MANILA, Philippines -- Anti-mining group Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) has launched a book showcasing powerful women who have campaigned against the promotion of large-scale mining in the country.
The book titled "Stories from the Mines, of struggle, sisterhood and solidarity" features women's struggles against the presence of mining projects, their sisterhood within the community and solidarity across cultures, ATM said in a press statement on Tuesday.
The anti-mining group said these are "pro-environment, pro-human dignity, pro-conservation and pro-sustainability women who are always eager to fight for what they think is right."
The book features ABS-CBN Foundation managing director Gina Lopez, who is also behind the "No to Mining in Palawan" campaign which has already collected about 7 million signatures from supporters.
It said Lopez believes the key to fighting mining is to show people that they can earn without damaging the environment.
Lopez was quoted as saying, "Wherever large-scale miners go, the communities are damaged. They remain poor. The so-called economic benefits do not benefit the people. Mining does not translate to community development."
Other women featured in the book include Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, Dr. Catherine Coumans of the Mining Watch Canada, Annabelle Plantilla of the Haribon Foundation, Dr. Nymia Simbulan of the Philippine Human Rights Information Center and Mayor Sadeka Garcia-Tomaneng of Tubay, Agusan Del Norte.
source: abs-cbnnews.com
