Our future is in bad shape

By Anabelle E. Plantilla

NATURE FOR LIFE

They have turned our mountains and coastlines into barren lands and have punctured our soils into what may be worse than sinkholes. Their hostility against the environment seems not enough since they have also abused human rights and assaulted indigenous cultures, with the way they extract minerals from the layers of the earth. With a very bad reputation including the historical killing of the biodiversity-rich river in Marinduque and with the culture of impunity that is now associated with the killings of environmentalists and civilians, large-scale mining in the country should have now been eradicated now, even at least for a time, before it totally puts again our future in bad shape, as it already did in the past.

The 1995 Marcopper disaster in Marinduque, the worst mining tragedy to date in the country, is a perfect example that mining would always carry, if not attract, catastrophes that cause massive destruction beyond what we can imagine. The Marcopper tragedy displaced many communities leaving hundreds without livelihoods. For a country that is striving to provide more opportunities for its people to earn income, we cannot afford to have another tragedy that will compromise the livelihood of our people. But tragedies in mining sites are a recurring incidence and it is still happening now. In October 2005, Lafayette mining in Rapu-Rapu Island in Albay was accused of contaminating water bodies in the town after a spill from its tailing pond. NICUA mining in Villa Imelda Leyte was charged for causing a massive fish kill in Lake Bito last April and May this year. And it happened again. Just last August, communities near Padcal Mine and Balog Creek were put at risk after the mine tailings pond leaked and polluted some areas in Balog Creek. Philex Mining Corporation may have to be accountable for a P1 billion penalty, enough to speak of the worst impact of the spill.

But another generation may not be spared from an even bigger tragedy to happen in the future if the government remains unalarmed of the risks posed by the Tampakan Project in South Cotabato, Mindanao.

Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) and many other organizations have been calling for the government to reject the project. In a letter to the President sent last August 20, civil society groups and bishops in Mindanao reminded the government that the Tampakan mining project lies above a number of faults and the drilling in mine sites can induce seismic activity and intensify the potential of an earthquake that may damage the tailings dam. This is another disaster waiting to happen.

Sagittarius Mines Inc. claims that they will use modern facilities for the project specially in building the dam, for the benefit of the people. But history has already repeatedly told us that natural disasters can always outweigh human technologies. The best that we can do is to stop chasing disasters and consider geographical conditions in siting developmental projects. The message is clear, in terms of securing safety for the people; the Tampakan mining project is clear and present danger.

Ironically, despite the many disturbing threats of mining in our future it has been very hard for the government to implement stricter policies in the industry. Haribon Foundation believes that until there is a new regulation is enacted to protect the environment and our people, a moratorium on mining should be in place. Let us not forget history’s lessons. Prioritizing biodiversity conservation, restoring our forests and other critical habitats are among the many things that we can do to reform our environment and reshape our future. More so, before we move forward in rebuilding our future, we should first answer this question: Are we still going to consider an industry to play a major role in reshaping our future when it has been pushing us, instead, closer to higher risks and vulnerabilities?

As the mining industry has been re-positioning itself as a provider of life, they should stop killing the things that matter in our lives; our forests, water, livelihoods and culture and dignity - only then we can say that our future is in good shape.

orgsus@haribon.org.ph