Rejoinder to Ms Pedrosa, Chamber of Mines

MANILA, Philippines - I need to make something clear. The ten million signature campaign while fueled by the death of a Palaweno who felt passionately that the land in which he was born was being raped before his eyes — is not a hitting back campaign. I, the Church, and all the environmental NGOs that are in it — are engaged because we care. This was the last meeting we had the day before he died.

In December in a kamikaze way two mining applications near a protected area were railroaded by PCSD. Ms Pedrosa you talk of economic growth? I have five eco tourism projects in Puerto Princesa — which Gerry was managing so magnificently it won the PATA gold last year — and in these sites the people are happy, their revenue is up — they can now send their children to school, they can now dream bigger dreams. When one looks at their quality of life — and then compares it to the quality of life of the communities in mining sites — the choice of which way to go is not difficult to make.

Mrs. Pedrosa you talk about roads, and economic growth. I counter that to conceive of economic growth — without revering the web of life — is myopic and archaic — It is a paradigm that should be thrown in the dustbin in this age of climate change and global warming.

The Philippines is one of the 17 megadiversity countries in the world!!! which means it carries part of the 70 percent bio diversity which is needed for the planet to survive. Palawan has 17 bio diversity areas, 2 world heritage sites and 8 protected areas. Although lush and beautiful — the eco system of Palawan is fragile. Its topsoil is thin. If you have rampant mining there — it will literally kill the island.

The Chamber of Mines stated in their letter that they respect environmental laws. I know for a fact that the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSCD) has shifted environmental zones to accommodate mining claims. It’s disgusting. Primary growth forests have been reduced sometimes by 90 percent!!! to accommodate mining claims. It’s enough to make one sick.

Yes the signature campaign is for Gerry. But it’s also for our future. Its also saying we have choices to make — and a choice towards the destruction of our environment can never never never be the right choice. More than a crime, I find it abhorrently morally wrong.

Gerthrie Mayo Anda said it very well... in Palawan the mining companies give roads, scholarships, day care centers. They pay taxes — but is there not a value to clean air, clean water and quality of life? A 50 year old tree — (most of which the mining companies cut) has been estimated to give P9 million worth of benefit to the eco system in terms of air, water, fertilizer, shelter....) that’s one tree!!!!

I am not on a warpath. I am on a mission. A mission which should be everyone’s mission. Everyone’s credo. Everyone’s faith. The funeral Mass of Gerry is surely one of the most beautiful I have ever attended. Bishop Arigo gave a most inspired sermon. In essence what he said is true faith, true Catholicism must necessarily include the nurturance and reverence of the environment.

Mining in a narrow island with 82 percent mountains which are rich in flora and fauna is just not the way to go. it’s morally wrong. I understand that there is poverty. Mining is not the only way to lift them from poverty.

So we are making a stand. Enough is enough. The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development was such a beautiful concept which has been bastardized by opportunists. So very very sad. It could have been democracy in benevolent action . Rather PCSD has become just another bureaucratic level — a political tool blatantly used to wreck havoc on God’s resources.

I ask every well meaning Filipino to join us in our stand: Register your signatures in www.no2miningpalawan — and send it to thousands others. Ang Yaman ng Palawan ay Yaman ng Pilipinas. There is no power that can stand in the face of a people united for a noble cause.