By KATHLEEN T. OKUBO
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Two solons: the Hon. Teddy Casiño, Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development, and Congressman Teddy Baguilat of the Ifugao province and Chairman of the House Committee on National Cultural Communities are top resource speakers at the North Luzon mining and human rights summit.

Casiño is to deliver the keynote address for the summit while Baguilat shall discuss the Free Prior and Informed Consent principle a day after the openning of the summit on December 13.

In response to the mining and human rights situation in Northern Luzon (Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos Regions), people’s organizations, non-government and church-based organizations have organized the three-day Northern Luzon Mining and Human Rights Summit, at the Quirino hall of the Teachers Camp, here.

Convened by the Katinnulong Daguiti Umili iti Amianan ( Kaduami), Inc, Ecumenical Bishop’s Conference-Northern Luzon, Cordillera People’s Alliance (CPA), Save the Abra River Movement (STARM); the Save the Valley, Serve the People (Alliance for the Environment) of Cagayan Valley, the Isabela Ecumenical Council and the Solidarity of Peasants Against Exploitation of Ilocos Region, the conference is expected to gather some 260 advocates and defenders of the environment.

The Summit’s main agenda is to study the relationship of the Northern Luzon mining and human rights situation with national and international developments; the economic, social, cultural and environmental impact of large scale mining operations in affected communities; and to come up with a people’s declaration and action plan to be addressed to government and other stakeholders.

The summit will also serve as a venue for communities to discuss their protest to destructive, large scale mining.

“Northern Luzon was not spared from extractive industries, particularly large mining. From reef to ridge, tons of non-renewable resources and minerals was plundered for the profit of foreign and local businesses.

In addition to devastated mountains, fields and rivers, the coasts are now destroyed as a result of large mining,” explains Roxanne Veridiano, RDC-KADUAMI executive director.

CPA Chairperson Windel Bolinget adds that “Where large mines operate and where applications are approved is also the ever-heightening spate of militarization, which continues to result in grave violations of people’s rights.”

He pointed out that even under the Aquino II administration which made promises for better governance, mining plunder continues through public-private partnership schemes with investors from China, India, the Middle East and North America.

“The Cordillera is the watershed cradle of Northern Luzon, but extensive large mining threatens and endangers the region’s ecosystem that is a source of life for communities in upland and lowland areas,” he emphasized.

The three-day conference includes an array of informative and educational lecture-discussions, situationers, panel presentations; real-life stories and testimonies from communities adversely affected by large mining and human rights violations.

Exhibits and film-viewing are included. RDC-Kaduami will launch its video documentary on offshore mining during the summit.

The third and last day is highlighted by a people’s march-rally, in time for the commemoration of the International Human Rights Day this year. # nordis.net