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eastwind journals28 Apr 2012 01:01 am
eastwind journals 33 – PRESS STATEMENT tampakan forum FACT FINDING MISSION
PRESS STATEMENT
TAMPAKAN FORUM
28 APRIL 2012
STOP THE DIVIDE, LET THE B’LAANS DECIDE
The Fact-Finding/Solidarity Mission organized by Social Action Center of Marbel and the Tampakan Forum in coordination with the Dioceses of Kidapawan and Digos is calling on the PNoy Administration to immediately resolve the brewing conflict among the B’laan tribe in view of the rift created by the aggressive push of SMI to pursue its mining project in Tampakan despite the denial of SMI’s application for Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).
The fact-finding mission that we conducted last 25-26 April 2012, have indicated the following:
· Intensifying conflict among the B’laan Tribe. Road blockades have been put up by members of B’laan tribe identifying themselves as supporters of SMI’s mining project at the road in Pulabato and Danlag. Men, women and even children manning the barricade declared that they are not allowing any person or group identified to be opposing the mining project to enter, which actually happened to the members of the fact-finding/solidarity mission team last 25 April 2012. They declared support to SMI on account of the benefits they are receiving from the former. On the other hand, B’laans residing in the interior part of Lafla, Gumiket Ayem, Nakul Tana, Alyong 1 and 2 and Bong Sbang have barricaded all roads leading to their respective communities as an indignation against the mining project and the on-going efforts of SMI to facilitate the process of their relocation to T’marok. What is currently at the hands of our government and SMI on account of the FTAA, is an intensifying conflict which should be resolved under the terms and processes of the B’laans.
·
Increased military presence. Seven (7) detachments were placed at Campo 5, Datal biao, two in Bongmal, Salnaong, Alyong and Kiamo which are either manned by personnel from AFP and CAFGU. A COMPAC Police substation of Kiblawan PNP was installed early this year including the Headquarter of PNP Provincial Mobile Group of Davao Del Sur, all in Gumiket Ayem. A curfew is now being enforced between 10pm to 4 am in Bong Mal. Last 27 January 2012, members of the military just entered the place for worship/ritual for the reason that the military personnel are looking for the three (3) suspects of a murder case. And last December 2011, when the military conducted a search for the 3 “wanted” members of the B’laan tribe, residents of Bong Mal claimed that they were restrained to go to the forest or in any part of their community without seeking permission from the military. Only women were allowed to go to the forests. There were accounts also of military personnel roaming the community without any identifying name patch.
Confusion and anxiety over the impending relocation. Last 22 March 2012, residents of Bong Mal were surprised about the announcement from SMI contained in a tarpaulin posted in various places, which according to our informants, indicated 22 March 2012 as the deadline for registration for those who are consenting to the relocation as part of the preparatory activities for SMI’s mining project. Our informants indicated that they barely understood the content of the announcement and they were at a loss of the process of the relocation. What they are only aware of is their pending relocation to T’murok should the project of SMI proceed. The B’laans in T’marok on the other hand is opposing this plan and they have vowed to oppose such relocation plan. According to them, there was no genuine consultation on this relocation plan of SMI and this is one reason why they will never allow the mining project to proceed.
Non-compensation for damages. According to our informants, their crops like corn, cassava and coffee were destroyed due to the bulldozer that levelled-off their farms to give way to the access roads for drilling operations and road-widening as part of the preparatory development for the mining project. They are resenting the non-compensation of the damages they sustained because according to the tribal chieftain, they will not be compensated anymore because the land is already paid for by SMI. Again, this indicate the inadequate or absence of information dissemination on how compensation can be claimed by the mining-affected communities.
The foregoing, clearly indicate the absence of the appropriate and adequate consultation process on how the mining-related activities of SMI is being conducted. People whether for or against the mining project are caught in between and their confusion and anxiety for fear of the unknown make them vulnerable to resolve their problem on their terms. The military presence even will not help if their presence is on the pretext of maintaining peace and order. The B’laans who are against the mining project have expressed their willingness to resolve their differences based on their customs and tradition with those groups who are supporting the mining project. They are willing to dialogue with each other but without the presence of any third party, the government and much more SMI.
Based on our initial findings, we recommend the following:
1. Total pull-out of the seven (7) military detachment in the communities
2. Enforce a definite moratorium on all SMI activities in the area
3. Recognize and respect the customary laws of the B’laan on conflict resolution
4. Undertake a meaningful FPIC in the mining-affected areas
5. Ensure transparency and accountability of tribal chieftains, SMI and local government unit in dealing with the members of their communities
The Fact-Finding/Solidarity Mission is composed of the Tampakan Forum members , Philippine Human Rights (PhilRights) Center, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Phil .- National Secretariat for Social Action,Justice and Peace ( CBCP-NASSA), Koalisyon ng Katutubong Samahan ng Pilipinas (KASAPI), Task Force Detainees of the Phil (TFDP), Radyo Veritas and the Commission on Human Rights.
Tampakan Forum is a technical working group on the Tampakan mining issue convened by the Philippine-Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI) in collaboration with Social Action Marbel, AlyansaTigil Mina (ATM), Philippine Association for Intercultural Development (PAFID), Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center-Friends of Earth Philippines (LRC-KSK), Philippine Indigenous Peoples Links ( PIPLINKS) and the London Working Group on Mining in the Philippines and IUCN CESP-SEAPRISE.
Contact Persons:
FR, GILLARME JOY PELIÑO – (083) 2283793
ATTY. MARIO E. MADERAZO – (02) 3534287, (mobile) 09228501873
The Secretariat
Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc.
2nd Floor, No. 8 Cordillera St. Cor. Ramirez St.
Barangay Doña Aurora
1113 Quezon City , Philippines
Tel. No. (02) 353- 4287
Fax. No. (02) 353- 4396
www.2003pmp.org
eastwind journals19 Apr 2012 06:15 am
eastwind journals 32 – e-bombs / inspiring anecdotes
eastwind journals
1
A silent bomb that can paralyze a city
2
A gift of inner peace – a true story
3
Vicky’s terminal diabetes – a true story
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A SILENT BOMB THAT CAN PARALYZE A CITY
New emerging WMDs – microwave and electro-magnetic bombs
The University of Michigan is conducting research on the creation of a ‘microwave bomb’ with intensity half a million times that of your home microwave oven. If blasted over a city, it will neutralize every electronic device in that city, from cellphones, computers, trains, cars, escalators, elevators, any device, as long as it has digital controls. Although this will be an invisible almost silent bomb which will not kill anyone directly, it will kill on a massive scale by causing train collisions, massive car accidents, inoperable ICU equipment, to name a few.
An electro-magnetic bomb will have the same effect now being developed by the US military. In a war zone, aircrafts and their bombs operated digitally will be neutralized, radars, sonars, satellite links, communication systems, remote control devices, etc. It can paralyze an entire aircraft carrier, a nuclear submarine, nuclear siloes with their missiles. It is the absolute weapon of the future. In the hands of terrorists, it will make 9-11 look like a firecracker affair in terms of effects. It does not have to have a missile delivery system. If the design is compact and portable, it can easily be smuggled in parts to New York City and detonated from a hotel room. If detonated at rush hour, its effects are unimaginable. And no one will know what hit them. Time will literally stand still on all electronic wall clocks, cellphones, and computers. The electronic revolution will self-destruct.
It is amazing how the prestigious American academe is becoming a mercenary agent for sophisticated weapons of war.
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THE GIFT OF INNER PEACE
Verse 064, a true story
As told to the author first hand.
Josephine works at the Department of Energy as a member of the council that evaluates public bids for big energy projects, which run into millions of dollars. A Japanese executive from a big multinational came up to her and gave her a thick envelope and told her to open it later when she was alone. When she got home, she opened the envelope, and immediately tears flowed. For she found five hundred thousand pesos, money she needed so desperately for her daughter’s college tuition. She asked for strength from the Lord. The whole night she was in agony, not knowing what to do, until she fell asleep, her tears un-dried in her cheeks.
In the morning, her daughter woke her up and asked what was the matter. Josephine looked hard at her, the youth and beauty of her only child, and embraced her tighter than ever before. Josephine left immediately, hurrying to return the envelope to the secretary of the Japanese, before she changed her mind. Going back to work, she felt a deep sense of peace she had never felt before, a sense of well being very rare in her life of tensions and endless tasks. It was the gift of inner peace from the Lord.
At the bidding awards ceremony, the Japanese suddenly appeared. Josephine turned around quickly, not wanting to talk to him. But he hurried and called out to her. He smiled and gave a very low curtsy, all the way to the waist. In Japanese culture, the lower the bow, the greater the admiration. It was a bow for an empress, a bow of deep respect. No word was spoken and the two smiled at each other. Josephine smiled back. The Japanese left and it is almost the end of the story.
Two months later, out of the blue, the money Josephine wanted so desperately, fell on her lap almost like an accident. But she knew it was not an accident. It was a gift from the Lord, the second one, although it was nothing compared to her first gift. It was not a hundred thousand, much smaller, but it was enough and her daughter went to college.
She asked only for a little strength and the Lord made her invincible. She asked for a little drizzle for her garden, and He gave her a downpour. In her moment of despair, a tiny streak of light smashed the darkness, blinding her. It also blinded the Japanese into awe. He never saw such valor. For valor it was, for one to defy such a tsunami.
in our darkest moments He is there
if only we grope for Him
in our despair and want He is there
if only we want Him to be
in our illness He heals
if only we ask Him
how can you get lost
when all the roads lead to Him
who is everywhere for everyone
eastwind
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VICKY’S TERMINAL DIABETES
Verse 057 – a true story
Vicky has advanced-stage diabetes. Her immunity system has so degenerated that a small wound on her foot becomes gangrene beyond medication. The doctors say they have to amputate
Four hours after being prayed over by Sister Raquel Reodica, RVM, Vicky’s gangrene dries up completely. The pus vanishes into thin air like darkness vanishes into dawn. The next day, the doctors check on Vicky and are shocked to see that even the inside of her wound are dry, when no medicine was administered.
After interviewing Vicky and her doctors, a team of doctors from the Vatican, who visit to look into the beatification of Mother Ignacia, founder of the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM), declare that this is a ‘first class miracle’, attributed to Mother Ignacia, whom Sister Raquel invokes in her healing prayers.
The Lord loves Vicky as He loves each of us. We who ask Him for help in the darkness of our lives shall receive His bounty. To Him be glory and honor, Who heals not so much our bodies but more our spirits. For our bodies are but dust but our spirits are forever.
from the book ‘foodforthesoul’
available in key National Book Store branches
or at Mother Ignacia Healing Center, Novaliches
contact us www.sisterraquel.com
or by by postal mail (philippines or abroad)
send email request to –
eastwind@motherignaciahealingministry.com
Free e-book download – healing stories of Sister Raquel
http://www.sisterraquel.com/2008/09/archive07-e-books-and-healing-stories/
Say a healing prayer with Sister Raquel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAZcwNimBSg
Say a healing prayer with Father Suarez
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UP3LHBgtIc
Visit the healing ministry’s blogsite
www.sisterraquel.com
the Lord reigns in cyberspace
eastwind journals01 Apr 2012 11:11 am
eastwind journals 30 – MASSIVE TRADING SHIFT FROM THE DOLLAR
eastwind journals 30
eastwind journals are the personal journalistic writings of Bernie Lopez, and are not part of the healing ministry. Any views or comments are his own and does not reflect those of the ministry.
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MASSIVE TRADING SHIFT FROM THE DOLLAR
Is a dollar implosion imminent?
There are disturbing signs that the demise of the dollar as world currency is closer than observers perceive. The American media has been silent about secret agreements among nations to move away from the dollars in its trade, precisely because of a perceived implosion.
Iran Post-Sanction Oil Exports. Oil trade has been veering away from the decades-old petro-dollar system, ever since the US-UK-EU trade sanctions against Iran. As a result, oil hungry nations are seeking currency alternatives. India is negotiating to pay Iran in gold, rupees, or goods, a return to the barter trade of old for oil purchases. Iran announced that as of March 20, it will accept only gold or non-dollar currencies for oil and gas purchases. Iran is the third largest producer of oil worldwide. That is why the US is tempted to invade it at any pretext. The EU which gets half a million barrels a day from Iran, will have to suffer due to the sanction.It is a ‘self-sanction’. Iran will turn east for buyers and may in fact benefit from bigger sales to new buyers, at the same time get rid of dollars before any implosion.
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China-UAE/Saudi Deals. China and the UAE have agreed to abandon the dollar in its oil transactions. Although the UAE is a small player, the deal has a domino effect on Middle East oil trading. Saudi Arabia’s biggest oil buyer is no longer the US but China, which purchased an average of 1.39 million barrels of oil per day in February 2012, a 40% increase from February 2011. If China is a bigger buyer, will this undermine the petro-dollar monopoly? The US may resort to military options if it loses its hold on Saudi Arabia.
China-Russia Deal. Russia and China are getting rid of its dollars gradually by massive acquisitions and joint ventures abroad, buying banks and energy production firms. Russian and China have also agreed to use their national currencies in trade for more than a year now.
China-Africa Deal. China is now the emerging biggest trade partner of Africa, where the last dwindling mineral resources are found. China is using the yuan for trade with Africa. Standard Bank, Africa’s largest, reports it is expecting “at least $100 billion in Sino-African trade”, more than double of that in 2010. China now has about 70,000 companies using the Yuan in cross border transactions.
China-Japan Deal. China and Japan have a new bilateral trade agreement dumping the US dollar. If these second and third largest economies shake hands to promote the yuan and the yen, the dollar will rapidly be deader than a door nail. This deal will trigger the critical mass for a massive shift away from the dollar. The critical mass is predicted to be sudden rather than slow because of panic at a certain point. Dollar implosion will see the end of US sanctions as a tool of hegemony and dominance.
China-BRICS Plan. Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa have formulated the BRICS PLAN, to use their own currencies in inter-trade. Other smaller nations are complaining that they should be included in this new multi-lateral trade agreement.
UN-IMF Moves. The United Nations has been pushing for a new world reserve currency as an alternative to the US dollar in its reports, saying “A new global reserve system could be created, one that no long relies on the United States dollar as the single major reserve currency.” The same is true for the International Monetary Fund, proposing “that a future global currency be named the ‘Bancor’ and that a future global central bank could be put in charge.”
World War III Syndrome. The World War III Syndrome is especially true if the Yuan replaces the dollar as global currency. The US will not take this sitting down, especially because of its overwhelming military superiority. It will easily take military options to preserve the dollar’s position. Observers argue that this has happened in the past. Libya and Iraq were invaded by the US because of their decisions to dump dollars before 9-11. Indeed, dollar implosion can trigger World War III. The first reaction of the US to its receding economic influence in Asia was more military rather than economic – the setup of a base in Australia, which can host a large rapid deployment force.
The Global Currency Avalanche. Today, more than 60% of foreign currency reserves worldwide are in US dollars. But from the above events, when global institutions unite against the dollar, one can see an avalanche of unimaginable proportions coming. Avalanches are never in slow motion. They happen at the blink of an eye. And in a global avalanche, we are all affected. The planet is at stake, not just America.
The Final Catalysts.
Catalyst no. 1 – The Hate Bank.. The US has been investing heavily in a ‘Hate Bank’ all over the world in the last few decades, waging wars that mutilate societies, insensitive to collateral damages, replacing regimes for American interests, saber-rattling against Russia with defense missiles and China with 7 aircraft carriers during the confrontation in Taiwan. Today, American tourists are in danger anywhere more than ever. After 9-11, a Time Magazine cover blurb screamed, “Why do they hate us?” The article tried to answer the question and blamed the whole world for it. The article argued that the US was spotless, self-righteous, and innocent. The return on investment in the Hate Bank is tremendously big. It may be the final catalyst for dollar implosion.
Catalyst no. 2 – Global Oil Prices. At a certain point that the price of oil becomes unbearable for all world economies, it is easier to abandon the dollar. If the US plays brinkmanship in Iran and the the Gulf of Hormuz, prices may spiral and kill the dollar in the end.
Catalyst no. 3 – War-related Deficit Spending. The US deficit stands at more than $14 trillion cumulatively. In a recession, it will print more paper dollars and trigger its own dollar suicide. At the heart of deficit spending are the numerous wars it wages in the Middle East which has resulted not in more and but in less oil imports. The cost of a one week sortie of an aircraft carrier on a war footing in the Persian Gulf with a crew of 6,000 is greater than the budget of a Third World country for the same period. Multiply that with the three past years and you have an idea of the meaning of war-related deficit spending. (Source BlacklistedNews.com)
eastwind journals
redgate77@gmail.com
eastwind journals23 Mar 2012 05:19 pm
eastwind journals 29 – MINERS, DENR-MGB IGNORE DA-NIA
eastwind journals 29
eastwind journals are the personal journalistic writings of Bernie Lopez, and are not part of the healing ministry. Any views or comments are his own and does not reflect those of the ministry.
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MINING FIRMS, DENR-MGB IGNORE DA-NIA
Mining must not endanger our food security
During a dialogue with Clive Wicks, an international environment consultant from the Working Group on Mining in the Philippines, the DA Secretary noted how he was not being consulted by the mining community, nor by the DENR-MGB on activities which adversely affect agriculture and fisheries.
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Wicks reported that the DA is a legitimate stakeholder, and mining firms are silent about this issue. This is tantamount to ignoring the potential damage of mining firms on water catchment areas, irrigation systems, and coastal marine areas, which are the mandate of the DA to protect.
As a case in point, Wicks cites the largest 10,000-hectare mining area nationwide in Tampakan, South Cotabato of the Sagittarius Mining Inc. (SMI), an affiliate of the giant multinational Xstrata (British and Swiss equity), where a 1.35 billion metric-ton tailings dam will be built by Xstrata underneath a major earthquake fault, sitting on top of a mountain below thousands of hectares of farmlands in Davao del Sur and South Cotabato. This area is the bread basket of Central Mindanao that not only gives critical food security to the entire Mindanao area, but also exports to Metro-Manila and Luzon. Mindanao gives food security to the entire nation.
Philsage Mining Corp. in Agusan del Sur, affiliate of Australian multinational Medusa Mining, reported that an earthquake of magnitude 6.9 off Negros island resulted in the shut-down of four large mill tanks, which began to tilt (Inquirer March 21 2012). Amazingly, the epicenter is quite far, but the fault lines to Mindanao are the culprits. Even a minor distant quake can bring down the Tampakan mega-tailings dam which is underneath a major earthquake fault. This would render vast agricultural areas ten times the affected areas of the infamous Placer Dome dam collapse in Marinduque.
How a threat on a massive scale on agriculture is being ignored by the government in search of more revenues in partnership with large multinationals is a disturbing reality today. The government must give priority to the people it serves, not to the revenues it can earn. The government-multinational partnership is detrimental to the Filipino people.
It must be noted that multinationals like Xstrata are backed up by the Swiss and British embassies here in behalf of their citizens who are stockholders of Xstrata. These citizens are not informed that their money is being used to extract precious gold and copper for the world markets to bring huge profits, but at the expense of the food security of Third World countries. This malpractice must be part of the agenda of bilateral agreements among rich and poor nations. Self-enrichment for the already-rich must not impoverish the already-poor.
Bernie Lopez
March 24, 2012
redgate77@gmail.com
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