There was a recent study of all large scale mining in the country commissioned by CBCP and some CSOs. The result, not one of these big companies pass the standards. Every single mining operation gives destruction to the environment. Still, the potential for big scale destruction that can be caused by these big dams full of toxic tailing is cataclysmic. We had been a witness of over flowing or broken tailing dams that caused appalling destruction to the livelihoods and lives of the people.
We have several studies here conducted by foreign experts. The conclusion is, the Philippines is never safe for large scale open pit mining. We are a typhoon-built area. With climate change posing added danger for strong rains, time will come that every tailing dam constructed here will burst or over-flow. Several dams had already been damaged. Foreign mining companies like those from Australia, Canada and Europe are leaving their own countries and to come here in the Philippines to mine. They are offered tax holidays and minimal regulations than what is required in their countries. In the Philippines, they are considered irresponsible miners. They abuse our rights.
But CBCP is more responsible group and standing on higher moral grounds than selfish politicians and miners, most are not even Filipinos. Their data and studies are credible enough than arguments of people who are in the payroll of big mining companies.
If catastrophes in mining happen in technology advancing countries with have stricter regulations on mining, how much more in the Philippines? The location that they plan to mine here are water shed areas, source of four big rivers that irrigate our lands and the source of our drinking water. Furthermore, there are a dozen of volcanoes in the area. Who knows that they are digging on a volcano that might erupt at anytime? The destruction can cause in lowland areas and the bays are unimaginable. We are a ring of fire islands and a typhoon-built archipelago. No one in his right mind can tolerate this.
We are growing old, our days are numbered and we might leave soon, as you will readily agree. But many of the old are happy for learning the wisdom in life; for some it was a hell of a struggle to be enlightened, but by the stokes of luck many have found harmony in themselves. Lucky indeed, we still have the time and chances to change, mostly by digging on where we fall. I agree that it is not a question anymore of what will be our future, rather than, what kind of life will our children and grandchildren have. Just leaving them to be devoured by greed, selfishness, avarice, arrogance and violence (just as we experienced in most of our lifetime) and not caring to shield them from wrongs could be our greatest sin to the coming generations. It is like stealing from them or denying them their own future. With weaker limbs, some will go through more struggles and battles against all odds than they did for themselves for the sake of their love to the coming generations. This is how they understand deeper responsibility and accountability. The young ones of today must be smart enough to understand and appreciate this.
I agree that we need mining as we need metals in our daily life. It is the destruction that mining can cause that we are opposing. Foreign Miners should mine in their own country or anywhere in the Philippines where there is no potential for massive destruction, but not here in Pinukis Ranges. There are even much more gold in the Thames River in London than in any part of the Philippines, so why don't they mine there? Ah because the people there would not allow them, so are the people here. Outsiders are bringing destructions here only for money. We have the right to oppose it, and we are giving them a very good fight.
Many people will never understand what we are saying here because they do not know God, and they also deny their humanity. That is the reason why they have the guts to insult people of high esteem, because in the first place they do not even love and respect themselves. They may not regain their humanity unless they believe in their Creator first. How will they understand the integrity of creation and our important role, as human beings, in protecting and caring for the environment when they even deny their humanity? For not knowing it, they reduce their status. I will not be surprised why they give more importance to material things and the pursuit for phantom desires for the sake of contentment; but real contentment they will never find it until they are in harmony with the Infinite. What makes us human being takes a lot of contemplations to understand. The most pitiful among humanity are those who remain strangers to themselves until they go to their graves, for they will not find their God and continue to deny to themselves the real experience of peace and harmony. They are the real losers!
Posted at Facebook dated Deceber 14-16, 2010
No comments:
Post a Comment