Pacquiao Camp Update

Manny Pacquiao looks focused and right on track as he prepares for his showdown against big Joshua Clottey. Yesterday Manny sparred with former world champion Steve Forbes. Both fighters gave each other good work. Freddie Roach feels good about where Manny is thus far into his training, " So far so good, everything is looking good so far."

With each camp Manny Pacquiao's popularity grows and grows. The Wild Card has a history of celebrities walking in so that they too can have a brush with greatness. Yesterday actor Ron Perlman, who has a resume that could stack up against Pacquiao's in terms of accomplishments, walked into the gym. Perlman who currently has a role in the hit television show Sons of Anarchy, on the FX channel, summed it all up, "Anytime you can have a brush with greatness and see someone like Pacquiao, you should do it. He's one of a kind."

Manny looks very impressive as he draws closer to his March 13th clash against Joshua Clottey. The camp's atmosphere seems focused, yet relaxed at the same time. Void of any major distractions, this camp seems to be on cruise control. Pacquiao's hand-speed and power were both on display for those fortunate enough to have been in the gym. The pound for pound king got in some good sparring rounds with Steve Forbes yesterday, and looked very good.

8CountNews.com's Peter Czymbor spoke with Pacquiao yesterday and informed him that over 40,000 tickets have been sold. With hearing this, Manny smiled wide. The camp is focused and seems

Pacman tackles energy issue

World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao is opposing the construction of a 200-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Maasim town by Conal Holdings because of potential damage to the environment.

Pacquiao, who is running for congressman in Sarangani, is executive director of Task Force Luwas Kinaiyahan (TFLK), or “save the environment” in the Cebuano dialect.

TFLK deputy director Boy Lim said the organization has the full backing of the People’s Champ.

“Manny is not backing down a bit because he has seen that there are alternative sources of sustainable energy other than coal, which has been proved to be one of the major causes of global warming and climate change we are experiencing today,” Lim said.

Lim said power can be harnessed from biomass containing biofuel for industrial use, such as the jathropa plant.

He said biomass has less toxic emissions compared to coal.

“The gas emissions by coal-fired power plants will enter the atmosphere where it will gather in the clouds and drop back to earth in the form of acid rain,” he said.

He said the proposed coal-fired power plant in Maasim, would need a carbon sink of at least 7,000 hectares of trees to absorb the toxic emissions.

“But then again, this is no guarantee because gas emissions respect no boundaries and could waft across the atmosphere as far as North Cotabato and Davao del Sur, depending on wind direction,” Lim said.

The TFLK has joined the Diocese of Marbel and people’s organizations in opposing the construction of the power plant.

“Manny is for development, but not development at all costs, or at the expense of the health and wellbeing of the people,” Lim said.

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