By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO Bulatlat.com MANILA — Urban poor communities in Bacoor and Dasmariñas in Cavite are stepping up protests against demolition plans of the local and national governments. On November 29, the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) in Cavite put up protest camps in Kadiwa Market in Dasmariñas and in Talaba 6 in…
Category: Environment
Mining in Negros Occidental, a microcosm of the impact of mining in the whole country
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO and RONALYN V. OLEA
Do mining companies really bring about development? Do they generate sufficient employment to uplift the people from poverty? Do they practice ‘responsible mining,’ as they claim to be doing, to protect the environment? These are the very same questions the International Fact-Finding and Environmental Mission did seek to answer as the team members visited and conducted dialogues in the northern and southern parts of Negros Occidental.
How mining companies reign in Negros Occidental
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO and RONALYN V. OLEA Bulatlat.com BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental – Mining companies operating in the southern and northern parts of Negros Occidental wield two weapons to be able to operate with impunity: deception and force. This is what the International Fact-Finding and Environmental Mission (IFFEM) organized by the Asian Peasant…
Philex’s mining ops in south Negros threaten livelihood, food security
By RONALYN V. OLEA Bulatlat.com HINOBAAN, Negros Occidental – For years, 64-year-old Gregorio Cordova and his family have relied on farming for survival. A tenant-farmer working on a 1.5-hectare of land near the Bacuyangan River, Cordova gets one-fourth share of the harvested palay (rice grain) and the rest goes to the landowner. Even with such…
Who benefits from mining?
By RONALYN V. OLEA Bulatlat.com SIPALAY, Negros Occidental – Mining corporations and the Aquino government always say that mining contributes to the growth of the economy. Contrary to such claim, data from no less than the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), which is posted at the website of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, reveals…
In North Negros, deception paved the way for mining
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO Bulatlat.com SAGAY CITY, Negros Occidental – As the fishing boat was nearing the site where Aspac Dredging and Restoration Inc. was believed to be operating, a group of men shooed the fact finding team away. One of them even ran at the edge of the shore trying to drive the…
Foreigners support Filipinos’ fight against destructive mining
By RONALYN V. OLEA Bulatlat.com HINOBA-AN, Negros Occidental – Rahmat Ajiguna has often been mistaken for a Filipino and this Indonesian would just smile whenever someone approaches him and speak in the local language. Rahmat, deputy secretary general of the Asian Peasant Coalition (APC), is one of the seven foreigners who joined the International Fact-Finding…
58th mine safety week met with protests
By KIMBERLIE OLMAYA N. QUITASOL Northern Dispatch BAGUIO CITY— Environment and indigenous peoples groups from Northern Luzon and other parts of the country greeted the 58th Mines and Safety Week celebrations with protests. They pointed to the environmental disasters and human rights violations due to mining as they staged their own Mine Unsafety Week. An…
Probe reveals massacre of Blaan family ‘premeditated’
By RAYMUND B. VILLANUEVA
“The victims were unarmed and helpless, as most of them were still sleeping. It was only the elder son who was awake and in school uniform, sipping coffee outside the hut and who can be clearly seen and identified by the soldiers and yet they still fired at Jordan.”
Green groups, indigenous peoples hold ‘Mines UNSafety Week’
By MARYA SALAMAT
“As the government and mining companies brag of mines safety during their mining conference this week, we reiterate our position against destructive mining and its accompanying militarization and human rights violations.”
Open letter of Filipino groups in Canada to Canadian PM Harper
On the occasion of PM Stephen Harper’s State Visit to the Philippines 9 November 2012 Dear Mr. Harper, As Filipino Canadians with strong ties to our home country, we follow closely and with much interest your visit to the Philippines. In your visit, we hope that as the Prime Minister of Canada that you will…