November 10, 2008

Greetings!

In February 2008, members of academe, environmental and sectoral organizations formed the Philippine Climate Watch Alliance (PCWA). PCWA is a Philippine-based multisectoral alliance of individuals and organizations engaged in climate change advocacy. This is in response to the growing global campaign to address the issue of climate change and to get underway a corresponding, yet, grassroots-oriented campaign in the Philippines. Since then a series of educational activities were initiated by the members of PCWA informing basic sectors such as peasants, fisherfolks, women and urban poor on the issues of climate change.

On November 19, 2008, the PCWA will be formally launched. We hope to be able to effectively forward its position and calls on climate change. The formation of the alliance is timely as the Conference of Parties (COP) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change are nearing its final leg of negotiations in the establishment of a post-Kyoto Protocol global agreement on climate change.

Owing to your and your organization's long track record and commitment in advocating environmental, social, economic and cultural rights-based issues, we are inviting you to join the alliance and its launching on the said date, 9:OO am to 4pm, at Balai Kalinaw, UP Diliman, Quezon City.

Attached herewith is the Statement of Unity of Philippine Climate Watch. If you have any questions, please call us at 9248756 or email us at kalikasan.pne@gmail.com. Thank you and we look forward to working with you on this initiative.

Sincerely,

Frances Quimpo
Executive Director
Center for Environmental Concerns - Philippines

Dr. Giovanni Tapang
Chairperson, AGHAM

Clemente Bautista Jr.
National Coordinator, Kalikasan PNE