From Friends Across the Globe
Dear Yolanda and fellows,
I’m answering in copy to the coordination of our Red Iglesias y Minería (Church and Mining Network) active in Latin America in defence of the communities affected by mining operations).
We are very worried about this strategy of mining companies attacking popular movements. You just denounced violations that were happening against the fishermen, and now you are threatened by the violators!
Your strategy of giving visibility to this case and asking for the international support is very important.
We hope that the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace could write a supporting statement, confirming how important you were in witnessing Philippines’ mining situation and the communities’ resistance during the meeting in Rome, in July 2015.
If you consider important, also Iglesias y Minería Network could write a support statement, sending it to you and publishing in our networks.
Let’s keep united in these difficult hours.
May God bless you and your people!
Father Dário Bossi
Iglesias y Minería – Brasil
I agree with sending a solidarity letter from Iglesias y Minería Network.
Thiago Valentim
Iglesias y Minería – Brasil
We will be keeping everyone in our prayers. The pain continues! What a tragic loss of valuable life.
I was wondering if you thought your new President Duterte would also need to be included because he has spoken out strongly on mining abuses.We are watching what is happening with the Lumas indigenous people with another contact.
Yoly, thanks so much for your help.
Our Thoughts and many prayers.
Sheila Kinsey
FCJM
I agree to write a solidarity letter.
We have published a note on our website: https://www.facebook.com/IglesiasyMineria/
Pedro Sanchez
Caritas Ecuador
Hello Yoly:
It is good to hear from you – not so good to hear of your difficulties. I notice that your list does not include Sister Sheila. It is my understanding that she now works with the Vatican on human rights and mining issues so I will pass your message along to her as well as Father John Rausch from the Appalachians who was with us at the Vatican.
I wonder if the company you are dealing with has ties to Canada. There was also a libel case filed by Taseko Mines in British Columbia over a proposed mine near my home town – Williams Lake. I will attach several links.
- http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/court-battle-begins-for-taseko-mines-over-bcs-fish-lake-project/article22530026/
- https://www.biv.com/article/2016/1/taseko-mines-loses-defamation-suit-against-wildern/
- http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/environmentalists-win-defamation-court-battle-with-taseko-mines-1.3422475
The good news is that the environmental group just won the case in the Supreme Court of British Columbia. See the links.
Please pass along my warmest greetings to Father Joy – I have many fond memories of our time in Rome and Assisi.
Peace and strength,
Ernest Kroeker
Williams Lake
Dear Yoly,
Revolutionary Greetings from PPSS!
You know that, our PPSS also democraticaly fighting against praposed POSCO Steel Plant, Captive Mining, Captive Port and taking water from River last 11 years in Odisha,India.
We condemn to the incident and demand for strong action against that mining company. We offer you all the support and solidarity to your movement and I request you please you can use my name and our organisation name in your praposed statement. We also request you all that this is high time for a very strong movement, network, and campaign required against all mining company globally to defend Human Rights and environment. Thank you all.
With Solidarity,
Prashant Paikray
Spokesperson, PPSS
Dear friends, brothers, and sisters,
We all know the sad realities which we suffer in our countries because of the presence of destructive extractive projects which cause a severe impact on our daily lives such as the destruction of precious ecological systems, political corruption, persecution and repression of communities and their leaders which may even end in deaths.
This reality does not change, the transnational corporations get more and more rigid in their positions and they make use of the judicial systems in order to sue us and to persecute us because we are fighting for a just cause, in defense of life and creation and human dignity. This is why our union and the joint international complaints in search of justice are our most important weapon and power.
In my country – Chile – in the Atacama region, there are huge mining projects in operation, such as the powerful Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold which opened a mine in the mountains and has destroyed three precious glaciers – the source that provides our valley with water. We have been fghting and resisting against these projects for more than 15 years now and have faced the powerful mining corporations, the corruption they cause and we have taken this fight to all the possible forums available with the very few resources that we have. We are about the organize the 12th March against these projects and in defense of our valley, the valley del Huasco. We will march on 23 July in Vallenar, Chile. We ask you to include us in your prayers so that our march will be successful. We also ask you to spread this news among your contacts and to use all the communicational opportunities that are available to spread this message and receive solidarity and support.
We are sending warm greetings, and wish you strength, trust and faith. We will reach justice, protection of life and creation.
All the best,
Juan Guillermo Peñaloza Sierra
Diócesis de Copiapó (Chile)
