Target: Abraham Kahlil Mitra, Governor of Palawan, Philippines
Goal: Prevent construction of coal power plant in cockatoo habitat
The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development in the Philippines has agreed to the construction of a new 15-megawatt coal power plant in the region. The Council hopes to end a power crisis, which has caused blackouts throughout the province. Environmentalists, especially those at the Katala Foundation Inc., believe the plant will destroy the Katala Cockatoo population. Other species endangered by the plant include the marine turtle, the grey imperial pigeon, and a large marine mammal called the dugong, which resembles a manatee.
Cockatoos are known to hunt in Palawan during the day and populate the forest treetops at night. The power plant will inhibit the birds’ ability to fly from one place to another. Birds who fly into the plant’s power lines will die of electrocution. The plant will also cause a marked increase in pollution. Environmentalists fear this will disrupt farming in the area that is the largest producer of Palaweno rice. Moreover, water pollution could harm village fishermen.
Local governments were not notified of plans for the power plant, but officials close to the plans say the plant could be built in another location farther from the cockatoo habitat. However, members of the PCSD have not indicated that they are considering such an option. Urge leaders to prevent construction of this coal plant near cockatoo habitats.
Dear Mr. Mitra,
The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development recently approved plans to construct a 15-megawatt coal power plant within the cockatoo habitat of Palawan. Scientists warn that the power plant will inhibit cockatoos’ ability to fly from their daytime hunting grounds to their evening nesting grounds in the forest. These beautiful, fragile birds, the pride of local communities, will be electrocuted by the plant’s power lines. The coal plant will also cause air and water pollution, which will harm local farmland and fishing communities, lessening the area’s ability to produce food.
While this project may help to end the power crisis in the region, coal is an environmentally unclean and nonrenewable resource. The plant itself will harm not only the cockatoo species, but also the marine turtle, the grey imperial pigeon, and the dugong.
I encourage you to choose a more sustainable type of energy to end the power crisis in Palawan. I also ask that you refuse plans to build a power plant directly in the path of cockatoos in flight.
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Axel Buhrmann via Flickr