This question was raised after Kaya Natin started floating names of alternatives to traditional politicians such as Governors Ed Panlilio and Grace Padaca. This was followed by the launching of Councilor John Carlos de los Reyes as candidate of Ang Kapatiran Party. The latest, and perhaps the most formidable candidate among the alternatives, is environmental activist, Nicanor Perlas, co-founder of Pagasa and leader and conceptualizer of Philippine Agenda 21 and several development alternatives.

Nick’s supporters say that he has a following of over a million. Asked if he could win, he says, “Absolutely.” But he also admits that he would give way, should there be a “more qualified candidate.”

Nick’s first project which attracted national attention was his successful venture into organic farming at UP Diliman. His quiet and dedicated efforts in re-educating civil society won him several awards – an Alternative Nobel Prize by the Sweden’s Right Livelihood Award for his work on effects of corporate globalization; the Global 500 Award from the UN Environmental Programme and The Outstanding Filipino Award from the Jaycees and the Insular Life Assurance, Co. for his campaign against the use of poisonous pesticides. He is proudest of the framework he prepared for the UN that integrates the government, the business sector, and civil society as a strategy in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Perlas’ 40-year advocacy in environment resonates as an electoral platform especially because of current threats from climate change and global warming. Just recently, the Philippines was ranked No.12 among 200 countries and territories whose populations are most at risk from earthquakes, floods, tropical cyclones and landslides.

Thomas Friedman, in his latest book, “Hot, Flat, and Crowded” takes off from his earlier bestseller, “The World is Flat” by explaining how global warming, rapidly growing populations, and globalization are threatening our world; that America should take the lead in a strategy for clean energy, energy efficiency, and conservation. The task of “Code Green,” which could be the greatest challenge of our lifetime, is that of “creating the tools, systems, energy sources and ethics that will allow the planet to grow in cleaner, and more sustainable. Code Green is not simply a “new form of generating electric power. It is a new form of generating national power. It is building more knowledge-intensive green-collar technology jobs for making green buildings, vehicles, and power resources.”

Friedman observes that up to now, much of the leadership of the green movement has focused only on the problem and not the opportunities. These are the changes that need to be done because of rising costs in energy, food and natural resources. The next president in a world that is hot, flat, and crowded must be a CEO – a chief energy officer who is able to find a democratic way to establish authority over this energy beast that is pulling in many different directions, and to refocus it on the single priority of innovating and generating clean power, energy efficiency, and conservation through a smart system.

These challenges – “decisions on sustainable development are not simply decisions about the environment. They are decisions about who we are, what we value, what kind of world we want to live in, and how we want to be remembered (underscoring mine).”

These could as well constitute the campaign platform of our presidentiables for 2010. My e-mail is florangel.braid@gmail.com.