‘No to mining, Yes to life’……..Palayasin ‘Go away’
As mining companies engage in human rights abuses, land grabs, environmental destruction, community upheaval, loss of traditional life, militarisation, pollution of vital ecosystems, and vilification and killing of human rights defenders and activists, in the Philippines the Tagalog word ‘palayasin’ (go away) rings out…and is heard throughout Asia, Latin America, Europe, Oceania and Africa. Though companies claim they are responsible corporate citizens, the branding does not match the reality. Ecosystems and farmlands can never be restored to their original state.
Amidst much suffering to indigenous communities and local people, mining corporations, in amassing much wealth, wield economic and political power over governments, whilst being protected by international trade and financial institutions. But voices, cry out, ‘go away’, ‘no to mining, yes to life’.
In November 2014, civil society groups, social movements and indigenous people from Colombia, Uganda, the Philippines, Spain, Scotland, South Africa sent this clear message: ‘no to mining and yes to life’[i] and the need for solidarity in their struggle.
At the 2015 International Peoples’ Conference on Mining, Manila, Philippines, we saw[ii]how the Philippines is a microcosm of how globalisation or neoliberal policies on mining lead to massive land grabbing, depletion of natural resources, environmental devastation, displacement of communities, intensified militarisation and human rights violations. Mining penetrates all parts of the planet with devastating results – threatening the integrity of ecosystems on our already fragile Earth, as well as agriculture, food production, soil fertility, fresh water systems, the air, and climate.
Yes healthy ecosystems, Yes healthy food! Yes water! Yes life!
The extraction of minerals pollutes areas beyond the actual mining sites and for years after closing operation. Stella Matutina, a Filipino Benedictine sister working with the Lumad (indigenous) people of Mindanao, says: ‘they take our wealth and leave us the rubbish’. Pope Francis said referred to the ‘mess’ in our planet in his recent Encyclical Laudato Si’. Governments promote mining and provide incentives to corporations in the name of ‘the national interest’ and ‘economic growth’[iii], whilst the harm and cost to ordinary peoples’ lives, communities and future generations of all species is barely recognised. For governments it is ‘yes to mining, and no to life’ for their people.
Food
Despite popular belief, small farmers actually feed the world. But, their land, water, livelihoods and capacity to produce food are undermined for the extraction of minerals, metals and fossil fuels. [iv]
Soil, Water and Air Pollution
In the villages near Africa’s biggest copper mine, one can smell and taste the pollution. Excessive quantities of water are needed for all types of mining. Depletion of local water sources jeopardise a community’s ability produce food and affects fish and wildlife populations, and thus community livelihoods and food security[v]
Land Grabbing and the Impact on Women
The thirst for increased profit leads to land grabs and the search for cheap and docile labour – and leads to violence. This affects women disproportionately because they are responsible for household nutrition as mining activity denies them access to their land, water and food crops. They are also vulnerable to abuse from activities associated with mining, e.g., road building, transportation and traders. Because of mining family nutrition suffers because of escalating prices for staple foods. ‘Nearly half the Bangladeshi population is food insecure, and nearly one quarter is severely food insecure. Local production should be strengthened, not sacrificed for industrial projects.’[vi] Vast open pits replace land from farming communities.
Countries in Asia, such as the Philippines, or Africa and Latin America, that are resource-rich but economically poor have the same story: large-scale mining projects spoil the environment, plunder natural resources and cause untold human suffering.[vii]
Livelihoods Lost vs. Job Creation
Though mining offers employment for a defined period, the impact on the landscape and community livelihoods lasts for centuries. In Romania, where 900 jobs would be created, the use of cyanide destroyed 20,000 jobs in agriculture, tourism and other services. In South Africa, coal production in one province led to the loss of livelihood for 11,000 people.[viii]
Government Involvement
It is governments that allow mining operations to continue despite numerous deaths through mine accidents.Turkish lawyers use ‘massacre’ to describe mining deaths but they are not accidents. They are foreseen as companies take out insurance to protect themselves. Despite numerous ‘accidents’ and other legal and environmental violations, companies are allowed to continue operations. South Africa saw similar violations as well as the killing of 34 and injuring of 78 others when fired upon in 2012 by security forces. In Papua New Guinea, between 1984-2013m Australia’s BHP Billiton’s open-pit Ok Tedi Mine caused massive environmental degradation and pollution of rivers and adjacent ecosystems after discharging two billion tons of mine waste into the river. In West Papua, mining giants Rio Tinto and Freeport-McMoran have reportedly poured $35 million into military infrastructure and vehicles and paid at least $20 million to state security forces from 1998 to 2004 to quell opposition against its Grasberg Mine. Opposition to the mining operations of Freeport Macmoran, human rights violations and environmental destruction in one of the planet’s most biodiverse places has continued for decades in this most militarised area in Indonesia. Resistance to the land grabbing and plunder of Freeport Macmoran is interlinked with the struggle for national liberation. In China, coal miners seem most exploited. In 2013, there were 589 accidents and 1,049 deaths in its coal mining industry and 3,357 workers were killed in 2011-2012.
Neoliberalisation of the mining industry
In the 1990s, over 80 countries changed their mining regimes after lobbying by mining corporations and the dictates of international financial institutions (IFIs). Capital controls and regulations were lifted; generous tax breaks, granted; and legislation to quell local opposition to mining activities, implemented. The needs of each country gave way to the dictates of the international market and made it hostage to the changes of international trading. This liberalisation of the mining industry in the Philippines has led to economic deterioration. Instead of growth for the people, extraction of resources for export has resulted in environmental devastation and increased poverty and inequality. 82 environmental activists were victims of extrajudicial killings from 2001-2015,
Crisis
The global mining industry has recently faced an oversupply of mineral products, falling prices and profit decreases.[ix] To reduce production costs and increased profits companies have demanded lower taxes and government royalty shares, more lax environmental laws and reduced wages, greater job insecurity and lower work safety standards for workers. They have even delayed projects or shut down mines to manipulate supply and increase prices.
People’s resistance and the anti-mining movement
Resistance to mining has taken the form of struggling for workers’ rights, environmental protection, right to the land for indigenous people, assertion of the rights and welfare of mining communities and human rights in general. People’s movements for economic sovereignty, food security and development justice continually face up to the plunderers, despoilers and their powerful protectors on the international, national and local level.
Despite increasing exploitation and more repressive action of the global mining industry, people’s resistance continues to gather strength particularly among indigenous peoples and among the peasantry and other rural poor communities.[x]
In the Philippines, due to the strong resistance of affected communities to protect their lands and the surrounding environment, the 4th biggest global mining company has begun to withdraw from a long-delayed $5.6 billion gold mining projectIn El Salvador, the government stopped granting gold mining permits since 2008 to preserve its water resources.[xi] The Australian- Canadian owned mining company OceanaGold-Pacific Rim had its mining permit revoked. In 2009, it filed a lawsuit against the Salvadoran government seeking US$301 million in damages. The government and people continue to stand firm against gold mining in their country. This case in El Salvador provides a preview as to what can be expected if controversial trade deals like the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) are passed[xii]
There are so many more heroic struggles of indigenous peoples, peasants, mine workers, environmentalists, human rights advocates and church people in Africa, America, Asia and Europe. Their message is the same: mining companies cannot continue to plunder the common resources. ‘Palayasin’..‘Go away’..’YES to LIFE’.
NOTES AND REFERENCES
[i] Yes to Life No to Mining Statement from Mining Affected Communities and Allies around the World http://www.yestolifenotomining.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/YLNM-statement-for-launch_global-voice.pdf
[ii] Carol Araullo, Mining TNCs wouldn’t succeed in plundering natural resources without support from national governments, August 1, 2015 http://counterview.org/2015/08/01/mining-tncs-wouldnt-succeed-in-plundering-natural-resources-without-support-from-national-governments/
[iii] Daniel HurstAbbott warns against courts 'sabotaging' projects such as Carmichael coalmineThe Guardian August 7, 2015 http://gu.com/p/4bb54/sbl
[iv] John Vidal ‘I drank the water and ate the fish. We all did. The acid has damaged me permanently’ The Guardian August 2, 2015
[v] . In Ghana, local farmers suffer crop losses of up to 40% on farmlands due to gold mining because of air pollution and nitrogen dioxide up to a distance of 20 kilometres away. In South Africa, old gold mines, threaten to pollute water supplies more than a century after their closure.
[vi] Olivier de Schutter, former UN special rapporteur on the Right to Food.
[vii] The Gaia Foundation report ‘UnderMining Agriculture: How the Extractives Industries Threaten Our Food Systems http://www.gaiafoundation.org/sites/default/files/undermining_agriculture_gaia_report_lowres.pdf
[viii] Ibid.
[ix] Carol Araullo, art.cit.
[x] Carol Araullo, art.cit.
[xi] Carol Araullo, art.cit.
[xii] Carol Araullo, art.cit.
Sources and further reading
Carol P Araullo Mining TNCs wouldn’t succeed in plundering natural resources without support from national governments CounterView August 1, 2015 http://counterview.org/2015/08/01/mining-tncs-wouldnt-succeed-in-plundering-natural-resources-without-support-from-national-governments/
Dee Ayroso Challenging the ‘failing science’ of mining TNCsBulatlat August 7, 2015
http://bulatlat.com/main/2015/08/07/challenging-the-failing-science-of-mining-tncs/
Dee AyrosoLumads want big mining companies out of Mindanao Bulatlat November 30, 2015
http://bulatlat.com/main/2014/11/27/manilakbayan-lumads-want-big-mining-companies-out-of-mindanao/
Dee Ayroso Mankayan indigenous folks call on Aquino to reject Lepanto mining application
BulatlatAugust 15, 2015 http://bulatlat.com/main/2015/08/15/mankayan-indigenous-folks-call-on-aquino-to-reject-new-lepanto-mining-agreement/
George Blionis Stopping Eldorado Gold – Mining struggle in Greece Green European Journal July 3, 2015
http://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/stopping-eldorado-gold-mining-struggle-in-greece/
Janess Ann J. Ellao ‘Mining plunder takes away future for dev’t’Bulatlat August 8, 2015 http://bulatlat.com/main/2015/08/08/mining-plunder-takes-away-future-for-devt/
Janess Ann J. Ellao Women take lead in defending land, rights, home Bulatlat August 9, 2015
http://bulatlat.com/main/2015/08/09/women-take-lead-in-defending-land-rights-home/
Gaia Foundation UnderMining Agriculture: How the Extractives Industries Threaten our Food Systems http://www.gaiafoundation.org/sites/default/files/undermining_agriculture_gaia_report_lowres.pdf
Melvin Gascon 300 who sold mine lands lose P40M: Tribal folk who got paid to allow mining duped in investment scam The Philippine Inquirer July 4, 2015
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/702688/300-who-sold-mine-lands-lose-p40m
Melvin Gascon Distrust Nueva Viscaya and Beyond August 9, 2015
https://gascon.wordpress.com/2015/08/09/sowing-distrust/
Melvin GasconExploited Nueva Viscaya and Beyond June 5, 2015 https://gascon.wordpress.com/2015/06/05/exploited/#more-742
Miriam GathigahOn Kenya’s Coast, a Struggle for the Sacred, Yes to Life No to Mining http://www.yestolifenotomining.org/on-kenyas-coast-a-struggle-for-the-sacred/
Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) Mining affected communities around the world say ‘No to Mining’ and seek to secure No Go Areas at the IUCN World Parks Congress
International People’s Conference on Mining 2015 (Manila).‘Our Resistance, Our Hope’: A global unity forged to resist devastation of global mining liberalization
Press Statement August 1, 2015 http://www.yestolifenotomining.org/our-resistance-our-hope-a-global-unity-forged-to-resist-devastation-of-global-mining-liberalization/
Greg Jericho The one graph that explains the (worrying) end of the mining boom The Guardian June 6, 2015 http://gu.com/p/4ad3t/sbl
Bobby Lagsa and Grace Cantal-Albasin Lumads: Casualty of mining and war SunStar June 29, 2013 http://archive.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2013/06/29/lumads-casualty-mining-and-war-289948
Cole Latimer Pope calls on miners to focus on environment, workers, and the community Australian Mining September 19, 2013
http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/news/popecallsonminerstofocusonenvironment-workers-andt
Lumad leaders to President Aquino: 'Address our Demands!' IC Magazine November 30, 2014
https://intercontinentalcry.org/lumad-leaders-to-president-aquino-address-our-demands/
Inés San Martín Extending its eco-push, the Vatican takes on mining CRUX July 17, 2015
http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2015/07/17/extending-its-eco-push-the-vatican-takes-on-mining/
Mary Ann McGivern Observing a community of resistance at a Guatemalan mine
Global Sisters Report August 3, 2015 http://globalsistersreport.org/column/justice-matters/observing-community-resistance-guatemalan-mine-28656
Mindanao Lumads declare war on mining companiesPhilippine Star November 25, 2014 http://ilps-phils.com/mindanao-lumads-declare-war-on-mining-companies/
Thom Mitchell NSW Government Targets Protestors While Shrugging Off Big Coal New Matilda July 29, 2015 https://shar.es/1sSBdw
Max Opray Mining downturn hits FIFO mental health The Saturday Paper June 6, 2015
Papua New Guinea Mine Watch Under-Mining Agriculture: Food and Public Health threatened by the extractives sector September 21, 2015 https://ramumine.wordpress.com/2014/09/21/under-mining-agriculture-food-and-public-health-threatened-by-the-extractives-sector/
Philippine town celebrates victory over mining firms UCANews August 20, 2015 http://www.ucanews.com/news/philippine-town-celebrates-victory-over-mining-firms/74114
Pope Francis sends message to communities affected by mining operations worldwide
The final statement of the meeting is available in English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and German.
Pope's message for day of reflection on the mining industry Vatican News September 9, 2013
http://www.news.va/en/news/popes-message-for-day-of-reflection-on-the-mining
Joshua Robertson and Oliver Milman Approval for Adani's Carmichael coalmine overturned by federal court The Guardian August 5, 2015 http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/aug/05/approval-for-adanis-carmichael-coalmine-overturned-by-federal-court?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Facebook
Brian Roewe Francis: Mining industry in need of 'a radical paradigm change'/Reuters/Dado Ruvic)
National Catholic Reporter July. 17, 2015 http://ncronline.org/blogs/eco-catholic/francis-mining-industry-need-radical-paradigm-change
Hannibal Rhoades Communities Unite to Say Yes to Life, No to Mining EJOLT January 12th, 2015
http://www.ejolt.org/2015/01/communities-unite-say-yes-life-mining/
Geneviève TalbotThe Philippines: People’s mining conference sheds light on mining abuses
Canadian Catholic Organisation for Justice and Peace August 5, 2015
http://www.devp.org/en/blog/philippines-peoples-mining-conference-sheds-light-mining-abuses
Lenore TaylorTony Abbott's defence of the Carmichael coalmine is passionate but baseless The Guardian August 7, 2015
Julia Thornton The Great Myth of Corporate Social Investment: A view from the inside The Gaia Foundation
http://www.gaiafoundation.org/coporate_social_investment_jthornton
Tony Abbott must respect the courts over Carmichael ruling, say lawyers The Guardian August 7, 2015 http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/07/tony-abbott-must-respect-the-courts-over-carmichael-ruling-say-lawyers
Joe TorresChurches urged to play role in fight against mining UCANews July 30, 2015 http://www.ucanews.com/news/churches-urged-to-play-role-in-fight-against-mining/74004
Joe TorresJustice elusive for murdered environmental activists in the Philippines UCANews April 22, 2015 http://www.ucanews.com/news/justice-elusive-for-murdered-environmental-activists-in-the-philippines/73427
Ilang-Ilang D. Quijano Destroying DidipioPinoy Weekly September 25, 2013
http://pinoyweekly.org/new/2013/09/destroying-didipio/
John Vidal‘I drank the water and ate the fish. We all did. The acid has damaged me permanently’The Guardian August 2, 2015 http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/aug/01/zambia-vedanta-pollution-village-copper-mine
Cindy Wooden Pope urges mining industry to embrace ‘radical change’ The Catholic Herald July 18 2015 http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2015/07/18/pope-urges-mining-industry-to-embrace-radical-change/
