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Earth Day 2016 NMR-Philippines: Exacerbating the People’s Plight Amidst Poverty and El Niño

The affected Mindanaoan farmers and Lumad rallied infront of City Hall and Department of Agriculture demanding for Land, Food, and Justice during the 46th Global Earth Day.

The Defenders of Mother Earth. Panalipdan Youth - NMR.

Panalipdan Youth with Kalumbay-Indigenous People's Chairman and Leader Datu Jomorito Goaynon

Philippines, one of the countries that significantly affected by Climate Change

In the course of environmental issues and political challenges,the World will continue to rise and protect Mother Earth and her guardians amidst threats and extortions...and will never be discouraged.
— april thessa diaz
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, MISAMIS ORIENTAL, PHILIPPINES, April 23, 2016 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Thousands of concerned citizens, environmental activists, people’s artists, church people, workers, some local officials, Lumad (Filipino Indigenous People), and peasants all throughout Mindanao, Philippines marched in solidarity on April 22nd to celebrate the 46th Global Earth Day. Green-group as well with initiative “Luntiang Bayan: Boto para sa Tao, Hayop at Kalikasan” (Green Nation: Vote for the People, Animals and Environment) in connection to the approaching May 9 national election guides voters to choose candidates that carry programs with the totality and commitment for the Environment protection. The cry of the people condemns the inutile response of the Philippine state to protect the environment and care of the people’s needs.

Part of the huge appeal of the solidarity march is to the fulfillment of the government’s “responsibilities” – AGRICULTURAL LAND, FOOD, and JUSTICE: Bigas Hindi Bala (Rice Not Bullet), and for immediate release of the fund allocated for calamity victims of El Niño. To recall, the drought which was broadcasted as early as 3rd quarter of 2015 clearly assumed that the government by time prepared and equipped in the likelihood of worsening countrywide situation expected to affect 85% of the country by April 2016 in which greater part is in Mindanao. Some regions and municipalities were already disturbed as early as January 2016 that people plead for aids and assistance. On April 1st, a violent dispersal was executed to counting 6000 farmers asking for rice and aid due to hunger and poverty killing 3 and injuring hundreds who marched and protested in front the National Food Authority in Kidapawan City, the facet of the worsening system in the Philippines under Aquino administration. Situation by itself seemed likely in the hungry and distressed land but the circumstances of the global rule. The record breaking of the Aquino administration - hungry farmers, unresolved agrarian reform, significant environmental exploitation, unreciprocated Lumad and farmers’ sentiments, and peasant massacres.

Progressive organizations, environmental defenders, activists and nationalist coalition condemn the Philippine government’s continuing protection to multimillion companies that prolong exploitation of the environment and the people. The state’s liberalization of agriculture and the mining industry, and commercialization of resources benefit big companies and wealthy individuals showing growth of their profits. However, these did not hugely contribute much of the needs of the Filipinos and still deprive the people of livelihood and food security. The large-scale agricultural plantation of pineapple and oil palms in Mindanao caused Lumad and farmers to leave their lands and find no government for help. Instead they are endlessly harassed and remain marginalized of the basic need and respect.

Despite being one of the top producers of gold, nickel, and copper, large-scale mining has otherwise not contributed to the economy and the country. Almost 99% of the Philippine mineral production is exported for use by other countries’ industries leaving the country soil and water pollution, damage of agricultural lands, marine life, flash floods, air pollution, illnesses, and human deaths. The Republic Act 7942 in 1995 (Known as The Mining Act of 1995) add as well to the count of multicompany-made accidents. On top of, this allows foreign control of mining operations and permits rights to foreign investors and granted incentives that violate constitutional provisions restricting foreign participation in key sectors covering the plunder of the country’s resources. Notwithstanding the commitment to reduce carbon emission in the participation of the Philippines in COP21, the state continues to grant coal-fired plant to establish. Early 2016, at least 15 coal-fired plants were approved to operate in Mindanao without people’s consultation the façade of a pretentious responsible leadership. Coal-fired operations generate significant additional independent adverse environmental and human health impacts.

The country’s patriots and environmentalists strongly condemn the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. They express this as a tool of the US Imperialist’s advance control over the nation and rule its interests and gains in the developing countries in Asia Pacific. Patriots and Constitution experts consider this infringe the Constitution, bypass approval of the people, promote pillage to the environment and discrimination. Globalization adapted by Philippine government as its framework for economic policies and extensive privatization and commercialization laid growing inequality, unemployment, lack of public utilities, services and resources, and heightened the country vulnerable to disaster. The people demand end to all policies and programs that lead to the loot of the natural resources and deepening poverty, and consequent agony of the poor and the marginalized. The people call the scrap of the Mining Act of 1995 to stop corporate greed in the extraction of minerals in the country that obliterate the people’s lives and the many lives on land, air, and water. The people demand abolish of market-based profit-oriented solutions to the crisis that allow commodification of natural resources and further dominate ownership of resources in the hands of corporations and industrialized countries. The people strive for justice of nearly 100 environmental defenders who were killed in the record from 2001 to 2015 mostly anti-mining activists and Lumad. (Interaction.com)

The people call for leaders to put stop to the corporate plunder and to adopt a legally binding policies that ensure real and immediate solutions to environmental and social issues. Implement a genuine agrarian reform; respect human rights, and the Lumads’ rights to self-determination and to their ancestral domain; expand services and access to the basic needs of people at all levels; promote agri-industrilization to intensify livelihood programs for peasant and workers. So while it is the height to fight climate change, to effectively wage war against it is to put in place fair and sustainable society that respects for ecological scheme, local production and stable employment, cooperation, protection, proper distribution of resources, and implementation of just, sensible, and well-grounded policies.

April Thessa Lactao Diaz
Panalipdan Youth - NMR
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