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Philippines - seen and heard

Greenpeace activists hang a banner at the conveyor belt of Lafayette mine, Rapu Rapu Island, Philippines. Greenpeace ship MY Esperanza is in the Philippines to campaign for the shut down of the gold and silver mining operations of Lafayette on Rapu-Rapu Island, Philippines, which discharged highly toxic chemicals into the pristine waters of Albay Gulf. Enlarge Image

Compelling evidence of toxicity in Rapu Rapu

An inspection conducted today by Greenpeace scientists and government officials showed that toxic pollution from the Lafayette mine would clearly affect the coastal and marine ecosystems of Rapu Rapu Island. Our activists also entered the mine, hanging a banner of their conveyor belt calling for the operation to be shut down.

Flotilla of local boats accompanies Greenpeace ship Esperanza on protest against pollution caused by Layayette mine on Rapu Rapu Island, Philippines. Enlarge Image

ABN AMRO & ANZ: Stop funding marine pollution

After helping mitigate the devastation wrought by the Petron oil spill in Guimaras Island, the Esperanza led a flotilla in protest against the gold and silver mining operations of Lafayette in the Philippines, funded by banks such as ABN-AMRO and ANZ. 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.

Greenpeace activists and fishermen attempting to use oil booms made from local materials to protect beaches from spilled bunker oil. Enlarge Image

Philippines spill witnessed first hand

It took Rodolfo Galuna only 15 days to build the small wooden boat he named "Rona". But now the 52-year-old fisherman has no use for it. Black, stinking oil sludge covers the boat’s hull, has crept into Galuna's back yard and quietly destroyed this fisherman's livelihood here on Guimaras Island. "I don't know what we will be living off in the future", said the father of six, "I must find something new". It is day ten of the biggest oil spill in the history of the Philippines.

A group of local fisherman from BrgyTando Village collect oil from beaches by hand. Enlarge Image

Philippines oil spill

Today, Joaquin Nava, the Governor of the Philippine island hardest hit by a 350,000 litre oil spill, issued a desperate plea for help:

"We can only watch in horror how an oil spill can undo in a few days our initiatives which have taken decades to implement. We need all the support we can get."

A local fisherman standing ankle deep in oil. Enlarge Image

Oil spills - Philippines, Indian Ocean and Lebanon

Oil is harmful to the environment every step of the way. It leaks from pipelines, spills from ships, creates smog in our cities, and is heating up our planet. Marine ecosystems already stressed by over fishing and destructive fishing practices, toxic pollution and climate change are now taking big hits from recent large oil spills.

A couple of groupers hiding in a crevice. Enlarge Image

Philippines - from dedicated communities to devastating mines

Scientists recognise the Philippine archipelago as the world's centre of marine biodiversity, but the country's rich marine ecosystem is severely threatened by pollution from diverse sources.

Greenpeace activists unfurl a banner in protest over the conduct of the 30-day test run which the Department of Energy and Natural Resources granted to Australian mining Lafayette last month. Enlarge Image

Island mine disaster looming

Marred by accusations of spills and heavy-handed efforts to prevent independent monitoring, the island mine on Rapu Rapu finished its 30-day "test run" today.

At dawn, Greenpeace activists scaled the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) building and unfurled a giant banner with the words "Lafayette Mining: Countdown to an Oceans Disaster".

Siltation from mine operations in steep Rapu Rapu island threatens to smother vital coral habitats in the surrounding waters. Enlarge Image

Rapu Rapu island mining resumes

The countdown to another oceans disaster has begun. The start of the controlled 30-day test run granted to Australian mining company Lafayette by the Philippine government signalled the resumption of the company's operations in Rapu Rapu. This is expected to be a mere prelude to its ongoing operations, despite cyanide spills, pollution, extractive damage and violations of requirements for the Environmental Compliance Certificate.

Siltation from mine operations in steep Rapu Rapu island threatens to smother vital coral habitats in the surrounding waters. Enlarge Image

Rapu-Rapu island mining

As the Esperanza begins its work in the Mediterranean we take a look ahead at developments in a region the ship will visit later in the tour.

The Lafayette open pit mine area occupies 180 hectares (445 acres) of the Philippine island Rapu Rapu. Early on, environmentalists warned that siltation and pollutants from the mine would pose a risk to the island's coral reefs; locals worried about the their limited supply of drinking water and their livelihoods, which are mostly dependent on the sea. On October 11th and 31st, 2005, cyanide spills proved these fears valid.

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