Randy T. Nobleza

Island Innovation

Marinduque island

I’m Randy Nobleza from the heart-shaped island of Marinduque, the geodetic center of the Philippine archipelago. Marinduque is part of the Verde Island Passage threatened by the oil spill in Mindoro along with Palawan and Romblon. 27 years ago, the mine tailings left Boac River dead. Despite of this, the Diocese of Boac Social Action Commission along with the formation of Marinduque Council Environmental Concerns sought justice and gained a 50 year moratorium which closed down the operations of a transnational mining company. Fast forward, we are still coping with the ill effects of mining, health, economic, socio-cultural and environmental impacts. Given the pandemic, we are moving to the next normal with the ongoing litigation process of making accountable the Australian, Canadian and American extractive corporation. We continue to hope and pray, for the next 50 years Marinduque would be an exemplary case of grassroots mobilization, creative resistance and self-sustaining island for the whole archipelago with shared borders of the Pacific, Atlantic and Caribbean. Island Innovation Ambassador program enables islanders like me to connect with changemakers, creatives and innovators. Guided by circular, ecocentric, horizontal, likas-kaya and kapwa  mind and heartset, identifying today’s pressing challenges, coming up with alternatives has never been inspiring, relevant and timely. I don’t think we’d be able to cross the gap between now and what’s coming without declaring climate emergency now. there’s a sense of urgency, we’ve relied long enough from the nourishment of the earth, it’s time to return the favor so the earth can recover and revitalize anew. I’m randy from Island Innovation of the Philippine archipelago, please declare climate emergency now so we can take action right away to save our islands so it can recuperate and sustain us in the long run. Ipaglaban ang karapatang pangkalikasan, karapatang pang-isla at kapuluan!