Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Protest Action Against Offshore Mining at Dept. of Energy-Cebu

STOP OFFSHORE MINING IN THE VISAYAS!
COALITION AGAINST OFF-SHORE MINING FOR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES

Defend our Sea Coalition spearheads a lightning picket protest today, June 13 at 10:00 in the morning at the office of the Department of Energy, Metrobank building, Jones Avenue, Cebu City.

The protest is directed against the planned off-shore mining exploration in Cebu Strait this coming June 15, 2007 in the seas between Bohol and Cebu.

Bohol - Conservation Watch, FIDEC's counterpart in Bohol and one of the founding members of DEFEND OUR SEA COALITION spearheads a dialogue with local government units at the same time. They will also stage a prayer rally on June 14. A boat barricade will be also organized on June 15 to 18. NorAsia Energy Limited, the company which will be conducting the oil exploration will start their payao/gango (fish pens) clearing activity to give way to a seismic survey along the Cebu-Bohol Strait on June 15.

For more reference please read the official statement below.

Fisherfolk sectors in Cebu show their opposition to offshore mining.

Offshore mining will reduce fish supply in the affected areas.


A fisherfolk leader reads the official statement condemning the Dept. of Energy and the government as 'willing apologists, partners and lackeys of destructive foreign monopoly corporation.'

A copy of the official statement issued by Defend Our Sea Coalition.

FIDEC's executive director Vince Cinches interviewed by the local media. Photos by Yowee Gonzales