Will opening up natural resources to foreign-owned and large-scale mining boost the Philippine economy? For the government, the answer is yes. For environmental defenders, the answer is no.
Environmentalists renewed calls for the repeal of the Philippine mining law and denounced moves to allow new mining applications.
The more disturbing issue, however, is the ever-increasing human rights violations and extrajudicial killings of human rights activists who advocate for ordinary people and local communities opposed to large-scale mining operations.
Understanding the global mining industry’s “Boom and Bust” behavior of weakening surges and worsening downturns is critical, as it affects the export-oriented and foreign-dominated local mining industry.
It looks like gold, shimmers like gold. But scrape its surface off and it’s just muck. Like Duterte’s promised ‘change.’
Proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution expand and deepen the control and scope allowed for foreign businesses.
Environmental groups, communities push for enforcement of suspension, closure orders on mining operations
Will the economy collapse as the big mines are closed?
Bulatlat Special Report
It remains to be seen whether the present President Rodrigo Duterte, a known supporter against the killings of indigenous rights activists, will listen to the demands being pushed by indigenous peoples.
“We must put an end to this policy of poison and plunder, and must make sure that politicians who will continue this mining policy regime are no longer allowed to remain in power.”
KALIBUTAN By CLEMENTE BAUTISTA Bulatlat.com First of two parts Second Part: Pangibabawan ang Agam-agam: Makakalikasan, mangahas makibaka! Nang lumabas ang panawagan na mag-resign si Aquino pagkatapos ng masaklap na pangyayari sa Mamasapano, isa ang Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment sa sumama at nagtambol ng makasaysayang hamong ito. Noong ika-3 ng Marso, sa ika-20 anibersaryo…