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 has any right to put a sunder. This pristine dignity is inalienable to man. This is the HUMAN RIGHTS.

Fish kills again hit Rapu-Rapu island, Residents suspect another mine tailings spill; Sorsogon Bishop, green groups want Lafayette mining stopped

Environmental groups and Sorsogon BIshop Arturo M. Bastes are calling for the permanent closure of Australian-owned Lafayette Mining Limited in Rapu-Rapu, Albay, in light of a reported massive fish kills in the island yesterday.

As of yesterday evening, Rapu-Rapu based Sagip Isla Sagip Kapwa Spokesperson Antonio Casitas reported fish kills in five coastal barangays in Rapu-Rapu island: Barangays Pagcolbon, Malobago, Santa Barbara, Carubcob, and Poblacion.