Urgent Action Needed!

"Pornography and especially images depicting children being sexually abused and exploited are available on DVD’s under the tables of most street-side vendors in the Philippines and other Asian countries. The absence of a strong specific law that makes it illegal to make, copy, distribute or possess such materials damages the lives of thousands of children. Such images are evidence of horrific crime against children and that’s why in all civilized countries where the rule of law prevails, child pornography is anathema and violators get lengthy prison sentences. But not yet in the Philippines...What 12-year-old Jopin did to a six year old, who can’t be named, is extremely shocking. He learned what sex acts to do from a pornographic video that was left in the video machine by a visiting relative. Jopin secretly viewed the pornographic video and soon after he tried out the perverse acts on a six year old. It had tragic consequences for the child victim and Jopin." (to read the full article go here) (this link has been having some issues for different browsers...sited from The Manila Times).

The Philippines has a chance to pass a law defining the crime of child pornography and imposing penalties on perpetrators. This law must be labeled urgent by the President of the Philippines in order to pass. Please take some time today to copy the letter below and email it to the appropriate people (emails listed below). Now is the time to protect these children.

Thank you,

Desirea

Dear Madame President,

At no time in the history of the Philippines has there been a greater
opportunity for the President to act decisively to protect Filipino children
at grave risk than the present historical moment. Thousands of Filipino
children are damaged for life when abused in the making of child
pornography.

The abuse continues when the images of the sexually abused children are
spread around the world through the Internet and are available on the
streets of the Philippines for all to purchase with impunity. They are shown
to other children as training videos to seduce them into becoming
Commercially Sexually Exploited Children and they too are abused and damaged
for life.

By immediately certifying as "urgent " the anti-child pornography bill
pending before the House of Representatives, House Bill No.684 entitled "An
Act Defining the Crime of Child Pornography, Imposing Penalties Thereof, and
for Other Purposes"
you will save thousands of children for years to come.

The Philippines needs this law urgently to protect children and to fulfill
the nations international obligations under the Convention on the Rights of
the Child and other international protocols undertaken by the State on
behalf of the Filipino People.

The passing of House Bill No.684 at your behest will be a proud historical
legacy and provide protection for children for future generations..

We the concerned citizens, representatives of agencies and organizations
working for the protection of the dignity of the Filipino people and the
rights of the child strongly appeal for you to act and announce the bill as
an urgent priority.

Please copy this and send to the following e-mail addresses

pinglacsomngov@yahoo.com,
senzubiri@yahoo.com.ph,
senjinggoyestrada@senate.gov.ph,
opsnews2004@gmail.com,
nasserp@dar.gov.ph,
eicabral@dswd.gov.ph,
efa@dost.gov.ph,
ftduque@co.doh.gov.ph,
osec@deped.gov.ph,
osec@denr.gov.ph,
jadurano@tourism.gov.ph,
osec@dole.gov.ph,
pbfavila@boi.gov.ph,
rvpuno@dilg.gov.ph,
mis@hudcc.gov.ph,
edgardo_angara@hotmail.com,
sbsa_iii@noynoyaquino.ph,
pongbiazon@yahoo.com,
alancayetano@yahoo.com,
pia@senatorpiacayetano.com,
senmds@yahoo.com,
senator_enrile@senate.gov.ph,
sen.escudero@gmail.com,
jinggoy@senjinggoyestrada.com,
senjinggoyestrada@senate.gov.ph,
rjgordon@senate.gov.ph,
ospml@yahoo.com,
sen.litolapid@senate.gov.ph,
loren_b_legarda@yahoo.com.ph,
mam@senate.gov.ph,
kikopangilinan@gmail.com,
aqp@senate.gov.ph,
rcroffice@yahoo.com.ph,
senbongrevilla@senate.gov.ph,
mar@marroxas.com,
senatortrillanes@gmail.com,
mb_villar@yahoo.com,
senzubiri@yahoo.com.ph,
media_sen_lacson@yahoo.com,
ednasy@yahoo.com,
rlneri@neda.gov.ph,
osnd@philonline.com,
sec.yap@da.gov.ph,
arthurcyap@yahoo.com,
akonmf@rocketmail.com,
nast@dost.gov.ph,
mlperez@dost.gov.ph,
ftdp@dost.gov.ph,
csrwg@yahoo.com,
mpo@dost.gov.ph,
cmy@dost.gov.ph,
mpbravo@dost.gov.ph,
spu@dost.gov.ph,
ellen@dost.gov.ph,
bejust@dost.gov.ph,
jsreyesjr@dost.gov.ph,
eaf@dost.gov.ph,
ebdane.jun@dpwh.gov.ph,
bonoan.manuel@dpwh.gov.ph,
rasuman.bashir@dpwh.gov.ph,
asis.raul@dpwh.gov.ph,
cabral.ma_catalina@dpwh.gov.ph,
pacanan.jaime@dpwh.gov.ph,
comm-osec@deped.gov.ph,
hea@denr.gov.ph,
oppalabyab@tourism.gov.ph,
sdsarabia@tourism.gov.ph,
paalburo@tourism.gov.ph,
ejarquejr@tourism.gov.ph,
mtmartinez@tourism.gov.ph,
fsdy@tourism.gov.ph,
Ralph@RalphRecto.com,
ftarzaga@shfcph.com,
vp@ovp.gov.ph,