The Philippine Misereor Partnership, Incorporated (PMPI) reiterates its call for stronger protection for environmental defenders and justice for all human rights victims as the country continues to rank first as the deadliest nation in Asia for environmentalists in its ninth consecutive year.
The report from Global Witness reveals that the Philippines ranks fourth in the world with 19 environmental defenders killed in 2021.[1] This consistent, violent trend that spans almost a decade and two presidencies makes it clear that environmental and social justice was never a priority and a matter of serious concern for our state leaders.
Global Witness found that 80% of the decade-long killings are linked to environmental protests against corporations, one-third of which is connected to mining. These are protests clamoring for the protection of the environment and its constituents. To add insult to injury, Duterte’s moratorium lift on mining agreements last year only means that more ecosystems and communities will be at the mercy of mining corporations. Not to mention that these will be the same communities that will suffer the brunt of climate change due to their degraded environment, displaced homes, and increased inaccessibility to opportunities due to lost livelihoods.
The inaction and complacency exhibited by the previous administrations, and the silence of Bongbong Marcos, Jr. is a clear indication of continuing systemic oppression mired by deaf ears and violent means. It is the worsening symptom of our current paradigm of profit-oriented government projects, policies that favor the rich and the corporations, oblivious of continuing social inequalities, and a bleak climate.
Why are we protecting corporate interests over the welfare of our environment and people in communities? Why are we propagating violence and disrespecting nature and human rights instead of listening to valid concerns and genuine calls for progress? Why is it that ‘economic development’ promises brought by development aggression only bring further inequality and death to our communities? For whom do these policies and projects really serve?
How many more lives will it take for us to be heard?
We amplify the calls of our communities and of every environmental defender for wanting better systems of living. We demand to be heard on our call that we can never achieve genuine economic development if it does not uphold environmental and human rights. In the midst of the worsening impacts of climate change and human rights violations, it is only imperative and moral to reject this current paradigm where profit matters more than nature and human lives. We assert the need to have safe civic spaces to protest and voice out our concerns as an exercise of our democratic rights. We call on Bongbong Marcos, Jr. and our lawmakers to address these violations of human and environmental rights, bring justice to light, and stop the trend towards impunity, with the passage of the Human Rights Defenders Act.
Justice for our 270 environmental defenders[2] who were killed in the last ten years! Uphold climate justice! Pass the Rights of Nature bill now!
- https://www.philstar.com/
headlines/2022/09/29/2213088/ philippines-still-deadliest- country-asia- environmentalists-global- witness - https://www.globalwitness.org/
en/campaigns/environmental- activists/decade-defiance/# decade-killings-globall
