In the early 1950s, the Philippines was just recovering from the rubbles of the second world war. Fertility was high, averaging about seven to eight births per woman (UN 2017). Living conditions, however, were poor. An infant born around that time was expected to live for only 55 years. Much of the population were therefore comprised of children, with a little more than half of the country’s whole ...

We live on a blue planet, where 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered with water. Our oceans and seas provide us with our basic needs—food, oxygen, and livelihoods—and serve as habitats for billions of plants and animals. They also absorb carbon dioxide, recycle nutrients, and regulate global climate and temperature. Our oceans have long been the center of economic activity. In terms of ...