Flotilla of local boats accompany Greenpeace ship Esperanza on a protest against pollution caused by the Lafayette Gold Mine on Rapu Rapu Island, Philippines.The Australian owned mine was reopened in July despite government investigations, which revealed ongoing leakages of highly toxic chemicals into the pristine waters of the Albay Gulf.
The Esperanza sailed into Rapu-Rapu Island accompanied by
villagers from the provinces of Sorsogon and Albay on board some 70
bancas (traditional outrigger boats) bearing banners saying "Stop
Lafayette" and "ABN-Amro, ANZ Stop Funding Marine Pollution".
ABN-Amro and ANZ are providing financial backing for the mining
operations.
"People rely on the rich marine ecosystem for food and income
and have already suffered from continuous toxic contamination from
the Lafayette mine," said Beau Baconguis, Greenpeace Southeast Asia
Toxics Campaigner onboard the Esperanza. "The reopening of
Lafayette mine has started the clock for another disaster in our
marine ecosystem. Lafayette mine must be closed for good."
Late last year, Lafayette was ordered to stop its mining
operations after it twice released cyanide and other contaminants
into the environment, resulting in massive fish kills. Subsequent
investigations carried out by a Presidential Fact-Finding
Commission revealed that not only had Lafayette been operating the
mine beyond its capacity but that it had been doing so even before
it completed the construction of barriers designed to prevent
contamination
reaching the sea.
The Philippine government then granted the company a licence for
a 30-day test run of the mine. During the test run, several toxic
leaks occurred. Residents have since reported more fish kills in
the creeks leading out from the mine into Albay Gulf.
The pristine waters, seagrass beds and mangroves of Albay Gulf
create an exceptionally rich fishing ground for fishermen.
Dolphins, sea turtles, egrets, and purple herons are frequently
sighted in these waters. Five of the seven marine turtles in the
world are found in the Albay Gulf, while the eastern coast,
including Rapu Rapu, is a migration path for whale sharks. The
Lafayette mine threatens the survival of all of these species.
"The Arroyo government's support for the mining operation makes
it part of the problem and not the solution," said Baconguis.
"Rather than serve the interests of mining corporations the
government must act on behalf of the 30 million Filipinos who rely
on our rich marine environment for food and livelihoods."
The Esperanza's tour in the Philippines is part of a 15-month
global Defending Our Oceans expedition. Greenpeace's other ships;
the MY Rainbow Warrior and the MY Arctic Sunrise are also engaged
in
challenging the threats to our oceans. The Rainbow warrior
is
confronting tuna fleets destroying the last of the great fish in
the
Mediterranean and the Arctic Sunrise is exposing the hidden face
of
illegal fishing of the North and Baltic Seas. The Defending Our
Oceans expedition aims to highlight the wonders of and the
environmental threats to the world's oceans and is campaigning for
the establishment of marine reserves covering 40 % of the world's
oceans.
VVPR info: Beau Baconguis, Toxics Campaigner (onboard Esperanza), +4751407986 (sat phone), +639178036077Arthur Jones Dionio, Media Officer (onboard Esperanza), +4751407986 (sat phone), +639215615305