Torre Supports A Different Kind of Olympics
Chess Olympian Eugene Torre, the first Asian Grandmaster, made an emphatic commitment “to help clean the Philippine landscape, seascape and mindscape” during the recent launching of the “Zero Basura Olympics—A Race to conquer Garbage in 300 Days” at the Rizal Provincial Capital Grounds before a large multi-sectoral assembly.
He made the pledge on behalf of his fellow chess Olympians and by implication, with those who had represented the Philippines in prior World Olympics competitions.
“Olympians play for their country” Torre said, adding that “here and now, we are all Olympians playing for the planet.”
Encouraged by Odette Alcantara, captain of the women’s team to the Moscow Chess Olympiad, Torre said: “On the chessboard of life, a brilliant solution to the basura problem is a mate-in-three: (1)Segregate; (2). Compost; and (3) Recycle.”.
Sticking closely to his chess analogy, GM Torre said “Cleanliness is next to Godliness. God is the one and only Grandmaster in the chessboard of Life.
Showing his familiar bravado, Torre said he expects that the denouement would be: “Basura resigns… End of game.”
Secretary Lito Atienza keynoted the assembly consisting of key representatives from the business, government, civil society and religious sectors. He said that “in solid waste management, the enemy is visible and odorous. If we put our mindsand our hearts into it, we can conquer the garbage issues, manage them e cologically and move closer to a zero-waste society.”
The Zero Basura Olympics Central Committee is chaired by Secretary Atienza.
Co-Chairing the committee are Odette Alcantara, country coordinator of Earth Day Network Philippines, Chito Macapagal of Unilever Philippines, Gerry Calderon of DENR. Annie Guerro of Zero Waste Recycling Movement, and Rene de Rueda of OIKOS/Couples for Christ.
The Zero Basura Olympics will be conducted over a 300 day period covering LGU as well as communities and industrial sectors.
