CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 5, 2012) – Taking a cue from the Good Book to be stewards of God’s creation – SULOG, The Movement – will host the 1st People’s Mining Summit on Saturday in Cagayan de Oro City in northern Mindanao.
It said the event is open to the public and that all interested parties, including the victims of flood from the tropical storm Sendong are invited to join the summit.
SULOG Vice Chairman Nixon Baban said the summit will be held at the Capitol University Gymnasium and shall begin at 1 p.m.
“SULOG, The Movement” is born to enlighten, unite and to empower our people determined to address, overcome and change the torrential tide of environmental damages confronting our society today,” said former councilor Celestino Ocio.
Cause-oriented groups, indigenous peoples, civic clubs joined hands barely two months ago to create a movement dedicated to a sustainable development and lifestyle of the nation’s patrimony.
“We have come together as one united society of concerned citizens, determined to make a difference in protecting and preserving our environment for our sake, our children’s and our children’s children. With a strong resolved to achieve our goals, we implore the guidance of the Divine Being to see us through this arduous battle.”
“Mining and illegal logging have not helped address mass poverty and the gross inequalities of income, wealth and political power,” he said. “Despite their claims as drivers of development, mining and logging companies have failed to show any evidence they have effectively addressed mass poverty and gross inequalities in our country. Mining and logging areas are among our poorest areas and have left us with degraded environments with the taxpayers left to pay for the cost for their rehabilitation. The revenue collection rate on mining and logging are even lower than the Expanded Value Added Tax we pay for the products we purchase from the grocery or drugstore,” Baban said. (Mike Baños)
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