The Mindanao Lumad Alliance, Kalumaran, urges Aquino to “put an end to the killings, abuses, and military recruitment of Lumad paramilitaries in our communities that failed to bring peace and development” as it called to “stop this deception that mines, dams, and agribusiness will bring in development.”
Bulatlat Contributors
Residents defend land from Filinvest’s fencing
Dagok blocked the backhoe operator’s view as she finds this the only way she could stop the machine from gnashing its teeth on the land — the land where they have lived and tilled for years; the land they call home in Bariquit Compound, Purok 13, Bugac in Maa village.
Pantukan small-scale miners slam town council’s backing of mining firm application
“In the public hearing, we strongly opposed the entry of Nadecor and its planned operations here. Now, we’re surprised why this resolution is approved through a special session.” — Rogelio Simbajon, a small-scale miner in Pantukan town By ALEX D. LOPEZ Davao Today PANTUKAN, Compostela Valley, Philippines — Around 50 small-scale miners mostly from Gumayan…
Latest poverty measure: excluding the poor from the poverty count
The Philippines seemed closer to reaching the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of reducing poverty by half than if the old poverty methodology were used
Lumads in North Cotabato blame military for economic displacement
“Now, we can hardly buy rice, we can’t even gather root crops for fear that soldiers might caught us,” — George, a lumad peasant in Magpet By DANILDA L. FUSILERO Davao Today MAGPET, North Cotabato — “You’re prohibited to go to your farms within 40 days,” George (not his real name) recounted in the vernacular…
Be enchanted with ‘Encantada’
“(The concept of Encantada traces back to the Spanish era) of how the destruction of the environment happened and how the Encantada got so angry. It tells a story about tribes, religion and the destruction of the environment” — Margie Moran-Floirendo, President of Ballet Philippines By JOHN RIZLE L. SALIGUMBA Davao Today DAVAO CITY —…
Kadayawan, Davao’s festival of thanksgiving
Kadayawan, Davao’s festival of thanksgiving (Photo by Alex D. Lopez / davaotoday.com)
Why is Mali Spiraling Out of Control? The Afghanistan of Africa
By RAMZY BAROUD Counterpunch.org Northern Mali promises to be the graveyard of scores of innocent people if African countries don’t collectively challenge Western influence in the region. Mali is fast becoming the Afghanistan of Africa. The tragic reality is that Mali – a large but sparsely populated country, with around 15.5 million inhabitants – was…
The Problem With Intervening in Syria
By PHYLLIS BENNIS Counterpunch.org The brave, non-violent Syrian challenge to a brutal dictatorship emerged as part of the Arab risings across the region. But that short Syrian spring of 2011 has long since morphed into an escalation of militarization and death. The International Committee of the Red Cross acknowledged what many already recognized: Syria is…
Misery Rising: American Freefall
By PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS Counterpunch.org Washington has been at war since October, 2001. This war took a back seat when Bush concocted another excuse to order the invasion of Iraq in 2003, a war that went on without significant success for 8 years and has left Iraq in chaos with dozens more killed and wounded…
Children used as ‘guides’ recount experience with the military
By DANILDA L. FUSILERO Davao Today MAGPET, North Cotabato — Cousins Kenneth, 13, and Bernie, 12, (not their real names) share almost similar dreams. On their way home from school, the two adolescents enthusiastically shared what they hope to be like when they finished school and how they wish things are different from what they…