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.