Posted by: Nicanor Perlas in politics on
Dec 23, 2009
HISTORICAL GLOBAL PROTEST LAUNCHED URGING COMELEC TO REINSTATE PERLAS AS
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
1290 Individuals from 44 Countries Respond to Support "World's Most Promising Green Candidate"
Compares Perlas with Nelson Mandela and Al Gore and Claims Perlas Presidency Will Benefit the World
The efforts of Nicanor Perlas received a tremendous boost today as 1,290 individuals from 44 countries, urged, in a rapidly growing global campaign, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to reinstate Perlas as one of the official presidential candidates in the 2010 national elections.
This marks the first time in the history of Philippine politics that the world has taken up a protest action against COMELEC even before the start of the country's presidential elections.
On December 19, 2009 six individuals from Germany and the United States of America sent out an "Acion Call: "Nick Perlas, world's most promising green candidate, blocked!"at http://apeopleforperlas.ning.com/profiles/blogs/action-call-nick-perlas-worlds. In just three days, 1290 individuals, responded with strong messages of support for Perlas. A significant number of the signatories had known Perlas in one of the latter's keynotes, seminars and workshops given in over 26 countries
Posted by: Nicanor Perlas in politics on
Dec 23, 2009
PERLAS FILES MOTION OF OPPOSITION
AGAINST COMELEC DECISION
Challenges COMELEC Not to be a "Nuisance" To the Will of the Electorate Longing for New Politics
Presidential aspirant Nicanor Perlas today filed a Motion of Opposition against the decision of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to disqualify him as an official candidate in the presidential elections of 2010. He was accompanied by over a hundred supporters, a significant number of whom were leaders of different sectors including women, youth, children, independent political candidates, professionals, artists, environment, academe, NGOs, informal settlers from at least cities in the National Capital Region (NCR), and representatives from other regions of the country.
In his 48-page legal motion, backed by over 120 pages of supporting facts, Perlas demonstrates in great detail why he should not be disqualified. At the same time, Perlas challenged COMELEC: "Do not be a ‘nuisance'. Do not prevent ‘a faithful determination of the true will of the electorate' and their longing for new politics, thereby making a ‘mockery' of the electoral process". Perlas was applying the language of the Omnibus Election Code to COMELEC itself, the very same language that COMELEC used to
Posted by: Nicanor Perlas in politics on
Dec 17, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
16 December 2009
CONTACT: Nicanor Perlas
Email: info@nicanor-perlas.com
PERLAS TO CHALLENGE COMELEC DECISION
AS LEGALLY FLAWED AND AN INJUSTICE TO
THE FILIPINO ELECTORATE.
In a media conference in front of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), presidential candidate Nicanor Perlas characterized Comelec's decision to disqualify him as an injustice to the electorate, a suppression of new politics, and an obvious bias for rich politicians over more qualified middle class leaders. He also announced that he and his legal team will challenge Comelec's decision as arbitrary, capricious, and legally flawed.
"What kind of message is Comelec sending to the Filipino people? Has it come to this, that money and the political organization that it can buy, have become more important than vision, platform, track record, character, outstanding qualifications, and a real passion to birth a new nation?", asked Perlas. "Are we saying that only the rich can be president of this country?"
Nicanor Perlas is a multi-awarded Filipino leader and has a combination of global and national awards unique among presidentiables. He is one of only three Filipinos who has received the prestigious Alternative Nobel Prize in the past 29 years. Only
Nicanor Perlas Formalizes Bid for Presidency
Condemns the Massacre in Maguindanao as a Local Manifestation of the National Impunity of Traditional Politics That is Destroying the Nation
Calls on all Filipinos of Good Will to Create a Better Country by Ushering in a New Politics of
Vision, Hope, Competence, Integrity, Courage and Action
[Media usually covers only snippets of a press release. I would like to share the full content of the statement that I gave to the media today, 29 November 2009. In this way, readers can have a full picture of how I am framing my presidential candidacy in the national elections in 2010.]
Today, delivering on his promise, Nicanor Perlas filed his Certificate of Candidacy for the position of President of the Philippines at the national office of the Commission on Elections in Intramuros, National Capital Region. Key members of his volunteer and support group, including his son, Christopher Michael, accompanied Perlas in his bid for the highest political office of the country in the upcoming national elections in 2010. Perlas characterized his presidential bid as responding to the call of millions of Filipinos to have real choices in the 2010 elections, to advance the country into a higher level of
On December 6, 2006, almost three years ago, I wrote this editorial in TruthForce!, www.truthforce.info. I entitled it "Super-Typhoons and Philippine Democracy". I will share it again in whole to emphasize two points. First, already back then, almost three years ago, the scientific evidence was clear that humanity has entered the age of drastic climate change and extreme weather events. Super typhoons will increasingly wreak havoc on the planet including the Philippines. Second, government had a chance to act and prepare for Ondoy, especially after the massive P18 billion-destruction brought about by Typhoon Frank in June 2008.
But, no, government chose to continue the path of traditional politics, focusing on retaining power and stealing the national budget at the tune of a minimum of P300 billion a year. It is clear. The time for a new and very different kind of politics has come, a new politics savvy enough to prepare for the upcoming disasters of super typhoons and other extreme weather events. Our future as a people will depend on it.
I have been wanting to reissue this piece for sometime. But there was no time amidst all the rescue operations, travels, events, and other related work. So here's the December 2006 editorial
In the past few days, I have been bombarded with text messages from friends as well as interviews with the media on what I think of the Mar-Noynoy announcements. Will I, like Senator Mar Roxas, also renounce my intention to run as a presidential candidate in the 2010 national elections and support the presidential candidacy of Senator Noynoy Aquino?
The short answer is "No". I will not renounce my intention to run as a presidential candidate. And "Yes", I will encourage Noynoy to resign from the Liberal Party, run as an independent presidential candidate, and join the on-going conversation and unification efforts among non-traditional political parties and movements.
Noynoy can stifle the growth of new politics. Or he can enable the new politics that is emerging all throughout the country. Allow me to elaborate.
Introductory Remarks
My comments to follow will only make sense if people understand that 2010 is not an ordinary election. It will be the venue for an epochal battle between traditional politics and the new politics. What is branded often as "opposition" is not really opposition in the true sense. The current opposition is also part of traditional politics, albeit a different version of traditional politics. What I mean
This week, I have been making the rounds of both high level government agencies and large civil society networks. I wanted to get a sense of their aspirations regarding the future of the country. And one clear message resounds. Resistance to the Arroyo system is alive and well. And this resistance will converge and make a difference in the national elections of 2010.
Resistance to the Arroyo regime is not visible in government agencies. They are towing the line since Arroyo is their boss and they are earning their living as employees of the Arroyo government. But, if there is an opportunity, those in government will choose new politics.
Those, who have not been morally devastated and corrupted, are deeply disgruntled. They are deeply hurt and wounded. They have had to swallow some dirt to survive. Some have seething anger inside. They are burning for something different, something more dignified. And they are awake and alert for new possibilities in 2010.
A similar situation prevails in significant segments of civil society. Arroyo had made many promises to civil society leaders in 2004. This is the reason why a significant segment of civil society leaders supported Arroyo in 2004. However, Arroyo broke these promises. She nurtured
Posted by: Nicanor Perlas in politics, myblog on
Jul 02, 2009
Yesterday, Harry Tambuatco, host of "Talk to Harry", interviewed me regarding my intention to run as a presidential candidate in the 2010 presidential elections. "Talk to Harry" is the top TV talk show of the Global News Network (GNN) of Destiny Cable which has a reach of 1 million viewers. The interview was blessed by the presence of a GNN co-host who is a firm believer in and defender of traditional politics, including the practice of vote buying, manipulation of the poor, etc. . Frank is his first name. I do not recall his family name.
I purposely say the word "blessed" because Frank intended to destroy the possibility of my candidacy on the spot. He called me a nuisance candidate, a person driven by hallucination, and someone who is crazy to challenge the status quo. I loved his questions. His questions gave me an opportunity to bring into sharp relief the promise and power of a new approach to politics.
I will give you an example of over a dozen that took place in this TV interview. Frank went on and on with passion and conviction on how impossible and futile it was to reduce or even eradicate poverty in the Philippines. Many administrations have done it but they have all failed. And he ended his long litany of past
Posted by: Nicanor Perlas in politics, myblog on
Jul 02, 2009
Two weeks ago, I announced my intention to run as a presidential candidate in the national elections of 2010. We received an outpouring of massive positive responses from all over the Philippines and the world. Thousands have visited our website and a significant number have and are joining as volunteers and supporters. The three negative responses from administration supporters that I and my team have received among several hundred responses from the public, have been concerned as to how I would stand up in a public forum in the presence of other presidentiables, or other individuals running as presidential candidate in the 2010 national elections. Would I be able to hold my own or be overshadowed by the brilliance and competence of other presidentiables? Yesterday, that question was answered in the affirmative. There is definitely strong life and promise in my attempt, together with others, to mainstream new politics starting with the 2010 national elections.
In the morning I participated in a forum, entitled "Pre-Election Conversations" together with two other presidentiables: Governor Grace Padaca and JC de los Reyes of Ang Kapatiran Party. Governor Ed Panlilio was invited but he did not show up. St. Scholastica's College
