Quirino folks form anti-mining network, vow to stop mining
By FINELA MEJIA
Northern Dispatch
QUIRINO, Ilocos Sur — “Let us bind together, tight as a rope, so
that we can bring down the big mining companies,” said Ama Felipe Anaas
during the Quirino Environment and Human Rights Summit.
With the theme “Protect the Mountains, Fields and Rivers,” 120
participants from various sectors of Quirino, Ilocos Sur discussed
environment and human rights issues related to large-scale mining in the
said summit last June 8.
The activity resulted in the formation of “Save Quirino Movement,” a
municipal-wide network that aims to strengthen the people’s unity in
order to launch more coordinated and organized actions in addressing
issues of mining and human rights violations.
The summit was organized by the concerned elders of Quirino,
including representatives of the Cabaroan Nieghborhood Organization,
Lamag Ob-ubo Association, Patungcaleo Improvement Farmers Association
organizations, Timapuyog Dagiti Marigrigat ti Madapoy, in partnership
with BAMPIS (Benguet, Abra, Mountain Province, Ilocos Sur), Mining Watch
and Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA).
To show solidarity with Quirino folks, members of Save Mankayan
Movement (SMM) and DEFEND Ilocos also attended the summit to share and
exchange experiences with the locals.
History of mining and agricultural destruction
Quirino, Ilocos Sur, is seriously devastated by voluminous toxicities,
massive sedimentation and widespread siltation of the Abra River,
brought about by historical mines waste from the mining operation of
Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company(LCMCo). Since the operation of the
said firm in 1936, the municipality of Quirino has lost its bountiful
and historical fishing ground and vast tracks of highly productive
agricultural lands as main source of livelihood.
The ongoing mining operation and expansion of LCMCo and its giant
mining partner Gold Fields in Mankayan, the ongoing mining exploration
of Royalco in Bakun Benguet, and the two-year mining exploration of
Freeport McMoran/PhelpsDodge in Brgy Patiacan, Quirino, spook the people
of Quirino that these large-scale mining would likely ravage what
remained of their agricultural lands..... MORE
Source: Bulatlat.com
URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/06/18/quirino-folks-form-anti-mining-network-vow-to-stop-mining/
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