By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
“There is no truth to the claims of mining companies that they bring development and progress to the lives of the residents or to the local economy. They call a poisoned sea ‘progress’? They call beaches drying up and mountains levelled ‘progress’? And how could they say that they are helping residents when so many of us are jobless or underemployed? “
Review of Rapu-Rapu atbp.: Taghoy ng Kalikasan Produced by the Central for Environmental Concerns-Philippines 2008 In the Philippines there has been no dearth of songs tackling environmental issues. Many of these songs, however, have dealt with the issue along the general lines of “caring for the environment” while stopping short of exposing those who are…
Two years after it caused its first mine tailings spill in the island of Rapu-Rapu in Albay on October 11 2005, the Arroyo administration’s flagship mining project is now in the red and has left its promises of prosperity for Rapu-Rapu’s residents unfulfilled. BY KALIKASAN PEOPLE’S NETWORK FOR THE ENVIRONMENT Posted by Bulatlat Vol. VII,…
The killing of Arman Marin by an employee of the Sibuyan Nickel Properties Development Corporation, said the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (PNE), is the latest in a series of deaths related to the Arroyo administration’s mining projects. Kalikasan PNE identified 17 killings, including that of Marin, as occurring in relation to the people’s…
“The mine will only aggravate poverty among the people. DENR has started to unleash an environmental time bomb with the full commercial operation of Lafayette.” – Trixie Concepcion, Defend Patrimony spokesperson and geologist BY LISA ITO Bulatlat In complete disregard of the technical findings and recommendations of the Rapu-Rapu Fact-Finding Commission (RRFFC) issued last May…
Philippine environmentalists will bring the controversial Lafayette mining project to international forums and ask foreign investors to withdraw as the operation violates environmental standards and local community rights. Bulatlat.com Environmental activists affiliated with the Defend Patrimony! alliance and Kalikasan-Peoples Network for the Environment (Kalikasan-PNE) Nov. 24 vowed to increase international pressure on mining investors and…
We detest the Arroyo government’s rejection of the report of the independent commission investigating the Lafayette mine spills in Rapu-rapu island. Blinded by the glare of mining investments, Arroyo is willing to sell out the environment and patrimony of the country for “30 pieces of silver”. We fear that Arroyo’s message tells mining companies that…