Ad Maoirem De Gloriam

By: Ms.Gina Lopez It’s been a pretty intense week. The climax was the mining forum - sponsored by Financial Executives of the Philippines (FINEX), Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI). While I welcomed being able to talk and share what I passionately believed in - it was a real challenge to talk before a largely unfriendly audience. I had presumed that there would be some individuals there who might perhaps share my passion for this country and the environment. The entrance fee was Php1 , 500 so the people who could afford this was of course the business group. Nevertheless the texts, emails of encouragement and support I got from the multitude convinced me that I did the right thing.        What did set a reaction in me was when Gerry Brimo called me a liar - and an ignorant one at that. Hmmm I really didn’t want to get into any kind of personal fight. I may have overdone that effort by saying ...

  MANILA, Jan. 9, 2012—The string of environmental disasters happening in the country prompted the Catholic Education Association of the Philippines (CEAP) to again urge its member-schools to continue the campaign against mining in Palawan and other key biodiversity areas in the country. “In the face of these disasters, the call for the government to take a stand for the people, to end the wanton destruction of our country’s natural resources, and to end the greediness of some that end to the suffering of many, is now more urgent and critical,” CEAP said in its website. “If you agree and believe in this advocacy, we need you to sign again the petition against mining,” it added. The group urged the public to access the link http://no2mininginpalawan.com/ for more information on the issue. Recent environmental disasters include the landslide in Compostela Valley that killed small-scale miners and the typhoon ‘Sendong’ which killed thousands of people in ...

Hello .. these tables are BY FAR the strongest and most powerful indictment on what mining in this country is really all about. Numbers don’t lie. In fact this was not even a study with a specific intent on mining - it was done on Poverty in the Philippines. The technology used is the one that is currently being used in the Philippines to determine the poverty situation.  It includes the Human Development index: knowledge, life expectancy and  standard of living. This was developed by the UNDP to measure the well- being of the community. The study also includes the Gender Development Index to reflect any inequality between men and women. It includes the Human Poverty Index which reflects life expectancy, literacy, health and access to water. The study even includes a measure of capabilities and opportunities. So clearly the study is not just about income - but whether the concerning individuals, households or communities are living decently. What the study shows is that f...

Dear all, Thank you for attending my talk.... I have been told that by this year the President will be proclaiming his mining policy. It is VITAL that we make a concerted effort in the coming two weeks to boost our signature campaign... I am hoping for five million and not less.. we now have 3.5 million.... if everyone works really hard... we can make that number.. who knows maybe we can make ten?  Below is the table which shows the income gained from fishery resources The table shows that Fishery resources alone gives us billions of pesos worth of REVENUE. Mining gives us billions worth of INVESTMENTS - and the data shows us that we get only poverty, they do not pay for what they take out - and they destroy our environment for generations Please please lets make a really strong push for the future generations to come... The force of Truth and The Common Good is with us....  For God and Country.. lets get the signatures... With best wishes,  ...

By  Stella A. Estremera Friday, December 2, 2011  Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on December 03, 2011.   DAVAO CITY — A policy paper by the Ateneo de Manila University School of Governance (ADMUSoG) points to official records that show the mining industry does not deliver the promises of economic boom and job generation that those pushing for mining operations in Mindanao, among them National Government officials, are always saying.   In the paper entitled “Is there a future for mining in the Philippines?” released just Friday by ADMUSoG, a copy of which was emailed to Sun.Star Davao, it was pointed out that employment generation as claimed by those pushing for mining is but a drop based on official records at that. Based on the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), mining and quarrying sector has not even breached one percent in terms of employment contribution to the national total.   “Recent data has shown that it has been 0.5 pe...

My dearest partners in Save Palawan Movement, We already hit a total of 3.6 Million signatures! I am looking forward to be able to hit 4 million, or even 5 million, before this year ends. The President will decide on the mining policy in a few weeks time. That is why we are in dire need for your help. Please help us gather more signatures. The half-page advertisement below came out in Philippine Star yesterday (December 8, 2011) and in Manila Bulletin today (December 9, 2011). This is a study from Ateneo School of Government entitled: Is there a future in mining in the Philippines?  The study shows that the country is not yet ready for mining because it lacks accurate system to measure its real benefits. Please please spread this information to everyone you know. This information is worth sharing. Please help us gather 10 million signatures. Yes to Life! And No to Mining in Palawan!

Resource Depletion Damages Third World - World Bank    Published Date: 15-09-2005 On precisely the same day both the World Bank and the United Nations Environment Programme have come out with reports which attempt to "revalue" natural (including mineral) resources, against the negative consequences of their continued depletion, and consequent environmental damage. Sceptics might consider it a bit ripe for the Bank to tout conservation while continuing to back projects that destroy "natural capital". Perhaps better late than never - but is it already too late?    Resource Depletion Damages Third World - World Bank Story by Ed Stoddard, Planet Ark    September 15, 2005    JOHANNESBURG - Resource depletion and surging population growth are draining the net "savings" of the world's poorest countries and could cripple future generations, according to a new World Bank study.    It said a new measure of wealth...

Hello Colleagues in the Environment.         Yesterday the Chamber of Mines came up with three full page ads on the three major dailies - and in some tabloids as well.. They must have spent P1 Million . The President will be deciding on his mining policy so the situation is intense.  I don't have a million pesos to spend on ads, so we made a letter to the editor which I hope gets printed. In the meantime, here is the response for your information - please send this around. Viral it.         The battle is on for our country's future. If we stand united - we will be victorious. Truth and and the common Good is on our side. Let's make things happen. Dear Editor, In the past few weeks the integrity of the Save Palawan Movement has been questioned. I need to make one thing crystal clear. We do not lie. The foundation of the Save Palawan Movement is Truth and the Common Good. The tables of Prof. Balisacan speak for themselves....

- Let me share with you this email that was sent by Ms. Regina Paz Lopez, Managing Director of ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. Dear all, Thank you for attending my talk.... I have been told that by this year the President will be proclaiming his mining policy. It is VITAL that we make a concerted effort in the coming two weeks to boost our signature campaign... I am hoping for five million and not less.. we now have 3.5 million.... if everyone works really hard... we can make that number.. who knows maybe we can make ten?  Below is the table which shows the income gained from fishery resources The table shows that Fishery resources alone gives us billions of pesos worth of REVENUE. Mining gives us billions worth of INVESTMENTS - and the data shows us that we get only poverty, they do not pay for what they take out - and they destroy our environment for generations Please please lets make a really strong push for the future generations to come... The force of Truth and The Com...