Japan's Miss Earth 2011 led her people in supporting PH peasants fight vs. bio-ethanol

By Handog Malaya Vera-Yamamoto in Tokyo and Gerry Albert Corpuz in Manila

TOKYO, Japan --Japan's reigning Miss Earth 2011 has led her people in supporting the opposition of Filipino farmers in Isabela against the bio-ethanol project in Northern Luzon.

Peasant leader Diony Yadao of Danggayan Dagiti Mannalon ti Isabela (Dagami) said Japan's Miss Earth 2011 titlist Tomoko Maeda added her voice against the proposed bio-ethanol project in the province.

Maeda was here in Manila to compete in the 2011 edition of Miss Earth. Although she did not win the crown, Tomoko was chosen as one of the 16 semi-finalists eventually won by Olga Alava of Ecuador.

The Ms Earth Japan 2011 who attended one of the forum where Yadao spoke, remarked that “she used to know that biofuel is environmental-friendly but after this forum I learned that the biofuel projects have caused serious problems such as land grabbing, environmental impact and unfair labor practices.

We need to do something to support the Isabela farmers in their action against this project", Japan's Miss Earth titlist added.

On January 18 to 20, 2012 the farmer leader went on two-day speaking tour in Japan to campaign against land grabbing and bio-ethanol in Isabela, Philippines.

The ambitious bio-ethanol project will be funded by a multinational Japanese energy corporation.

Yadao was one of the speakers during the Land Rush Symposium: Current Situation on the Investment for Agricultural Land and Sustainable Use of Biomass: How Japan should Act?”

The symposium was held at the National Olympics Memorial Youth Center in Tokyo.

Around 80 people (including Federal government officials, private sector especially traders, journalist, NGO/NPO, among others) attended the event.

The symposium was co-organized by the NPO Biomass Industrial Society, Network, Friends of the Earth-Japan, and the Global Environmental Forum.”

The Asian Peasant Coalition (APC) said that the audience were shocked to hear testimonies from Mr. Yadao on the issue related to the Japanese bio-ethanol project in Isabela, Philippines.

On January 19, Yadao attended the Public Seminar entitled “Isabela Bioethanol Project and Problems the Isabela Farmers have been Faced With” held at the Global Environmental Outreach Center (GEOC) also in Tokyo.

At least 30 people (including journalist, NGO/NPO, citizens, students and Miss Earth Japan 2011). Participated in the seminar. The seminar was co-organized by Friends of the Earth- Japan and the Action Center for Development and Rights (CADE)

On January 21, another Public Seminar was held at Higashi-yama Iki-iki Citizens’ Activity Center in (Kyoto. Around 15 people (including NGO/NPO and other citizens) attended the seminar organized by the Action Center for Human Rights and Information of Philippines.

One of the participants from the audience stated that they have learned the complicated problems related to the Japanese bio-ethanol project in Isabela based on the presentation of Mr. Yadao.

"At this point, it is necessary for Japanese to do something with this issue, such as writing to Japanese companies, Itochu and JGC to stop the project," the participant added.