8 days of rain force 80,000 people out of homes in Bicol

Philippine Daily Inquirer
LEGAZPI CITY – At least 80,000 people were moved out of their homes in what officials said was preemptive evacuation to keep them out of harm’s way as rains continued to raise flood levels and the likelihood of landslides in Albay.

Victims of Lafayette mining

Defend Patrimony demands permanent closure of Rapu-Rapu mine, accountability and responsibility from Arroyo, DENR, and Lafayette

Anti-mining liberalization alliance Defend Patrimony today pressed for the permanent closure of the Arroyo administration’s first foreign-owned showcase mining project in the Philippines owned by financially-troubled Lafayette Mining Limited (LML) of Australia.

DEFEND LIFE, UPHOLD HUMAN RIGHTS – Bishop Bastes

Statement On the Occasion of the 59th Declaration of International Human Rights Day
Life is the most precious gift that man has ever received from God. Man shares in the grace of the Divine Life and man’s image is created according to its Creator. Such likeness magnifies God’s goodness to man and no one [...]

BARANGAY DEFENSE SYSTEM (BDS): STATE GARRISONS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

On the Occasion of the International Human Rights Day
Vibrant life has been lost in the countryside especially in the far-flung barrios in the Province of Sorsogon. It is no longer a place of KASANGGAYAHAN (place of abundance and peace) but rather state garrisons where military rules the life of the people. Military posts [...]

Camp-out vs GMA’s flagship mining project kicks off

Lafayette mine should be closed, affected communities compensated – Kalikasan PNE
Amidst reports of financial woes plaguing the Arroyo administration’s flagship mining project in Rapu-Rapu island, local residents are launching a week-long rally and camp-out in front of the Albay Provincial Capitol to call for the permanent closure of Australian-owned Lafayette Mining Limited’s open-pit mine and [...]

Protest against Lafayette mining heats up

Albay board to review memorandum of agreement between Australian firm and provincial govtProtest against Lafayette mining heats up
By Rhaydz B. Barcia, Correspondent-Manila Times
Legazpi City: Finally the provincial government of Albay agreed to reinvestigate the fish kill incident off the shores of Rapu-Rapu a month ago and finally settle the issue.
The move came following the appeal [...]

Investors back out of Arroyo’s flagship mining project in Rapu-Rapu

Green groups call for end to financially-devastated, ecologically-destructive mine ops
Environmentalists today welcomed news of an investor pull-out and a trading halt by Australian-owned firm Lafayette Mining Limited this weekend, hoping that this would signal the beginning of the end for the Arroyo administration’s flagship mining project in Rapu-Rapu island in Albay.

Typhoon ‘Mina’ update

At 2 a.m. today, the eye of Typhoon “MINA” was located based on land radar, satellite and surface data at 220 kms East Northeast of Virac, Catanduanes (14.3°N, 126.5°E) with maximum sustained winds of 175 kph and gustiness of up to 210 kph. It is forecast to move Northwest at 11 kph.
Forecast:
Bicol region, the provinces [...]

State of calamity declared in Albay

The entire province of Albay has been placed under a state of calamity as residents continue to flock to evacuation centers in the hours ahead of typhoon Mina’s landfall.
read more | digg story