Thousand Streamer Campaign against large-scale destructive mines launched

Indigenous peoples’ organization Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP) launched a streamer hanging protest against large-scale mining in the country. The Thousand Streamer Campaign , KAMP says, is the people’s expression against the sell-out of our mineral resources to foreign transnational corporations and the destruction of the environment.

“The Thousand Streamer Campaign expands the protest against destructive, large-scale mines to other Filipinos who are not directly affected by mining operations, but acknowledges its grave negative effects to the environment and to our national patrimony,” Piya Macliing Malayao, KAMP spokesperson said.

The campaign aims to register the Filipino people’s protest against large mines and in solidarity with the indigenous peoples’ rights to land and life, KAMP says. “Churches, organizations, and offices are asked to but up streamers bearing a symbolic logo of the indigenous peoples’ struggle against large mines, and the call to scrap the Mining Act of 1995,” Malayao said.

The launching of the campaign was attended by militant party-list representatives Luzviminda Ilagan and Teddy Casino. Leaders from Protestant churches such as the Ecumenical Bishops Forum, National Council of Churches in the Philippines and the United Church of Christ in the Philippines were also in attendance.

“Through this campaign, we exhort government departments, agencies, and particularly the members of local government units to respect the dignity of the people adversely affected by decisions and policies regarding applications for mining exploration and eventual operations,” said a representative from the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM) Missionaries.

Fr. Rex Reyes, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) also expressed support to the campaign. “It is a vibrant protest against the systematic exploitation of our natural resourced without regard to patrimony and the welfare of future generations. It is a protest against corporate greed. It is an indictment of capitalism at its worst,” Reyes said. #