7th Billion Baby in the World’ Philippines no RH poster girl

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has issued a severe warning on the states of the world as its population hit seven billion—"Plenty of food, but one billion people go hungry"—but Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III dismissed it as a potent argument for the passage of the reproductive health (RH) bill.

"Danica May's birth should be a celebration of life and not be used to spread fear about population growth," Sotto told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone, referring to the Philippines' symbolic seven-billionth baby, who was born at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila five minutes before October 31.

"All this talk about the world's resources not being [sufficient] to accommodate the growing population is a scare tactic," the senator said.

"They shouldn't try to be smarter than God," he said, referring to those pushing for a population control measure worldwide. "He has a process of life and death and they should not interfere with God's process."

It has been reported from all over the country that there is a dangerous side effect for using artificial medicine to control the populations. Even in the remote areas of the Philippines they complained that after taking a medicine to abort the baby inside their womb, it didn't succeed and the baby comes out with disorder and abnormalities.

Instead of easing life, the abnormal babies could become a huge responsibility of the poor family raising them until they get old. 

Commenting on Monday on the seven-billion population, Assistant Health Secretary Eric Tayag said: "We should really focus on the question of whether there will be food, clean water, shelter, education and a decent life for every child.

"If the answer is 'no,' it would be better for people to look at easing this population explosion."

But Sotto, who is questioning the need for the RH bill cosponsored by Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Pia Cayetano, argued that even if the world's population doubled to 14 billion, "all of us could still fit in the state of Texas."

He was mouthing the oft-repeated contention of those opposing the passage of the RH bill to debunk the argument that the world was becoming smaller with the growing population.

Interpellation resumes January 2012.

With the world's population now hitting seven billion, Sotto said he was anticipating that the Senate debates on the RH bill would shift to the need for "population management."

The Senate had shelved Senate Bill No. 2865 and all other measures to concentrate on deliberations on the proposed 2012 national budget for the rest of its sessions this year.

Sotto said interpellation on the bill would resume in January and would involve nine more senators: Sergio Osmeña III, Ramon Revilla Jr., Antonio Trillanes IV, Joker Arroyo, Manuel Lapid, Manuel Villar, Gregorio Honasan and Loren Legarda.

Even Senator Panfilo Lacson, an author of a version of the RH bill, was listed among the interpellators, according to Sotto.

Proponents of SB 2865 had earlier said the measure was not intended to control population but merely to provide access to information on reproductive health.

But Sotto said they had "conveniently" ignored medical findings showing that many of the artificial birth-control methods and items—which would be made available by the RH bill using taxpayers' money—were "abortifacients."

"We have unmasked the real score about these birth-control methods and I won't be surprised if the debates shift to population management, especially with the population now at seven billion," he said.

'Population Not a matter of area'

In its official website, Pro-life Philippines Foundation Inc. cited "basic calculations by area [that] all six billion people on the earth today would fit within the state of Texas [the biggest in the United States], with each family having a house with a little yard."

"So, it is not a question of area. The problem is the growing concentration of large numbers of people in certain cities, caused by the deterioration and lack of opportunities in the rural areas. This migration to cities, occurring mostly in developing countries, has left most of the countryside uninhabited, while the cities are confronting serious problems with basic infrastructure, health services, food supplies, education, transportation, sewage disposal, and housing," it added.

In the Philippines, the population density was 260 persons per square kilometer, according to the results of the National Statistical Coordination Board's 2007 Census of Population.

Metro Manila was the most congested by region with a population density of 18,650 persons per square km.

'Terrible contradictions'

At a press conference to mark the UN declaration that the world population had reached seven billion, Ban said the world was marked by "terrible contradictions"—"lavish lifestyles for a few, but poverty for too many others."

"What kind of world has baby seven billion been born into? What kind of world do we want for our children in the future?" Ban said.

He said he would take his message that world leaders need to battle inequality to the Group of 20 summit in Cannes this week.

"We cannot burn our way to the future—at the cost of destroying our planet. And we have to empower women and young people. Around the world, they have taken to the streets demanding their rights, new opportunities and a voice in their future," he said.

Indian Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said the birth of the seven billionth child was "not a matter of joy but a great worry."

"We shouldn't be celebrating," he said Sunday in an interview with The Times of India. "For us, a matter of joy will be when the population stabilizes."

India's population, the world's second biggest at 1.2 billion, is set to surpass China's by 2025, according to the US census bureau.

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Philippines - MILF negotiates continue - Malaysia Conspiracy Fund

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SolarWorld Files Complaint Against Chinese Panelmakers and Cell Manufacturers

DALLAS – A coalition of seven U.S.-based solar panel manufacturers filed a complaint Wednesday alleging unfair trade practices, setting off an investigation that could thrust the solar industry in the middle of a U.S.-China trade dispute.

By filing their petition, the companies are claiming that they are unable to compete in the lucrative and quickly expanding American solar market because, they say, they are being undercut by Chinese crystalline silicon panel and cell manufacturers that are dumping their product at artificially low prices. They also contend that panelmakers and cell manufacturers are receiving unfair subsidies from their government. A finding on behalf of the American companies would lead to tariffs being imposed on solar panels imported from China, possibly as soon as next spring.

The American division of SolarWorld, which employs more than 1,000 workers at its Oregon headquarters and manufacturing facility, is the only company named in the trade complaint. The other six remain anonymous, which is allowed by the Department of Commerce. The group on Wednesday launched the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing.

There was also an growing indication Thursday that German parent company SolarWorld may also be taking steps to file a complaint in Europe.

Trade complaints are not uncommon. However, according to industry sources, the sheer level of inventory and dollars at stake, and the vast potential of a future market, could make this among the most divisive trade complaints filed in recent years.

In response to the news, Rhone Resch president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) said that his organization "will continue to support open markets based on free and fair trade principles." SEIA believes that is is crucial for governments and private organizations, however, to "operate within the framework of internationally-negotiated trade rules. 

“If it appears that trade obligations are not being met, solar companies – whether foreign or domestic — have the right to request an investigation into alleged unfair trade practices. These allegations must be thoroughly examined and, if unlawful trade practices are found, action to remedy those practices should be taken," he added.

Politically, some Republican presidential candidates and Congressional lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have indicated support for a more hardline stance against China over issues ranging from manufacturing to perceived currency manipulation. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., has been among the most vocal critics of the price of solar panels coming into the American market. He recently wrote President Obama a letter saying the administration should impose a heavy tariff on panels coming in from China.

The International Trade Commission has 45 days to issue its preliminary determination, while the Department of Commerce has 180 days for the preliminary determination. At this point, tariffs could be set. The cases generally take 15 months for final determination. While much is conjecture at this point, early indications are that the tariff rate sought by the companies filing the claim are at 100 percent.

A ruling at the higher level could effectively shut out competition from the Chinese market. It also opens up the possibility that China could retaliate against U.S.-based manufacturers that depend on Chinese panelmakers and cell manufacturers, such as the polysilicon industry.

According to a recent report released by SEIA, the U.S. was a net solar exporter to China in 2010, so such a move could strain or potentially jeopardize many of the relationships between American and Chinese companies.

The petition was filed jointly with the Department of Commerce (DOC) and the United States International Trade Commission (ITC). According to sources, it is likely that the DOC and the ITC acted in an advisory role regarding the law and the process prior to the claim being filed. Both organizations now will shift to a fact-finding mode.

The ITC must make its preliminary determination based on three measures of injury:

• Whether the volume of imports is significant
• Whether the prices of those imports represents underselling, depresses prices or prevents price increases
• Whether the imports have a negative impact on domestic producers and production.

Following the ITC determination, the DOC has up to six months to implement preliminary dumping duties. Panels could be sold in the U.S. during that six-month window, but any indication that products were being pushed through to avoid pending tariffs would make many of those transactions subject to penalty.

Chinese panelmakers and/or cell manufacturers could file for an appeal through the World Trade Organization, which could work to find a resolution.

INDUSTRY REACTION

Barry Cinnamon,  CEO, Westinghouse Solar

“My opinion is really calibrated on what we in the United States need to do for jobs. The Republicans have a jobs program, Democrats have a jobs program. And we in solar, we should have a jobs program of getting people to work by manufacturing and installing solar. If we can create more jobs installing relatively inexpensive solar panels, and free trade is what supports that, then I think that’s the right thing to do.”

Lisa Frantzis, Navigant Consulting

“The Chinese suppliers have certainly gained a tremendous market share globally. They’ve gone from 3 percent market share in 1997 to 54 percent maker share in 2011. Most of that has been in the last three or four years. The U.S. has gone from about 47 percent to 6 percent in that same time frame. If you look at some of the major module suppliers – Yingli, Trina, Suntech – in Q3, their modules are selling at about $1.30 a watt peak, and we’re hearing prices even lower here today, which will make it very hard for U.S. players to compete in the U.S. market.”

Adam Browning, Vote Solar

“Countries around the world offer incentives in order to attract and build manufacturing sectors. Germany has long offered 50 percent unsecured loans. Malaysia will give you a 10-year tax holiday if you site a manufacturing plant there. In fact, this is what we often ask the U.S. government to do. The key all along has been about reducing costs. China has identified solar as a strategic industry of national importance and the result is they’ve brought down costs tremendously. That is to the benefit of the sector globally. It results in much lower costs in installations and growth in the installation sector. At this point, I’d say a trade war is not of benefit to the American solar industry, the global solar industry and consumers in general.”

Lou Schwartz, Analyst

It certainly shouldn’t be a surprise that U.S. solar panel manufacturers are pursuing anti-dumping and anti-subsidy actions against their Chinese competitors; warnings began circulating in the Chinese renewable energy press months ago that this likely would be one consequence of “cabbage pricing” by Chinese solar exporters.  Given the inability of the Chinese to reign in runaway growth in solar capacity development, shrinkage in China’s most significant solar market largely as a result of the European Financial Crisis, growing discontent over high profile bankruptcies, such as Solyndra, amid a prolonged economic stupor in the U.S. and the failure of the Chinese government to more energetically put in place policies directing a greater percentage of this largely export-oriented industry to domestic markets, it all seems rather inevitable.  

Though avoidable, “it is what it is”, so we now must address the fallout, which will include more trade friction, an increase in subtle Chinese retaliatory actions, the acceleration of the shake-out in the Chinese solar industry, price increases in the U.S. as a consequence of reduced imports from China, a slowdown in the growth of U.S. solar installations and a delay in achieving the goal of grid parity.

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