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Philippines: Miners and military create refugees

Richard — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:03:01 +0000

Displaced indigenous peoples’ leaders and human rights activists from Mindanao have been in Manila to condemn the military actions that forced them from their homes. As their testimony noted, many were driven out to make way for large-scale developments, including mining. Sharon Liguyon, wife of slain indigenous leader, Jimmy Liguyon, lamented: “Our lands are being taken away from us. Mining companies and the military brought fear and havoc in our communities … we want peace in our communities, and we demand justice.”

Also in Mindanao, a fact-finding mission travelled to Tampakan at the invitation of the indigenous B’laan, who recently erected barricades against the entry of the mining company controlled by Xstrata.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11678&l=1.

Philippines: Mining abuses continue with no promised changes in the law

Richard — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:49:45 +0000

The drama over the proposed Executive Order of the Philippine President, Nonoy Aquino, continues. There are further hints about its coming out, but when, how – or indeed if – it will appear is now anyone’s guess. A recent article explains that the mining development on Nonoc island remains stalled thanks to incompetence and corruption. It hints at the difficulties any such order will have in dealing with the endemic problems of the Philippine mining industry.

And, while everyone waits, the abuses pile up. Xstrata‘s controversial Tampakan project hits the headlines as communities blockaded the company once again, this time over relocation issues. Although the issue has apparently been solved, it bodes ill for continuing development of the project.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11610.

‘Philippine Mining Act cannot be saved by executive order’

michaela — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:21:33 +0000

The “will he won’t he” political pantomime continues as President Aquino’s promised executive order (EO) on mining in the Philippines is further postponed. The vacuum created by inaction is being more than filled with speculation; the most recent being on whether there will be an executive order at all. While the industry lobby blasts away, many mining opponents note that even a favourable EO is unlikely to get at the root of the problems in the original 1995 Mining Act. There have been a number of recent events that prove this point. Once again the human rights violations at Xstrata’s Tampakan mine have been highlighted.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11579&l=1.

Philippines: Anniversary knocked while President delays reforms

michaela — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 22:20:42 +0000

The debate on mining continues to dominate the Philippine media. There has been a ‘flurry’ of activities to coincide with the anniversary of the Philippine Mining Act, which has also collided with the on-going lobbying of the President over the much heralded, and now much delayed, Executive Order on mining.

These activities include a number of conferences which have produced statements, as well as a number of demonstrations. The conferences were organised by different Churches, and their support groups, as well as different political groupings. The Catholic Church has once again been particularly strident in declaring the link between mining and poverty.

There was also a national debate between so called ‘pro’ and ‘anti’ mining advocates, which led to a great deal of simplified coverage, but also picked up on the theme of mining and poverty. It is this worry that is at the heart of much indigenous opposition to specific projects. Local B’laan leaders talk of the harassment brought upon them by their opposition to Xstrata’s Tampakan project.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11547.

Philippines: Indigenous Peoples point the way on mining

michaela — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 21:33:56 +0000

Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines, as well as the Catholic Church and other organisations, continue to oppose large scale mining projects, including Xstrata’s Tampakan project.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11515.

Struggles over mining law revision in the Philippines

michaela — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:50:46 +0000

The Office of the Philippine President is finalising an Executive Order (EO) which will aim to clarify many of the recent conflicts over mining. A draft has been leaked to the press by the Chamber of Mines and a full-scale propaganda offensive by the industry is under-way to influence the President. Those who are concerned about the impacts of mining are also rallying to ensure that any new legislation will as best as possible protect the environment and the rights of communities. Among prominent mining companies involved in the Philippines is London-listed Xstrata.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11491&l=1.

Philippines: ‘Defending the Dignity of Life, Securing our Future’ – against Xstrata

Richard — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:23:29 +0000

A conference on mining in Davao in the Philippines, organised by the Ateneo School of Government, concluded with the “Mindanao Declaration: Defending the Dignity of Life, Securing our Future”. The national Chamber of Mines was critical of the conference, and speakers at the conference, including Mines and Communities’ editor Catherine Coumans. The conference focused particularly on Xstrata‘s near-by Tampakan project.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11456&l=1.

Xstrata knocked back in Philippines

Richard — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:29:26 +0000

Efforts to bring the massive Tampakan copper-gold project to commercial phase suffered a major blow after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources rejected the proponent’s application for an environmental compliance certificate (ECC).

Documents obtained by the Diocese of Marbel showed that Environment Secretary Ramon Paje rejected the ECC application of Sagittarius Mines, Inc., (SMI) due to the open-pit mining ban imposed by the provincial government of South Cotabato.

Sagittarius Mines is controlled by Xstrata Copper, the world’s fourth largest copper producer. Xstrata is based in Switzerland but listed on the London Stock Exchange.

See http://www.mindanews.com/environment/2012/01/13/denr-denies-smi%E2%80%99s-ecc-application-smi-to-appeal-for-reconsideration/.

Philippines: Another natural disaster reignites the mining debate

Shortly before Christmas 2011 the Philippines reconfirmed its reputation for natural disasters when tropical storm Washi (local name Sendong) caused devastation on the north coast of Mindanao. As previously, the cause of much of the catastrophe appears man-made, thanks mainly to the denudation of forest cover on the watersheds.

Although the Philippine mining industry was quick to note there was no large-scale mining that would have directly affected this particular tragedy, the role of mining in the region has been highlighted again. It has certainly highlighted the exemption that allows mining companies to continue logging despite bans put in place after similar incidents.

Then on January 5th a subsequent landslide hit a gold-mining area, which is subject to such incidents, with an estimated 25 fatalities. This particularly highlighted the potential for widespread disaster at Xstrata‘s nearby Tampakan project.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11405&l=1.

Xstrata under fire on three continents

Richard — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 09:31:10 +0000

Protesters storm Xstrata’s London HQ

Protesters’ account and comments at N30, corporate greed, Xstrata and the right to protest, http://occupylsx.org/?p=1755.

British embassies support our mining companies to do business overseas, says UK Ambassador to the Philippines

Richard — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:22:44 +0000

“Today, Britain’s significance to the industry is as a centre for global mining – in terms of finance, technology and know-how. The City of London offers a wide range of financial services to the global industry, including unparalleled capital raising opportunities and advisory services. Four of the world’s five largest mining companies are listed in London, and two of these are also head-quartered there (Anglo American and Rio Tinto). … London-listed Xstrata is an investor in the Tampakan mining project in Mindanao, potentially the largest ever foreign investment project in the Philippines. … Smaller, fast-growing mining companies often list on AIM – London’s Alternative Investment Market.”

The Tampakan project is extremely controversial. For background, see http://londonminingnetwork.org/?s=tampakan.

Read the ambassador’s blog at http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/stephenlillie/2011/11/17/responsible-mining-in-the-philippines/.

Philippines: Where is the safety?

Richard — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:17:28 +0000

Following recent attempts to militarise mine sites, and associated killings, there has been a plethora of news stories on Philippines mining issues.

There is more fall-out from the murder of Fr. Fausto ‘Pops’ Tentorio, as the investigators pursue “anti-mining” motives for his murder. Fr Fausto opposed Xstrata’s Tampakan project.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11298.

Priest’s murder related to Xstrata mining project?

Richard — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:03:30 +0000

The murder by suspected paramilitary forces of Fr. Tentorio maybe related to his opposition to the Xstrata mining project in South Cotabato, the largest ever in Philippine history, with a staggering 10,000 hectares covering four provinces. If its proposed equally largest-ever tailings dam bursts, it will be the disaster of the century, making the Marcopper dam in Marinduque look like a kiddie pool affair. It will let loose toxic wastes into six rivers, down more than 100,000 hectares of lush farmlands. Why does the government insist on such a risky affair?

See http://www.sisterraquel.com/2011/10/eastwind-journals-02.

See also: open letter to President Aquino and Xstrata.

This open letter to President Aquino explains the grave danger of an environmental mega-disaster if he approves Xstrata-SMI’s mining project, the biggest in Philippine history. The tailings mega- dam, located at a mountain top, sits directly below a seismic fault, located at a very high altitude. If the dam bursts, 1.1 billion metric tons of toxic mud will drain into 6 rivers in 4 provinces, causing irreversible damage.

http://www.sisterraquel.com/2011/11/eastwind-journals-03

Killing of anti-mining Italian priest condemned by environmental activists

Richard — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:45:51 +0000

Environmental activists under the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment condemned the recent killing of an Italian missionary active in opposing large-scale mining plunder, including by London-listed Xstrata, and advocating for indigenous people’s rights in Mindanao, Philippines.

Elsewhere in the Philippines there was a victory for community opposition to mining, as the Canadian company, Ivanhoe, 49% owned by London-listed Rio Tinto, has withdrawn its plans to explore copper-gold prospects in the province of Romblon. In taking this decision, Ivanhoe cited the “strong opposition of local politicians” to its copper-gold prospects.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/11258.

Philippines: Details of the Tampakan project challenged

Richard — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 09:50:04 +0000

The Xstrata-controlled Tampakan project has become one of the most contentious in the Philippines, and one that the Mines and Communities website has critiqued for several years.

There are many reasons for this – not least that, if it goes ahead, the mine will become the largest in the Philippines. But there are many specific problems with the project, and these have mobilised civil society, leading to the local provincial government enacting a ban on open-pit mining. Independent experts have criticised the company’s Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) on behalf of local people opposing the project.

This team comprises local and national professionals, partnered by Clive Wicks and Robert Goodland on behalf of the UK-based Working Group on Mining in the Philippines. A huge public meeting was held where Clive Wicks spoke directly to local stakeholders, and challenged the company over the contents of the team’s report, particularly by quantifying the costs of worst case scenarios.

Dramatising one of the problems dogging this project, a company employee – one responsible for land acquisition – has been shot dead.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11212&l=1.

Protests at Philippine mining conference

Richard — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:20:05 +0000

The Philippine mining industry’s annual conference has just taken place in Manila.

As usual government officials and industry bigwigs queued up to praise the state of the industry. And – as usual – vocal protestors stood up to denounce the state of the industry. Indigenous leaders were at the forefront of these protests.

An indigenous Congressman, Teddy Brawner Baguilat, stated “that mining has led to the impairment of the rights and culture of indigenous communities.”, particularly because mining companies have exerted undue influence over the legal process of “free, prior and informed consent”.

Among London-listed companies involved in the Philippines is Xstrata.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/11188.