[번역]10/16 번역자료(환경연합-sbs 물환경대상)

환경연합_sbs 물환경 대상 국제부분 지원서

첨부파일 : 3_Photos of STARM Activities

Detailed information about achievements of the nominee

1. What has been the major work of the nominee in relation to water management and conservation of water environment?   (no more than 300 words)

The Cordillera Peoples Alliance has been working together with the Save the Abra River Movement (STARM) since 2001 until the present to study the impacts of mining operations of Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company (LCMC) on the Abra River. STARM is a broad coalition of people’s organizations, academic institutions, scientists, church organizations, non-government organizations, local government officials and environmentalists who contribute their expertise, time and resources to save the Abra River, which traverses the provinces of Benguet and Abra in the Cordillera mountains, westward down to the coastal Ilocos region and out into the West Philippine Sea. CPA now acts as the convenor of STARM.

Several environmental investigative missions and researches were conducted by CPA and STARM since 2002 up to the present in order to gather scientific data on the condition of the Abra River through the following studies:

• A Rapid Appraisal conducted by APIT-TAKO[1] in March 2002 tracing the detrimental effects of industrial pollution from mine tailings on the livelihoods, ecosystem and health of numerous communities of Mankayan, Benguet, Ilocos Sur and Abra due to the operations of LCMC.
• Inter-agency environmental investigatory mission conducted in September 2002 to do an interdisciplinary appraisal of conditions in the areas affected by mining. The EIM looked into the the impacts of the effluents from the mine tailings dam on the physico-chemical and biological components of the river ecosystem, on the stability and quality of livelihood systems, health status and general well-being of the local communities.
• Health Profile of Communities Living Near Corporate Gold Mining Operations in Mankayan, Benguet including an Occupational Hazard Survey and Assessment among the mine workers of Lepanto
• Research collaboration with University of Northern Philippines and University of the Philippines Baguio Mangrove Cover and Coral Reef Assessment, Initial Restoration  and Environmental Education in Selected Shoreline Communities in Ilocos Sur

1. What has the nominee done to improve water related policy and its implementation, and to raise public awareness?   (no more than 600 words)

CPA has collaborated with other organizations in order to empower the communities affected by the mining operations of LCMC and to raise awareness among community people including farmers, indigenous peoples, workers, students, lawyers, church people, teachers, professionals, academe, government units and line agencies and the general public so that decisive action may be taken to stop the devastation of the Abra River. Among the activities conducted were:

• Various education and trainings for STARM convenors, members and affected communities along the Abra River including Trainors’ Training, Ecology Training and Community-Based Water Monitoring Training, leadership trainings, community education on mining, indigenous peoples’ rights and free prior and informed consent, among others.
• Organizing of community organizations who are at the forefront of the community struggle against destructive large-scale mining operations in Mankayan and Quirino, including: MAQUITACDEG (Mankayan-Quirino-Tadian-Cervantes Danggayan a Gunglo), AM-IN (Am-a ya In-a ay Manakem id AMPIS), MALEX (Mankayan Against Lepanto Expansion), Save Quirino Movement (SQM), and Save Mankayan Movement (SMM).
• Numerous symposia and forums to discuss the findings of environmental investigative missions, researches and community issues with the public such as the 1^st Water for the People Northern Luzon Conference on November 24-26, 2004, and the Amianan Salakniban: Northern Luzon Mining and Human Rights Summit on December 12-15, 2011, among others.
• Public mobilization activities to expose the situation of the Abra River and the impacts of destructive large-scale mining during significant dates including celebration of Earth Day (April 22), International Day of Action for Rivers, Water and Life (March 14), Cordillera Day (April 24), Peasant Month (October) and Mines Unsafety Week (November).
• Meetings with local government units of the provinces of Abra, Benguet and Ilocos Sur and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to raise the issue of government accountability and to demand for concrete and decisive action from the authorities on the violations by LCMC of environmental laws.
• Dialogues with the mining company regarding the revival of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Mankayan Municipal government and Lepanto and the establishment of a Tripartite Monitoring Body to monitor the water quality of the Abra River, among others.
• Numerous media forums, interviews and press conferences regarding various issues related to mining including the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, Executive Order on the National Minerals Policy, Executive Order 79 implementing reforms in the mining sector,  expansion of operations by LCMC and the right of the affected indigenous peoples to free prior informed consent.
• Pickets, dialogues and lobby activities with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and assistance in legal cases filed by the company against community leaders protesting the expansion of mining operations of LCMC.
• Submission of reports to particular UN agencies and processes including the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Rodolfo Stavenhagen in March 2003, and participation in various international conferences to raise the issue of destructive large scale mining oerations.
• Building international solidarity with groups and individuals concerned with protection of the environment and the rights of indigenous peoples in the Cordillera through hosting exposure visits of numerous groups to mining affected communities. One such exposure visit hosted by the CPA was the Beaconsfield Initiative wherein church leaders and pastors of the United Church of Canada visited the Cordillera from January 2-12, 2012 to evaluate the impact of Canadian mining practices and to build solidarity relations between the UCC congregations and the affected communities along the Abra River.

1. What have been challenges or difficulties for the nominee?   (no more than 300 words)

CPA faces many challenges in its work of empowering communities to defend their rights and environment. One is political vilification or labeling the CPA as a terrorist or communist front organization because of its commitment to work for the rights of the marginalized and neglected communities. CPA has had to defend itself and its organizers from surveillance, harassment and intimidation by government officials, company management and the military. Some of our leaders have even become victims of illegal arrest, enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killings because of our vocal protest against the violation of indiegenous peoples’ rights. Militarization of the communities is also another challenge that has sown fear among the people and stifled militant protest among some communities.

Another challenge that CPA faces is the lack of resources to fully support our work. Our organizers only receive a minimal monthly allowance for their operations, and our activities are supported through donations from advocates and support organizations. This is why some of our organizers have chosen to apply for other jobs either abroad or in the urban areas to be able to earn some income to support their families. This is also why CPA has to continuously seek for financial support from its partners and friends in the Philippines and abroad to support its regular work and operations as a grassroots alliance of peoples organizations. A particular need is to generate resources to have a permanent office or indigenous peoples’ center to hold CPA activities.

CPA also continues to face the challenge of tapping technical expertise and equipment to conduct scientific environmental impact studies. While we are able to tap the services of academic institutions, conducting water testing and other laboratory tests are expensive and we still need to build our own internal capacity in this aspect as an organization.

1. How has the nominee overcome those challenges or difficulties?   (no more than 300 words)

In order to overcome these challenges, CPA conducts human rights orientation and paralegal training to equip its members and communities with knowledge on human rights for them to be able to defend themselves against human rights violations. In addition, CPA has developed linkages with human rights lawyers and paralegals who can advise and assist the organization in handling legal cases of human rights. We also have a continuing human rights campaign calling for a stop to militarization and impunity.

To address the challenge of lack of resources, CPA has assigned a member of its secretariat for resource mobilization to tap possible sources in the country and abroad. CPA submits proposals to sympathetic groups and development agencies to generate support for the different activities and programs of the organization. We also collect membership dues from the member organizations and solicit donations from friends, exposurees, church organizations and others. A campaign to solicit donations for setting up an indigenous peoples’ center is also ongoing.

1. What are impacts of the nominee’s work for the society or communities?  (no more than 300 words)

Among the impacts of the work of CPA are:

• The communities where CPA works have been organized and empowered to assert their rights to land, life and resources in the face of destructive projects and extractive industries being imposed upon them.
• Applications by mining companies for exploration, operation or expansion in different provinces of the Cordillera have been prevented or delayed because of questionable processes of free prior and informed consent and other violations. Those that have been prevented or delayed are the exploration of Canadian mining company Olympus in Baay-Licuan, in the province of Abra; the entry of Australian mining company Royalco in Bakun, Benguet; the exploration by Cordillera Exploration Incorporated (CEXI) and Oceana Gold in Conner, Apayao; the drilling operation of Lepanto (LCMC) and Goldfields for expansion of mining in Madaymen, Mankayan, Benguet.
• There had been increased social awareness on the destructive impacts of large-scale mining on the environment and on indigenous peoples communities among a broad section of society, thereby requiring greater responsibility and due diligence on the part of the mining companies operating or applying to operate in the Cordillera.
• Greater solidarity relations between CPA and concerned groups in the country and abroad have generated increased moral, political, material and financial support for the people’s struggles and community activities to defend their land, rights and resources.

1. Please attach material which can show the achievements of the nominee (news clippings, photos, reports and other awards records)

Please find separately attached the following materials:

1. Awards and published stories

2. Publications and Reports

3. Links of News Stories, Video Documentaries

4. Photos