PALAWAN ANTI-MINING RALLY 7 JUNE 2010.mp4

The so-called anti-mining "karaban rally" composed of about 600 protesters from farmers and indigenous communities reached the capital city of Puerto Princesa on the 7th of June (see previous IC release http://intercontinentalcry.org/indigenous-peoples-unite-against-mining-in-pal...). The rally had been supported by various organizations and religious groups such as the Ipilan parish of "Our Lady of Lourdes", Augustinian Missionaries, the Global Legal Action on Climate Change, The Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC), the Palawan NGO Network, Inc (PNNI), Haribon Palawan, The Federation of Tribes in Palawan (Natripal), Bangsa Palawan Philippines, Inc and ALDAW (Ancestral Land/Domain Watch). The main scope of the peaceful effort was to request the Provincial Government not to endorse the proposed plans of MacroAsia and Ipilan Nickel Corporation (INC), and to clarify matters on the Canadian-based MBMI mining company's newly approved Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) application.As a result of the negotiations taking place between the protesters' delegation and policy makers in Puerto Princesa, the Provincial Government agreed that endorsement of both MacroAsia and INC should require further investigation and -- until all issues are clarified -- their applications will be 'frozen'. Specifically, Hon. Vicky De Guzman (http://vimeo.com/11364120), member of the Provincial board, took an open stand in favour of the protesters, encouraging them to be vigilant of all irregularities dealing with mining application processes, and to report them promptly to the Provincial Government". However, according to Atty Dong Lorenzo of the Environmental Legal Assistance Centre (ELAC) the search for irregularities must start first in the Presidential Palace of Malacañang and in the central office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. "The trend is clear that mining companies are doing everything their money and influence can buy to get permits and put their projects in place before the new government officially takes over in a few weeks" Lorenzo said.




WHAT YOU CAN DO

• Sign a Petition to Stop Mining in Palawan!
http://petitiononline.com/PA2010/petition.html

And address your concerns to:

* PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF PALAWAN
piopalawan@gmail.com
rlnn419@yahoo.com
palawan@pal-onl.com

Hon. Abraham Kahlil B. Mitra
district2palawan@yahoo.com.ph

*PALAWAN COUNCIL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
oed@pcsd.ph
pcsdsfsd@compass.com.ph

*DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONEMNT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
osec@denr.gov.ph
hea@denr.gov.ph

MINES AND GEOSCIENCE BUREAU
mines_r4@yahoo.com

Also forwards your complaints to:

Michael T. Mason
President and Director
MBMI Resources Inc
Vancouver, B.C. Canada
mbr@mbmiresources.com

Jason Ewart
Chief Executive Officer
GC-Global Capital Corp
Toronto Ontario, Canada
jewart@gcglobalcapital.ca


For more information watch ALDAW videos
http://www.vimeo.com/aldawnetwork http://www.youtube.com/user/ALDAWpalawan
http://hub.witness.org/en/users/aldaw-network
or contact the ALDAW Network (Ancestral Land/Domain Watch) aldawnetwork@gmail.com and Alyansa Tigil Mina (nc@alyansatigilmina.net/ alyansatigilmina@gmail.com)

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• rally
• palawan
• june