[Coral-List] Earth Report "Blast" Airing on BBC World May 19, 2007

[Eileen Alicea]

Earth Report "Blast" Airing on BBC World May 19-20, 2007
For your local time see: http://www.bbcworld.com/Pages/Schedules.aspx

BBC World presents "Blast," an Earth Report documentary that chronicles 
the ongoing battle between blast fishers in the Philippines and the 
brave individuals risking their lives to stop them.

Using homemade explosives to kill fish may provide an easy answer for 
poverty-stricken fishermen, but the rich biodiversity of the Visayan 
Sea, as well as future sources of food for the people of the
Philippines, are quickly being depleted because of their use.

In 2004, after recognizing that declaring blast fishing illegal was not 
enough to deter fishermen, concerned conservationist and local 
government official Jo Jo de la Victoria teamed up with INECE member and 
fellow Filipino Tony Oposa to form the Visayan Sea Squadron. Their 
mission was to patrol the Visayan sea for blast fishermen and to educate 
Filipinos on the importance of sustainable fishing practices.

The success of the Visayan Sea Squadron in protecting the sea angered 
many in the fishing community. In April of 2006, involvement in the 
blast fishing project proved fatal for Jo Jo. He was shot and killed by 
a hired assassin.

"Jo Jo de la Victoria's murder shocked and saddened all of us," said 
Durwood Zaelke, Director of the INECE Secretariat. "But his heroism, and 
Tony Oposa's, as evident through this poignant film, continue to inspire 
those around the world fighting similar battles." Zaelke added, "This is 
the first film in the INECE Eco-Enforcers series. The series will show 
the hidden heroes of environmental compliance and enforcement, and their 
courageous efforts to protect our environment and build the rule of law."

"Blast" was shot on location in the Visayan Sea, the Philippines, and 
follows the story of these two remarkable local environmental activists 
as they fight to rid their seas of the blast fishing scourge.

Earth Report is produced by the Television Trust for the Environment and 
is BBC World's premier environmental series viewed by millions 
worldwide. "Blast" was written and directed by filmmaker Douglas Varchol 
and sponsored in part by the International Network for Environmental 
Compliance and Enforcement and the Institute for Governance & 
Sustainable Development (IGSD).

The film will be broadcast on BBC World Saturday, 19 May at 9:30 am 
(5:30 PM, Philippine Time) and 16:30 GMT, and on Sunday, 20 May at 2:30, 
13:30, and 20:30. Please check your BBC World station for local screenings.

Environmental compliance and enforcement are the foundation of the rule 
of law, good governance, and sustainable development.
  http://www.inece.org