remind myself that I am always loved, always held, always growing, always whole. Lisa Fishbayn Joffe, Brandeis University/The Conversation (CC) via AP

Judaism’s rituals to honor new mothers are ever-rooted, changing

Biodiversity Sunday

Conserving Asean waters for migratory birds

WATER sustains all forms of life—for human needs, crops and livestock, the operation of industries, preservation of natural ecosystems and all forms of wildlife, including migratory waterbirds that feed, nest and drink in wetlands.

Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim, e xecutive director of Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), said: “Despite the myriad of benefits derived from water resources, aquatic ecosystems around the world face severe threats caused by anthropogenic activities exacerbated by climate change.”

The freshwater ecosystem—rivers, lakes, aquifers and wetlands—account for less than 3 percent of the world’s water, an alarming figure that could threaten human survival, natural environment, and wildlife, Lim said in a press statement on World Migratory Bird Day on May 13.

With this year’s theme, “Water: Sustaining Bird Life,” she said the ACB joins the global community in amplifying the call for “protecting and conserving the freshwater ecosystems not only for human survival” but also “for biodiversity and the sustenance of wildlife, especially migratory waterbirds that serve as bioindicators of ecosystem health.”

The Asean region’s inland waters and wetlands span a total of about 2 million square kilometres, comprising 60 percent of the world’s tropical peatlands and 42 percent of the global mangrove forests.

“This vast amount of wetland resources and their ecosystem functions are yet to be widely acknowledged as a response to the increasing demand for clean water and as nature-based solutions to the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss,” the ACB leader pointed out.

Lim said well-managed wetlands can help protect the quality and quantity of water needed by all species.

During extreme weather conditions resulting from climate change, inland waters can serve as natural reservoirs as the ecosystems recharge groundwater and provide additional supply of surface water during rainy seasons.

“By absorbing excess nutrients and filtering pollutants, wetlands contribute to halting species extinction by providing healthy habitats for all wildlife to thrive.

Mangroves and vegetation in riverbanks serve as shield from flooding and erosion and mitigate their effects to communities on land,” she explained.

She said several programs to rehabilitate forests and wetlands in the region have been conducted by the Asean, in line with the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

Through ACB, support to important wetlands and protected areas have been established in terms of capacity development programs, livelihood development and strict enforcement of regulations through one of its flagship programs—the Asean Heritage Parks (AHPs).

Another initiative, the Asean Flyway Network (AFN) was created to enable coordinated conservation actions and international knowledge sharing and cooperation for the protection and conservation of the region’s wetlands and migratory birds, Lim explained.

It helped address knowledge gaps, including the identification of potential flyway sites and wetlands of international importance, or Ramsar sites.

The Asean is also attending to urban wetlands in order to address the challenges of population density and improve the quality of urban waters.

Studies revealed that almost 70 percent of the world’s population will settle in cities and urban areas by 2050. This is expected to put tremendous pressure on wetlands to provide the required demand for clean water, she pointed out.

Among the 55 AHPs, urban wetlands are found to be currently under-represented; and as a response, integration of urban wetlands into the AHP Network through the updating of the AHP Regional Action Plan is now being done by ACB.

Two urban wetlands are now considered as pilot sites for this Action Plan, namely, the Nong Kham Sen Wetland in Lao PDR and Bang Pu Nature Education Centre in Thailand, Lim said.

The survival of over 50 million migratory waterbirds from over 250 different populations that fly along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway [EAAF] depend on healthy and productive wetlands in the region,” she said.

Hence, a “more inclusive and assertive regional stand is necessary to deal with the global water crisis and safeguard these ecosystems” from which the migratory species depend.

She pointed out that “national governments must implement relevant policies to effectively manage the freshwater sources with a healthy balance of ecosystem protection and economic considerations guided by the principles of sustainable development.”

“The adoption of nature-based solutions in development planning, continuous research on freshwater resources, and developing ecologically-friendly hydrologic technologies are indispensable to fully utilize the benefits that nature can provide,” Lim explained.

All of the mentioned actions and interventions in the region can only be fully realized through cross-border collaboration and flyway-scale conservation, she noted.

Lim pointed out that full cooperation of the Asean member states in the AFN, the EAAF Partnership and linkages with the other major flyways “are needed to amplify our message of migratory bird conservation to the rest of the world,” and “to ensure that specific threats to the Asean freshwater ecosystems are addressed with relevant and holistic action plans with a high chance of successful implementation.”

Herders kill one of Kenya’s oldest lions, Loonkiito, and nine others

NAIROBI, Kenya—One of Kenya’s

oldest wild lions was killed by herders and the government has expressed concern as six more lions were speared at another village on Saturday, bringing to 10 the number killed last week alone.

The male lion named Loonkiito was 19 years old and was described as frail by Kenya Wildlife Service spokesman Paul Jinaro, who said it wandered out of the Amboseli national park into a village in search of food on Thursday night.

Six other lions from the same national park were speared by herders after they killed 11 goats in Mbirikani area, Kajiado county. The deaths brought to 10 the number of lions killed by herders last week in escalated human-wildlife conflict that has worried the government.

Tourism minister Peninah Malonza met locals in Mbirikani area on Sunday and urged them not to spear wandering lions and to instead reach out to the wildlife service.

The government and conservation groups have a compensation program for herders whose livestock is killed by wild animals.

But herders have become more protective after losing livestock to a drought that has been termed as the worst in decades in the

A billion new air conditioners will save lives—but cook the planet

As temperatures have climbed across the world’s most populous nation in recent weeks, more than a dozen people died at an event in central India and thousands crowded hospitals with heatstroke symptoms.

H undreds of schools were closed and the mercury is still rising: Temperatures will hover around 45 degrees Celsius (113F) across the northern plains this weekend.

The most immediate fix is mercifully affordable, at least in the short-term. Demand for air conditioners (ACs) is surging in markets where both incomes and temperatures are rising, populous places like India, China, Indonesia and the Philippines.

1 billion ACs

BY one estimate, the world will add 1 billion ACs before the end of the decade. The market is projected to nearly double before 2040.

That’s good for measures of public health and economic productivity; it’s unquestionably bad for the climate, and a global agreement to phase out the most harmful coolants could keep the appliances out of reach of many of the people who need them most.

The logic behind the AC boom is simple. Economists note a spike in sales when annual household incomes near $10,000, a tipping point many of the world’s hottest places touched recently or will soon.

The Philippines passed the $10,000 threshold roughly last year; Indonesia within the last decade. In India, where more than 80 percent of the population doesn’t yet have access to air conditioning, per capita gross domestic product—adjusted for purchasing power—will top $9,000 this year for the first time.

“We are operating in a limitless opportunity,” said Kanwaljeet Jawa, who heads the India wing of Daikin Industries Ltd., the world’s largest AC manufacturer.

In recent years, he said, “our sales have grown more than 15 times.”

Pivot from poverty

THIS development has farreaching consequences for public health, wellbeing and economic growth. Purchasing an AC is a pivot away from poverty for individuals and for their communities.

People in hotter countries, which also tend to be poorer ones, suffer from worse sleep and impaired cognitive performance, both of which drag on productivity and output.

In a study looking at thousands of Indian factories with different cooling arrangements, researchers found that productivity fell by around 2 percent for every degree Celsius increase.

to E. Somanathan, author of the report and a professor of economics at ISI Delhi.

But expanding AC coverage too quickly also threatens to worsen the crisis it’s responding to.

More damaging refrigerants— ‘will cook the planet’ MOST units use a refrigerant that’s far more damaging than carbon dioxide. The nations where demand is growing fastest remain deeply reliant on coalfired power, and most people can only afford the cheapest, most energy-inefficient units.

If efficiency standards don’t improve, “then the planet will literally be cooked,” said Abhas Jha, a World Bank expert on climate change based in Singapore.

Wealthier, more temperate countries have tightened regulations on ACs, requiring better energy efficiency and less-toxic coolants. That adds to the cost of units, making those kinds of measures less palatable where affordability is paramount.

International climate bodies are pressuring developing countries to lower their carbon footprint, but India and its peers point out that they still contribute far less to global emissions than places like the US, where nine out of 10 people have access to AC.

“We’re facing a situation where extraordinarily harsh conditions are being imposed on growing economies,” said José Guillermo Cedeño Laurent, an assistant professor of public health at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Matter of survival IN Delhi’s working-class neighborhoods, these debates are abstractions. For many, access to an AC is a matter of survival.

Piyu Haldar, who works as a maid, said her shanty turns into a furnace in the summer. The tin roof gets hot enough to cook roti on it. Before sleeping, Haldar and her husband used to splash water on their bed to cool down the room.

When her son was born in 2016, he suffered fevers from the heat. That was the breaking point. To afford an entry-level Voltas AC, Haldar stopped buying clothing, cut down on meals, took out a loan and doubled the number of houses she cleaned.

Haldar, 27, avoids turning on the unit during the day. But as night falls, she flips on the switch and closes the door, keeping the mosquitoes out and preserving the cool air.

In a windowless bedroom decorated with teddy bears and toys, her son, Yasir, pushed his face against the AC, delighting in the “cold chilled air!”

“Relatives visit just to sit next to it,” Haldar said. “People think we’ve become very fancy.”

without pricing out their biggest growth markets.

Most G-20 nations, including India, use labeling systems to rate the efficiency of products, and stricter standards in the US and European Union have lowered energy use from appliances by 15 percent in recent years, according to BloombergNEF.

Haldar chose a three-star unit from Voltas, which cost about 27,000 rupees ($330), or roughly 15 percent less than comparable higher efficiency options.

Three-star units comprise about 60 percent of total AC sales at Godrej Appliances, one of India’s largest retailers, said business head Kamal Nandi.

One way to encourage consumers to buy more efficient models, the company says, would be to lower taxes on the units to 18 percent down from the 28 percent luxury tariff that currently applies.

“The AC has become a necessity,” Nandi said. “It is no longer a luxury item.”

Phasing out HFCs

FOR cooling companies like Daikin and Haier, the growing demand for ACs could be quashed by regulation designed to slow climate change.

Part of the problem will be solved if and when countries move toward cleaner sources of power. The other issue—the refrigerants that turn that electricity into cool air—is trickier.

One of the most common coola nts, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), can have 1,000 times the warming potency of carbon dioxide.

Scientists estimate that failing to drastically lower dependence on HFCs could result in half a degree Celsius of warming by the end of the century, an enormous contribution to a rise that would trigger deadlier storms, droughts and, yes, more heatwaves.

In 2016, more than 170 nations agreed to start phasing out HFCs beginning in 2019, with wealthy industrial countries required to make the first deep cuts.

Cooling companies are hunting for new options. Daikin’s R-32 has approximately one-third the global warming potential of conventional refrigerants and is cheaper than some other coolants; it’s become common in appliances sold by big retailers such as Godrej.

But it’s also a bit more flammable than older refrigerants and, according to Prima Madan, an expert on cooling and energy efficiency at the US-based Natural Resources Defense Council, still too polluting.

Kigali Amendment

THE  Kigali Amendment to phase out HFCs is legally binding, and though many of its goals are still far in the future, developed nations have picked up the pace.

While R-32 has “helped avoid a large chunk of emissions,” Madan said, “we do need to go lower.”

As of now, though, the alternatives are often more expensive. That’s prompted opposition even in wealthy countries.

The US senate recently agreed to reduce HFC consumption by 85 percent within 15 years, and the conservative Heritage Foundation has warned Americans to get “ready to pay a lot more for air conditioning.”

For India, the challenge is to implement cleaner technology before millions of new consumers purchase the dirtier ACs, locking in their use for another decade.

Last year, the country logged some of its hottest weeks since 1901. Brutal heatwaves pushed temperatures to 50C (122F) on the subcontinent.

The worst stretches killed hundreds of people, led to hours-long power outages and even caused a giant landfill on the outskirts of India’s capital to spontaneously combust.

East Africa region. Conservation group Big Life Foundation’s Craig Miller said the killing of Loonkiito “was unfortunate” because he was the oldest lion in the Amboseli national park. Wild lions rarely live past 15 years, according to conservationists. AP

This is a big deal for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push to boost sluggish export numbers, lure business from China and move up the global value chain:

The declines due to heat over the past 30 years may equate to roughly 1 percent of India’s GDP, or about $32 billion, according

Since purchasing the AC, she and her husband have more energy in the day, she said, and Yasir no longer falls sick from the heat.

Improve efficiency, stricter standards

AS more people like Haldar buy ACs, cooling companies are trying to improve energy efficiency

There are less environmentally harmful coolants on the market made by Chemours Co. and Honeywell International Inc. Daikin and Mitsubishi Electric Corp. are working on their own products.

“If you don’t have a green refrigerant, you are going to be the loser,” said Jawa, the chief executive of Daikin India, which became a billion-dollar company last financial year and expects to double that number within three more.

Naresh Tatavet, a personal driver in Delhi, is among those who’ve had enough. This month, he bought his young family their first AC, calling it one of the biggest financial investments he’s ever made—on par with purchasing a motorbike.

In his neighborhood, after somebody purchases an AC, “we bring them sweets to celebrate.”

Whatever happens in Washington, Brussels and other faraway places, Tatavet is sure of one thing: His family won’t go back. He can no longer watch his baby throw up from the heat.

“I don’t want to wake up drenched in sweat anymore,” he said. Kai Schultz, Adrija Chatterjee and Sheryl Tian Tong Lee/Bloomberg News

SUMMER in India has always been hot. Increasingly, it’s testing the limits of human survival.

OPPORTUNITY TO THINK BIG

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado—A

Congressionally formed panel exploring the inner-workings of the US Olympic enterprise hinted at proposing potentially radical changes to a business that has been operating under the same framework for more than 40 years. We tend to make sport policy in this country in a very reactive posture, a very crisis-oriented posture,” the panel’s co-chair, Dionne Koller, said Thursday. “We’ve made some very important policy changes that way. But this commission is an opportunity to be proactive, and an opportunity to think big.”

K oller said the Commission on the State of US Olympics and Paralympics has begun receiving feedback from athletes, administrators and the general public on 10 aspects of the Olympics and how they are run in the United States.

The 16-person panel was created by Congress as part of a bill that sought better oversight of the Olympics in this country.

After a two-year delay getting started, mainly due to red tape and indifference from Congress, Koller’s group has scheduled a public hearing for September with plans to release its report next spring.

Speaking at the advocacy group Project Play’s annual

THE government does not fund Olympics sports in the US, leaving thousands of athletes largely beholden to money derived from sponsorships, media contracts (mostly from NBC) and fundraising.

conference, Koller said changes might be appropriate for the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, the landmark law first passed in 1978 that set the template for the US Olympic system.

“ There’s no way to do that without looking at the original act and accounting for the fact that this is not the 1970s anymore,” Koller said. “I think it’s really important to have an understanding of history, where we’ve been, where sport was at the time, but also where we are today in sports.”

K oller views her group as the 2020s version of the President’s Commission on Olympic Sports,

A8 SundAy, MAy 21, 2023

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph

Editor: Jun Lomibao

which was created by President Gerald Ford in the mid-70s and set the stage for the Stevens Act.

Congress formed the 21stcentury commission as part of the “Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020,” that was, itself, a reaction to the outrage spawned by the Larry Nassar sex-abuse scandal and the inability of Olympic leaders to identify or react to the problem.

O ne part of that law called on the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee to more than double funding for the newly created US Center for SafeSport, one of dozens of Olympic-related agencies that the commission has

been asked to examine.

K oller said the commission has collected “tens of thousands of pages of documents,” and collected responses from more than 2,000 surveys from across the Olympic landscape.

A mong the areas the commission is looking at is finances. Under the terms of the Stevens Act, the government does not fund Olympics sports in the United States, leaving thousands of athletes largely beholden to money derived from sponsorships, media contracts (mostly from NBC) and fundraising.

Th at has led to decades of feuding between athletes who scrap for stipends, salaries, endorsement deals, health care and retirement and who often point to six- and seven-figure salaries made by some Olympic leaders as the most tangible sign that the system is out of balance.

O ne possible area for the commission to explore could be whether it’s time to rethink government’s (non) role in funding the USOPC, its athletes and their corresponding sports organizations (National Governing Bodies). The NGBs have been under increasing pressure to comply to safe-sport rules and best-practices governance.

“ If that’s what the commission comes forth with, we would be welcome participants in that,” said Kathryn Carson, the chair of USA Gymnastics who was part of the Project Play panels. “There needs to be an understanding of what our role is now, how it’s expanded. It’s very clear how that’s being expanded, and we also need to have additional resources for NGBs who might only have a few people on their staff.”

Koller’s commission struggled getting off the ground and, for a time, couldn’t even get calls back from some of the same lawmakers who proposed forming the panel. The USOPC, which has rewritten its bylaws and made dozens of changes it portrays as helping athletes, has generally welcomed the commission’s work.

Still, possibly the biggest unknown is whether the USOPC or Congress will heed the recommendations the commission makes. Koller said regardless of what is adopted and what is ignored, the commission is dedicated to “the most fair process possible” as it dives into complex subject matter that rarely elicits across-the-board agreement. AP

India court allows bull-taming sport to continue despite mounting criticism

NEW DELHI—India’s top court on Thursday ruled to allow the continuation of the bull-taming sport of jallikattu, which is celebrated as cultural heritage in the southern state of Tamil Nadu but criticized by animals rights groups.

Five justices held that the state government was taking sufficient steps to reduce the pain and suffering of the animals, and ruled the sport and other bull races in the country could continue.

Animal rights

Former gold medalist worried on future of boxing in Olympics

LONDON—Katie Taylor had Olympic dreams long before she became one of the faces of women’s professional boxing.

The Irish fighter won a gold medal at the 2012 London Games, setting her on course for a hugely successful pro career. She’s worried that future generations won’t get the same chance because of a long-running dispute between Olympic officials and the International Boxing Association. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has declined to confirm boxing’s place in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

“ It will be a huge blow to boxing overall, even professional boxing,” Taylor told The Associated Press ahead of her fight against Chantelle Cameron in Dublin on Saturday. “The biggest incentive for amateur boxers is the Olympics. If they [don’t] have that, I think it might put a lot of people off the sport. It could be a big blow for the sport as a whole really.”

The impact on women’s boxing

could be particularly damaging considering it only made its Olympic debut in 2012.

Taylor and Claressa Shields have used their Olympic success as a springboard into the pro ranks— headlining cards, selling out big arenas and garnering more media attention to help push the women’s game into the mainstream.

I hope they can sort out their issues because the Olympics is a huge part of boxing,” said Taylor, the undefeated and undisputed lightweight champion who will challenge for Cameron’s superlightweight belts on Saturday.

The 2024 Paris Olympics isn’t in question—the IOC plans to run the qualifying and final tournaments like its boxing task force did for the Tokyo Games in 2021.

The IOC cut ties with the sport’s governing body in 2019 because of concerns about governance and fair judging. It also has distrust about the IBA’s ties to Russia. A n investigation found that some

organizations had filed court petitions saying jallikattu is a bloodsport and dangerous, with the bulls often attacking their riders and bystanders as they try to escape crowded areas.

The sport, which dates back centuries, is extremely popular in Tamil Nadu during the four-day Pongal harvest festival in January in which hundreds of bull vaulters compete in a carnival-like festival.

A s drums beat and the crowd cheers, a man leaps onto the back of a large bull and hangs on tightly to its hump as the animal bucks and jumps. If he can hold on for three jumps or 30 seconds, or for a distance of 15 meters (49 feet),

bouts at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics were fixed by “complicit and compliant” referees and judges. In Rio, Ireland’s Michael Conlan accused Russia and the sports governing body of corruption after his bantamweight quarterfinal loss to Vladimir Nikitin.

I n recent weeks, boxing officials in the United States and Britain announced plans to preserve the sport’s place at the Olympics by launching a new federation to rival the IBA, formerly known as AIBA.

Boxing has been part of every Olympic program but one since 1904, and the IOC has said it still could be added for 2028. Roland Garros, the home of the French Open, is one of the main venues for boxing at next year’s Paris Games.

Boxing is Ireland’s mostsuccessful Olympic sport. Eighteen of the country’s 35 medals are in boxing.

I n Tokyo, Kellie Anne Harrington became only the second female Irish boxer to win an Olympic medal when she took gold in the lightweight division—like Taylor did earlier.

Ever since I was a kid, my dream was to win an Olympic gold medal. That’s all I dreamt of,” the 36-year-old Taylor said. “It’s quite sad that if it does go out...kids are going to grow up without that dream.” AP

he has a chance to win prizes such as cooking pots, clothes, bicycles, motorbikes or even cars.

Poorvi Joshipura, a spokesperson for PETA India, said the court verdict “makes our country look regressive in the eyes of the world.”

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a global animal rights organization, was a complainant in India’s top court demanding a stop to the sport in the country.

Joshipura said the court order came despite people and animals dying and sustaining injuries.

Since 2017, at least 104 men and children and 33 bulls have died. More deaths will occur,” she said, adding that other countries have been

moving to ban such sports.

T he Supreme Court in 2014 had held that jallikattu violated the rights of the animals and the Prevention of Cruelty Act.

Two years later, the federal government carved out an exception for jallikattu and bullock cart races from the scope of the PCA. Animal rights organizations then challenged the move in the Supreme Court.

L ater, the Tamil Nadu state government also enacted a law saying it was taking steps to prevent cruelty to the animals, paving the way for jallikattu to continue.

O n Thursday, the top court upheld the federal and state governments’ actions. AP

LeBron James standard for NBA prospects

CHICAGO—Brandon Miller was a little more than three weeks from being born when LeBron James made his National Basketball Association (NBA) debut for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003.

Two decades later, James is still near the top of the league Miller is about to enter.

Twenty years is a lot of years. I’m 20, myself. I feel old,” Miller said in jest.

P rospects who gathered in Chicago this week for the NBA draft combine still see James as the gold standard, 20 years after he made the jump from St. Mary-St. Vincent High School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.

They see a player who entered the league when they were in diapers—or not even born—still going strong at age 38. He has a chance to cap a season in which he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s scoring king by being crowned champion for the fifth time, with the Lakers facing the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals.

They see the results of the work he puts in to keep himself in top

condition, the contributions he makes away from the court as well as on it. And they take notes.

“ I feel like as long as I’m taking care of my body—and that’s the biggest thing that LeBron has done,” Scoot Henderson said. “He made a name for himself off the court as well.... Everybody knows LeBron because of how dominant he is as a player. But as a person, he’s powerful. I see that a lot in myself. I think I can be on that level of greatness.”

Widely projected along with Miller as a top-three pick behind Victor Wembanyama, Henderson is well aware of the opportunities that await him.

He has formed a partnership with Stephen Curry that is helping him build his own business brand and giving him access to shooting coaches and a training team. As role models go, the Golden State Warriors star is obviously a good one.

Henderson said he has tried to cut fried foods from his diet, eat more fruit and get plenty of rest, particularly as he goes through the draft process. He’s been active in the community, holding Thanksgiving

food drives, and plans to keep that up. Though he’s working with Curry, he’s also following a similar example set by James.

M iller, coming off the most productive season by an Alabama freshman, envisions himself playing in 20 years. That’s because he is dedicating himself to staying in top condition.

I think I will still be in the league,” Miller said. “I think the biggest thing with LeBron, he takes care of his body. That’s the biggest thing with being in the NBA—the body. It plays a big part of the career you build in the league.”

Gonzaga star Drew Timme grew up near Dallas rooting for Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks. But in his mind, James is “the GOAT.”

That’s a testament to the amount he pours into his own body,” said Timme, whose earliest memories of him are with Miami. “To play for 20 years in the league is crazy. Not many people get to say they’ve done that. I’m sure he adds so much into himself in terms of the proper nutrition, strength and conditioning.” AP

REVIEW | ‘Ang Huling El Bimbo The Musical’ hits the sweet spot

eyes. The transformation is drastic, and you can feel—not just see—it.

Gian Magdangal is every bit the proud and overly ambitious Hector. He is so indifferent, it’s annoying. In this role, he successfully fools the audience into thinking he is devoid of any emotion. But when it is time to finally unleash Hector’s emotions, Magdangal lets them flow so effortlessly—through song. It’s not just the calibre of Magdangal’s voice that makes his solos so powerful, but also, the palpable anguish and guilt, embedded in every note and lyric.

YOU know what they say: Third time’s a charm. If you’re about to see something for the third time, you probably wouldn’t expect too many changes.

But let me tell you this: I’ve seen Ang Huling El Bimbo (AHEB) The Musical live thrice (and one online), and none of the shows were exactly the same.

I’ve seen Joy, Hector, Emman and Anthony—young and old—played by different actors on stage. And while the audience may have their preferred actor for each role, each portrayal was endearing in its own way.

: Concept : Y2Z Editor :

SoundStrip Editor :

Group Creative Director :

Graphic Designers :

Contributing Writers :

Photographers :

Lourdes M. Fernandez

Aldwin M. Tolosa

Jt Nisay

Edwin P. Sallan

Eduardo A. Davad Niggel Figueroa

This season of AHEB the Musical welcomes new cast members such as singer-songwriter Bullet Dumas as Emman , theater actor and The Voice finalist Nino Alejandro as Anthony, The Clash grand finalist Anthony Rosaldo as the young Hector, Gawad Buhay awardee Paw Castillo as the young Emman and voice teacher Katrine Sunga as Joy.

Castillo and Dumas feigns the authenticity and idealism of a provincial lad who travels to the city to get a proper education in the hopes of serving his country. Alejandro, on the other hand, transformed the young Anthony into a self-loathing yet arrogant adult, his eyes brimming with both sadness and disdain for the life he has been forced to lead. And Sunga, as Joy, overflows with the strength and courage of a woman hardened by unfavorable circumstances but repeatedly rises above the surface for the sake of her child.

The old cast members, stellar in previous runs, shine even more brightly this season.

Sheila Francisco, as Joy’s aunt, Tiya Dely, is disarming. Tiya Dely’s charm, wit, and joie de vivre are infectious, but it is her resilience and wisdom that make her not just the necessary pillar of strength in Joy’s life but also, an essential character in the story.

And then there’s Jamie Wilson as Sgt. Banlaoi, a truly detestable villain spewing negative energy across the stage and eliciting disgust from the audience. He has no redeeming value; he is evil in human form. He is the villain everyone loves, and also the kind you’d wish you’d never come across in real life.

This show is by far, the best among the versions of Ang Huling El

Bimbo the Musical I’ve seen. If my memory serves me right, some of the musical arrangements in the first run sounded as if they had somehow lost the essence of the originals they were derived from. The edgy, alt-rock feel of the Eraserheads songs were dissolved too thinly to make way fir other musical elements. This time, however, there is balance.

The orchestra was excellent. The rise and fall of emotions moved in sync with the music. The musical arrangements, song and dance numbers, call-and-response in the dialogue and the tug-of-war between the characters, and even the blocking and transitions between scenes, all blended seamlessly into an immensely satisfying whole. There were a few additional touches here and there, a line or a gesture or a lyric to bridge gaps in the sequences. Some of the existing scenes, more graphic in previous runs, have been sanitized, perhaps to make the show better suited for younger viewers.

Ang Huling El Bimbo the Musical returns stronger this season, finally hitting the sweet spot. Whether you’ve seen it or not, returning to the Newport Theater to see this OPM and theater milestone will be worth your while and your standing ovation.

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Gab Pangilinan is such an exuberant young Joy. The role fits her to a T. It’s amazing how her face can light up an entire theater —all that innocence and optimism in her smile and in her gaze—and then visibly transform into a catch basin ofsorrow and despair, tragedy reflected in her

NOT JUST KEN

Felip establishes his musical identity with EP ‘COM·PLEX’

WHENEVER he appears onscreen or live, people would know a name: Ken. He is mostly recognized as Ken, a member of the leading P-Pop group in the country SB19. However, this time, he should also be recognized by another name, a name that he himself is establishing in the music industry. This time, his name is Felip.

“ Siguro sa pagiging solo artist [may] advantage po is… nagagawa ko ‘yung gusto kong gawin, kung ano ‘yung type of music na gusto kong gawin since solo,” Felip shared.

He added that as Ken in SB19, there are limitations.

“ Sa pagiging Ken naman ng SB19, alam ko lang talaga kung ano yung role ko sa band. Syempre kailangan… may limitations, kailangan mo lang talagang sabayan ‘yung ano nila don kasi bawat isa sa amin may iba’t ibang opinyon so kailangan mo rin i-acknowledge ‘yon,” said Felip.

Felip happily shared that his bandmates from SB19 are “supportive” of his musical pursuits as a solo artist. He said, “Supportive naman sila sa solo ganap ko and happy din sila na gumawa ako ng ganito.”

Asked on how he writes, Felip shared, “ Minsan ginagawa ko ‘yung main topic or ‘yung pinaka main idea ng kanta so sa word lang na ‘yon parang doon ko kinukuha or doon nag rerevolve ‘yung lyrics.”

He likened writing songs to writing essays. He said, “Kumbaga pag nagsusulat ka ng essay parang kinukuha mo lahat ng pinaka buong idea niya so ganoon po pag nai-inspire ako magsulat, ‘pag may nakita ako somewhere na inspiring.”

But more than the lyrics, Felip shares that the very first thing he works on is the melody of the song.

“Pinaka unang ginagawa ko is paggawa ng melody ng kanta and

paggawa ng beat kasi don ko binabase yung melody,” he shared.

Felip added, “After ng beat magiisip ako ng magandang loop tapos ulit-ulit lang yon tsaka ko siya ni-rerearrange kumbaga kung ano pa ‘yung pwede kong idagdag or bali baliin na melody tapos tsaka ko siya pinapasukan ng humming…mga ganon lang muna tsaka ko siya sinusulatan.”

It was around July last year when Felip started working on his EP “COM·PLEX.”

“ Mga July, pero at that time kasi ‘Straydogs’ pa lang ‘yung nasulat ko nung time na yon and tinuloy ko lang siya nung tour namin,” he shared. For context, the tour that he was talking about was the SB19 world tour in 2022.

When they were in New York, Felip discovered Jersey Club music and reaped inspiration from the genre. It was how he completed “MICTEST” in his EP.

“Noong narinig ko siya (Jersey Club), cinorporate ko siya sa Bisaya in the lyrics about, you know, being proud to be a Bisaya, so ayon sa tingin ko naging complete (MIGTEST),” he said.

Asked on which are his favorite tracks in the EP, Felip said “CRIMINAL” and “DRINKSMOKE.”

He explained, “Para sa akin, medyo malalim ‘yung ibig sabihin ng lyrics kasi pinag-isipan ko talaga siya ng mabuti.”

“COM·PLEX” is available on all music-streaming platforms.

Gen Z goes retro: Why the younger generation is ditching smartphones for ‘dumb phones’

Flip phones were popular in the mid1990s and 2000s, but now seem to be making a comeback among younger people.

While this may seem like a counterintuitive trend in our technology-reliant society, a Reddit forum dedicated to “dumb phones” is steadily gaining in popularity. According to a CNBC new report, flip phones sales are on the rise in the US.

Gen Z’s interest in flip phones is the latest in a series of obsessions young people are having with the aesthetic of the 1990s and 2000s. Y2K fashion has been steadily making a comeback over the past few years and the use of vintage technology, like disposable cameras, is on the rise.

There are a few reasons why, including nostalgia and yearning for an idealized version of the past, doing a “digital detox” and increasing privacy concerns.

The power of nostalgia

No S tA l Gi A may be a driving factor behind people purchasing flip phones because they evoke memories of a previous era in mobile communication. But nostalgia marketing doesn’t just target the younger generation. it ’s also a powerful tool for advertising to those who grew up using older mobile devices. Nokia is an example of a company that understands this well.

A Youtube advertisement for Nokia’s 2720 V Flip shows how brands can use nostalgia marketing to appeal to customers and drive product sales. When older generations speak about objects from the past, they usually hearken back to “the golden

era” or “golden time.” The comment section of the Nokia video showcases this kind of thinking.

one comment reads: “My first phone was a Nokia 2760! it was also a flip phone. This brings back good memories.” Another says: “i am definitely getting this just for good old memories. When life was easy.”

Digital detox

A No theR reason why people might be purchasing flip phones is to do a digital detox and cut down on screen time. i n 2022, people in the US spent more than 4.5 hours daily on their mobile devices. i n Canada, adults self-reported spending about 3.2 hours per day in front of screens in 2022. Children and youth had about three hours of screen time per day in 2016 and 2017.

excessive smartphone usage can result in a number of harmful side effects, such as sleep disruption. Just over 50 percent

of Canadians check their smartphones before they go to sleep. The blue-light emitted from smartphones may suppress melatonin production, making it harder to sleep and causing physiological issues including reduced glucose tolerance, increased blood pressure and increased inflammatory markers.

As people become more aware of the potential side effects of excessive screen time and constant digital connectivity, some are choosing to digitally detox. Flip phones are a way people can limit their exposure to digital noise and build a healthier relationship with technology.

Privacy concerns

SM ARtphoNeS have a long list of advanced features such as cameras, GpS and tons of mobile applications—all of which can store and access a significant list of personal data.

for targeted advertisements, but in worst cases that information can be leaked as part of a data breach. More and more people are growing concerned with how their data is being collected, shared and used by companies and online platforms.

old-fashioned flip phones generally have fewer features that collect and store personal data compared to smartphones. That can make them a more attractive option for people concerned with privacy, data breaches or surveillance.

But this trend doesn’t mean smartphones are going out of style. There are still millions of smartphones being shipped worldwide every year. The trend may result in users opting to own both a smartphone and a flip phone, allowing users to digitally detox and reduce screen time without sacrificing the benefits of social media. The Conversation

in some cases, personal data can be used

Seven tips for a healthier relationship with your phone

Cover photo by Arturo David/ pexels.com 1

Practice putting down your digital devices consciously. Keep them out of sight and put them away when you aren’t using them, especially at night. Banish them from the bedroom, get an alarm clock (so you aren’t using your phone alarm) and you’ll sleep better without the late-night scrolling.

tures like voice notes, which allow you to stay up-to-date with communication without staring at a screen for a long time.

3Stop allowing digital distractions. Constant interruption can induce physical and mental stress. tu rn off notifications and alerts when you want to fully focus on a task.

is important. ta ke a walk in nature, read a book, go for a bike ride—anything that takes you away from the screens for a while.

5

Set yourself screen time limits. too much screen time can give you headaches. Be mindful of the way your use your tech and make use of fea-

2

4Schedule proper digital-free time. Depression and anxiety is one result of digital overload. So getting away from your digital world for a while

Make screens easier on the eyes. Screen overuse can strain our eyes and affect our eyesight. Don’t squint at tiny screens to do work that would be better done on a larger-screen laptop.

6

Take control of the chaos of information overload. o r ganize your phone, computer and tablet so

you can use them more efficiently. Some apps really do help you take charge of your life and work more calmly and effectively. We regain mastery over our digital devices when we become more proactive in their use.

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Sit well when you are digitally engaged. Slouching over a phone or hunching over your laptop will harm your neck and your back. Sit upright, stretch regularly and exercise often— without your phone. The Conversation

THere is a growing movement among Gen Z to do away with smartphones and revert back to “less smart” phones like oldschool flip and slide phones.