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SECOND BIKOL PRIESTS’ CONGRESS (BPC II) SIGNATURE DRIVE TO STOP MINING IN RAPU-RAPU

PRESS RELEASE - From the Social Action Centre - Diocese of Legazpi

Universidad de Santa Isabel, Naga City, 10 August 2006

We, the Bikol Clergy - Bishops, Priests and Deacons - gathered at the Second Bikol Priests’ Congress (BPC II), wish to convey our strong opposition to the continued presence and operations of Lafayette Philippines, Inc. and its subsidiaries, RRMI and RRPI in Rapu-Rapu, Albay.

Our stand is supported by the findings of the Rapu-Rapu Fact-Finding Commission (RRFFC), headed by Bishop Arturo Bastes, S.V.D., D.D., and solid scientific studies conducted by the Ateneo de Naga University-Institute for Environmental Conservation and Research (INECAR). Studies done by Dr. Emelina Regis, INECAR Director, find the island dangerously unsuitable for mining due to the following reasons:

“[It is an] island ecosystem with steep slopes; [it has a] Type II climate, [i.e.,] there is no dry season, with very pronounced wet period from November to January; [it is] located along the typhoon path; and [it has] massive iron sulfide rocks with acid-generating capacity or Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)… The resulting impacts of AMD include death to living organisms and release of toxic heavy metals that causes loss of productivity of aquatic and terrestrial plants. [and ultimately,] destruction of livelihood in agriculture and fisheries.

These impacts will persist for a long time. Heavy rains will continue to erode loosened contaminated soil. Silt and tailings that poison the land and sea will leave behind unproductive land and dead coral reefs. There is no justice in sacrificing the survival of generations of people and other living organisms for the short-term gains of a few.” (INECAR Position Paper regarding mining in Rapu-Rapu: Closure of Lafayette Mine, 15 February 2006)

Thus, we, the Bikol Clergy, support the pastoral stand of the Dioceses of Legazpi and Sorsogon which they have held consistently from the very start: that mining must not be conducted in Rapu-Rapu and that the best course of action is the immediate closure of the Lafayette mine.

We continue to express our opposition to the 30-day Temporary Lifting Order (TLO) by the DENR that allowed a test run of mining operations by Lafayette, which, many of us believe, is but a ploy and a prelude to regular operations.

We view with much concern the glaring lack of transparency in the investigation of the most recent fish kill, which happened on 18, 21 and 22 July 2006, in one of the creeks in Rapu-Rapu, and reports of harassment of potential witnesses and of an independent research team which tried to get samples from the area.

We support the recommendations of the Rapu-Rapu Fact-Finding Commission (RRFFC). In particular, we wish to highlight some of these recommendations and appeal to the President, the DENR Secretary, concerned government agencies and LGUs, to consider them as moral imperatives: · “Cancel the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) of RRMI and RRPI” for serious violations of the ECC conditionalities, and above-mentioned reasons. · “Cancel the RRMI and RRPI Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) registration on the basis of the irregularities found (by the RRFFC) and for the reason that the Rapu-Rapu LGU has been unduly deprived of local taxes.” · Review R.A. 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations, and repeal provisions that put the interest of the Filipino people at a disadvantage.

May we open our hearts to receive the Holy Spirit. Then He shall renew the face of the earth.

With 234 clergy signatories, including seven bishops of the dioceses of Bikol.

Legaspi, PHILIPPINES — After helping mitigate the devastation wrought by the Petron oil spill in Guimaras Island, Greenpeace ship MY Esperanza today led a flotilla in protest against the gold and silver mining operations of Lafayette in the Philippines. The Australian mine was reopened in July despite government investigations, which revealed ongoing leakages of highly toxic chemicals into the pristine waters of the Albay Gulf.

The Esperanza sailed into Rapu-Rapu Island accompanied by villagers from the provinces of Sorsogon and Albay on board some 70 bancas (traditional outrigger boats) bearing banners saying “Stop Lafayette” and “ABN-Amro, ANZ Stop Funding Marine Pollution”. ABN-Amro and ANZ are providing financial backing for the mining operations. (full article here)

Lafayette/TVI Pacific - Lafayette test run to exceed 30 days

Greenpeace ship arrives in RP to boost oceans campaign

A SHIP of the international environmental group Greenpeace arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday to highlight the organization’s campaigns to save the country’s marine ecosystem, particularly polluted Manila Bay and the seas of the Bicol region.

The MY Esperanza, on its maiden voyage to the country, will also highlight a successful community-managed marine reserve on Apo Island in Negros Oriental and “promote it as a model for marine reserves worldwide,” a Greenpeace statement said.

The Esperanza is also a part of the Guimaras clean up as well as a the lead ship in a flotilla protest versus Lafayette.

Lafayette was allowed to resume operations for month-long tests. It must now fork out more money to the government.

THANKS TO Lafayette Mining Ltd., Barangays Malobago and Pagcolbon on Rapu-Rapu Island, where the Australian mining firm digs for gold, copper and other precious metals, now have 26 beauty salon professionals-roughly one for every 10 adult residents in the two farming villages.

The beauty parlours, which were financed by a P30,000 contribution from Lafayette, are examples of the mining company’s direct economic assistance to residents of areas affected by its open pit mining and ore processing operations. It also gave P75,000 to 20 backyard pig raisers, P12,000 to 56 home-based soap makers, and P20,000 to a hammock maker.

Small-scale livelihood projects may have helped Lafayette win some community and government support for the mining venture when it began developing the mine site a few years ago. But after October, when the mining company accidentally released cyanide-contaminated waste water into nearby rivers and coastal waters, the livelihood projects suddenly looked paltry. Pressure is mounting on Lafayette and the mining industry to pay up much more.

Greenpeace, which compiled the examples of livelihood projects in a report, said the potential financial gains to surrounding communities were outweighed by the potential and opportunity costs of a disaster or ecological damage resulting from the mining project. Generous fiscal incentives granted to Lafayette diminished potential tax revenues to local government units and the national government, it said.

Greenpeace launches cyber-protest vs Lafayette Mining

IN a bid to prevent controversial Lafayette Mining from resuming full operations on Rapu-Rapu Island in Albay province, the international environmental group Greenpeace launched on Friday an online “virtual march” against the Australian-owned firm.

The online protest involves a cyber-petition and a “picture protest page” on which photographs of anti-mining activists holding “No” signs are posted.

Thus far, around a hundred pictures are on the page.

Environmental activists are invited to log on to www.greenpeace.org.ph and click on a banner that says, “Stop the Mine, Save our Seas.”