Youth’s Stand Against Destructive Mining

The Philippine Mining Act of 1995 (Republic Act No. 7942) was enacted particularly to encourage large-scale Mining by local and foreign corporations, However, the law went beyond encouraging the revitalization of the mining industry in the Philippines; it has disregarded the integrity of our National Patrimony for the sake of attracting foreign investment. The law allows the widespread plunder and exploitation of our natural resources. It allows foreign mining operations by foreign mining corporations, it allows 100% of their profits, and it grants tax holidays and exemptions to mining firms.


Mining is Inherently Unsustainable

We do not believe in the myth of “sustainable mining.” Mining is inherently unsustainable since it requires the depletion of non-renewable natural resources. Instead of requiring ever-growing amounts of mineral and fuels, a sustainable economy will use materials much more efficiently, reducing waste to a bare minimum, and rely more on recycling, reuse and renewable energy technology. Sustainability means less mining, not more.

Mining should not be considered as the only industry that will propel our country towards development. Unrestricted mining activities will destroy other industries, like agriculture and fishing.

“Aanhin pa ang kayamanan kung sira na ang kalikasan.”

The serious environmental destruction caused by large-scale mining outweighs any economic benefit that may be derived from it. Mining is among the greatest threats to biological diversity worldwide. Mining creates extraordinary amounts of waste; much of it contaminated. And often creates environmental problems, such as water pollution, that can endure for centuries. Mining often yield little, if any, long-term net benefits for host communities and countries, as is becoming increasingly evident, the long-term cleanup costs of many mines may well exceed what the host countries gain while the mines are open.


Mining encroaches on Indigenous Peoples’ Lands

Mining has disproportionately great impacts on indigenous peoples and poor, rural communities, whose lands are often forcibly seized for mining with little or no competition, and enjoy few of the benefits of mineral extraction. Indigenous people and their communities have a historical relationship with their lands and are generally descendants of the original inhabitants of such lands. They have developed over many generations a holistic traditional scientific knowledge of their lands, natural resources and environment. Any development initiative should be implemented recognizing their values, traditional knowledge and resource management practices with a view to promote environmentally sound and sustainable development, and recognizing their traditional and direct dependence on renewable resources and ecosystems.


To Our Fellow Youth

It is important that we, the youth, actively participate in all relevant levels of decision-making processes of our nation, particularly with regard to the environment, because it affects our lives today and has implication for our futures.

It is our solemn duty to preserve and safeguard our environment and natural resources if we want to ensure that our generations to come shall enjoy the blessings of a healthy, balance, and diverse ecology. Nature needs our help; it does not stand a chance against man’s rapacity and insatiable greed.


To Our Elders

To our elders: “Treat the earth well. It was not given to you by your parents, it is lent to you by your children.” In turn, we pledge to ensure that our future children and generations to come will enjoy the blessings of a healthy environment.


To the Government

We demand that the Government stop its liberal policy on mining. We challenge the Government to instead revitalize the agriculture and fishing industries, two industries that are full of potentials but greatly neglected.

We call on Congress to immediately repeal the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, the law responsible for all these destructions. We will not allow the further destruction of our environment.


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A statement of the proponents of Kontra Mina

Kontra Mina is an advocacy of Batas Tomasino: the UST law society in cooperation with Thomasian Writer’s Guild, College of Commerce Economics Society, Earth-UST and Alyansa Tigil Mina.

(http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=batas+tomasino&init=quick#!/note.php?note_id=291845199471)

Lamenting Nation for the Loss of Lives and Justice

(OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF BATAS TOMASINO: THE UST LAW SOCIETY ON THE NOVEMBER 23, 2009 TRAGEDY THAT HAPPENED IN MAGUINDANAO)

November 23, 2009 is one of the most disturbing days of our life as a nation. Never in our existence as a nation has something barbaric as the Maguindanao Massacre happened. Although an organized and bureaucratic system of government had been established nowadays, we are forced to accept that there is an inevitable evil within our political society.

With respect to this happening, has our society really matured over the decisive years, decades, and centuries of aiming for the maintenance of pursuit of justice and a humane society? This question is apparently answerable by the recent consternation our country had faced.

A strong insolence to the rule of God, of Man, and of Society was indubitably shown to us by the Maguindanao Massacre. Indeed, the political system, the law, and the justice in our country have been disdained by the pillars of the government. There were innocent lives dragged to death because of political ambitions by politically-oriented families. As we share with the agony of the families of the victims, we also languish from a system of government we have today. These carnages and other malicious tactics are triggered by the evil political intentions of greedy politicking individuals. Undeniably, in our country, money has always taken a very significant role in times of elections. We hope that this would not hinder our people from choosing and electing the right person to serve us at the end of the day.

Veritably, the 2010 elections is fast approaching and this time, we were taught by the malfeasances in the government, extra judicial killings, and unlawful judgments of the state to be critical with our choice of leaders. Furthermore, we are not just after the safeguarding of the 2010 elections, but also what we could do to eradicate the system of iniquities that deviates the people from exercising their right of suffrage governed by truthful intendments.

Momentarily, we may continue to bewail but together with this, we should motivate ourselves to do something for the lives of the victims and give them honors. We should learn and accept, as citizens of our beloved and devastated government, that ELECTIONS change everything. As critical thinkers, we should lay down our requirements of how a leader should be, so that we would be able to deselect the unworthy ones.

We are one with the families of the victims in praying for the eternal repose of their souls. We believe in the prevalence of justice in our society. We hope that the government would not take long in deciding the verdict for this case because the longer it takes for justice to be redeemed, the harder it is for the families to accept their loss. Justice delayed is justice denied. We believe that with this recent alarming circumstance in our nation, justice will be served and all of us would live under a new Society where no one is above the law whether he be powerful in terms of wealth or political influence. We bring changes and we could improve these changes through our absolute and moral intentions.

"The law applies to all or none at all."

On Taking Care of the Environment

(Opening remarks delivered by Manuel Rodriguez on Sept. 8 at an environmental forum held at the Thomas Aquinas Research Complex (TARC) Auditorium entitled USAPANG TOMASINO: Kabataan Anong Alam Mo Sa Kalikasan?, a forum sponsored by Batas Tomasino, the UST Law Society.)


To our guests and fellow Thomasians…Good afternoon.

First and foremost, in behalf of Batas Tomasino I would like to thank the people responsible for this Environmental forum series.

Our guest speakers,
our partner organizations;
the Civil Law Student Council
the UST UNESCO Club
Mother Earth Philippines Movement
& Sustainable Development Solutions for Asia and the Pacific (SDSAP)

and of course the officer in charge from Batas Tomasino, our lovely Secretary
Ms. Hera Uy from the Faculty of Civil Law
and of course her executive assistant
Ms. Krizia Reamico of the Faculty of Arts and Letters.

Forums like this, is meant not only to inform or educate us of what is happening on our environment…but also to eliminate in our hearts the apathy, and awaken our sense of responsibility not only as a citizen of this Nation, but also as a part of the human race.

Section 16, Article 2 of our Constitution mandates the State to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology.

One may ask…Is it less important than any of the civil or political rights guaranteed under the Article 3-Bill of Rights considering that it is found in Article 2-Declaration of Principles and State Policies?

Such query was already been answered by our very own Supreme Court in the landmark case of Oposa versus Factoran. No…it does not follow that it is less important than any of the rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights.

Such Right (the right to a balanced ecology) belongs to a different category of rights altogether for it concerns nothing less than self-preservation and self-perpetuation. What is found in Art. 3 –Bill of Rights are civil and political rights.
In fact, the Constitution does not need to possess the said provision in order for us to obey it. It is a part of our Natural Law on "Inter-generational Responsibility," and such law transcends all Governments and all Constitutions….
Even the Honorable Supreme Court of the Philippines acknowledges the authority of the Natural Law.

The crisis of the Philippine environment is a crisis of our passage as stewards of this planet. We have not only subdued Mother Earth, as we have been commanded, in the book of Genesis. We have destroyed it and continue to destroy it, without remorse. It is time for penance; it is time for change.

It is my prayer that this USAPANG TOMASINO forum, change our point of view with regards to the topic of environment preservation.

I ask everyone on this auditorium to join us to make sure that we pass on to the next generation a country that has managed to preserve at least a part of the natural bounty that God has put in its care; a country where the air is clean, the water is pure, the soil is rich and fertile, where the children of tomorrow may still listen to the whisper of rivers and brooks and the songs of birds in lush and verdant forests.

As what former US President Clinton has said; “We borrowed our planet, and to whom we bear sacred responsibility.”

Thank you very much. May the Lord bless us and Mother Earth.
Isang mapagpalayang hapon sa bawat isa!

Odette Alcantara, 68

A CIVIC LEADER.





CHESS OLYMPIAN.





ENVIRONMENTALIST.





A "TITA" TO ALL








Odette Alcantara died last September 22 a day after collapsing from an aneurysm. She was 68.





"LAHAT (Lupa, Ako, Hangin, Araw at Tubig), magkaugnay" - Tita Odette

author's photo with Alcantara

Together with other environmental advocates, i mourn the loss of an institution in the earth preservation movement.

Dakila ka Tita Odette, mananatili kang buhay sa amin dahil sa iyong kaalamang naipasa. Ang mga kabataang tulad ko ay mananatili na ipaglalaban ang iyong nasimulan. Tulad ng iyong sinabi...ang tunay na makabayan, ay may pakialam sa kalikasan.

Salamat sa mga panahong natuto ako sa iyo, sa mga tawanan, at sa inspirasyon. Mananatili kang buhay. Tulad ng iyong madalas sabihin..."LAHAT...magkaugnay." Kaugnay ka na din ng aming mga puso. Mahal ka namin Tita Odette.