Commservation Workshop: Rules of (Dis)Engagement and Environmental Law for Non-Lawyers

On Saturday, October 21, 2023, Save Philippine Seas is once again hosting a Commservation Workshop in Nipa Brewhouse & Taproom, Makati City from 1:30-5:30PM. The Commservation Workshop will have two sessions: Rules of (Dis)engagement: How to engage stakeholders with opposing views and Environmental Law for Non-Lawyers. This is the first Commservation Workshop open to the public since February 29, 2020! 🥳

Rules of (Dis)Engagement: How to engage stakeholders with opposing views: We always encounter people with views that differ from ours, from leaders we vote for to decisions that need to be made at home or in the workplace. How do we negotiate respectfully and strategically? Vince Cinches, an experienced campaigner who has worked on topics like fisheries, human rights, and animal welfare, reveals tips and techniques to get the best outcome.

Environmental Law for Non-Lawyers: The Philippines has some of the most advanced environmental laws in the world, but compliance has been a constant challenge. Find out how ordinary seatizens can use existing laws to advocate for the conservation and protection of our natural resources. For this session, Anna Oposa, Chief Mermaid of Save Philippine Seas, will share campaigns and case studies focusing on sustainable tourism, waste management, and fisheries. She is not a lawyer but is often mistaken as one.

How to register

The Commservation Workshop fee is P1,200 from September 21-October 4, and P1,500 from October 4 until October 19. The fee includes entrance to the workshop, access to materials, a drink from Nipa Brew (alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available) and a plant-based snack from Umani that will be served at the end of the workshop. The workshop is open to all ages and backgrounds, but alcohol will only be served to participants 18 years old and above. Discounts are available for NGO workers.

Register and pay for the registration fee by Thursday, October 19, here. Details for the deposit are in the registration form. Please upload a screenshot or photo of your deposit slip as part of your registration fee to secure your slot. Limited slots only!

For questions and requests for the NGO discount, please email Ms. Mo Maguyon, Project Manager of Commservation, at mo@savephilippineseas.org.

About the speakers

Vince Cinches is currently the Interim Head of Global Campaigns - Animals in Farming, focusing on Food Revolution objectives under the Food Systems Strategy at World Animal Protection, and the former Philippines Oceans and Political Campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia. His previous focus areas were fisheries, including sharks, tuna, and sustainable seafood issues. He also co-founded PaNaGaT, the largest Philippines-based Sustainable Fisheries network of NGOs and fisherfolk associations. Vince is a diver and a fur parent to Reaper and Garlic.

Anna Oposa is the Executive Director and "Chief Mermaid" of Save Philippine Seas, a movement to protect coastal and marine resources by empowering seatizens towards collective action and behavior change. She graduated with a degree in BA English Studies from the University of the Philippines-Diliman and obtained her MSc in Conservation Science from Imperial College London as a Chevening scholar. Anna has been at the forefront of projects and campaigns on conservation leadership, waste management and circular economy, and shark conservation. She is also passionate about puns, punctuation marks, lipsticks, and wearing sunscreen everyday.