Esperanza leads flotilla protest calling for closure of Lafayette mine
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)
