STATEMENT OF THE ECOWASTE COALITION ON THE DEMISE OF TITA ODETTE ALCANTARA

"We mourn the untimely demise of Odette Alcantara, one of the most audacious and passionate defenders of Mother Earth, who died of aneurysm on 22 September 2009. Tita Odette, as she is fondly called, left a colorful legacy of environmental advocacies, including the tireless pursuit of ecological alternatives to the wicked and corruption-ridden “hakot-tambak” approach to handling discards. Along with the other founding leaders of the Clean Air Coalition and EcoWaste Coalition, she championed the incineration ban that is now enshrined under the Clean Air Act and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, promoted Zero Waste consciousness and practice, and fought against the reckless promotion of landfills and incinerators. Together with the Magkaisa Junk JPEPA Coalition, Odette resisted the shameless attempt to turn the country into a toxic dumpsite by Japan in the guise of free trade. We will always remember Odette’s environmental zeal and activism, and thank her for the many fights she fervently steered. She is already missed!"

Note: Her remains were cremated last night, September 22, and brought to her residence at 43 Hillside Loop, Bridge A, Quezon City, phone: 6471181. Interment will be on October 1, her 69^th birthday; venue to be announced