Once again the Philippines has become the focus of news services as they record the appalling human costs of another ‘natural’ disaster (in this case typhoon Haiyan / Yolanda). These often make reference to the damage done to mining orĀ  refining facilities.
We would, however, echo previous assertions that the typhoons are not entirely “natural”, nor are the consequences caused by the destruction or weakening of many of the country’s natural defences, consequent to mining and mineral exploitation. For a review of the issue of climate change, the extractive industries and indigenous peoples, see chapter 1.3 in the publication Pitfalls and Pipelines.
In other news, as Glencore deals with the damage to its PASAR refinery it is still reviewing the much criticised proposed Tampakan project. One of the affected tribal leaders, Erita Capion, has renewed calls to the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples for justice for her murdered kin.
See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=12491.