Environment gathers for prayer

An anti-mining group and various individuals have taken part in a prayer ceremony at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros on March 12.

The Alyansa Tigil Mina-led activity was one of the main events of their Anti-Mining Solidarity Week celebration held March 7 to 14.

This year’s theme was: “Malawakang Pagminina: Katutubo at Kalikasan Nagdurusa.” The group prayed the Station of Cross “focusing on the sufferings of our indigenous peoples and of our ecological life support systems brought about by mining operations.”

Prior to their praying activity, the group held a press conference where they called on the government to scrap the Mining Act of 1995.

The activists said that the tragic experiences of local communities where mining activities happened call for a halt of all mining operations and revocation of approved mining agreements.

They lashed the government for prioritizing business interests over the welfare of indigenous communities who suffer more from the outcomes of mining operations.

The group added that local communities where mining operations were halted still bear the ill effects of mining as landslides, diseases and environmental destructions hit residents.