For one of those rare times in Philippine history, the government ordered the temporary closing of an island—for environmental reasons. Last month, Boracay, an island famous for its white sand beaches and for being one of the world’s top destinations for relaxation, was closed to tourists for “rehabilitation.” Its crime? The continuous rise of tourists and businesses “aggravated the environmental degradation and is destroying the ecological balance of the island.” Last month was also Earth Month, and it is worth noting this event, for it illuminates the essential meaning of environmentalism. The closing of Boracay is the implementation of environmentalism’s fundamental, though often unrecognized, tenet: That man ought to be sacrificed for the sake of nature.

Jurado, E. (2018, May 6). Boracay: Man vs Nature. Manila Standard, p. A5.