TO DOE AND NORASIAN: RESTORE PEACE TO OUR HOMES AND COMMUNITY BY LEAVING CEBU STRAIT FOREVER!

(Students from different universities under the environmental network Save Tañon Strait Citizens Movement staged a solidarity meal over dried fish, fish paste, and corn in front of the Department Of Energy to symbolize the effects of off-shore oil and gas operation in Central Philippines)

September 19, 2008
PRESS STATEMENT

TO DOE AND NORASIAN: RESTORE PEACE TO OUR HOMES AND COMMUNITY BY LEAVING CEBU STRAIT FOREVER!

We strongly condemn the illegal act of the DOE and NORASIA for pushing though with the site survey, despite the absence of consent from local authorities in Sibonga and Argao and affected local government units including the Province of Cebu, as required by the Local Government Code. Despite massive opposition from the community, DOE and NorAsian ruthlessly displaced fisherfolk, in gross violation of the social justice provision of the Constitution and the Fisheries Code.

DOE and NorAsian wantonly mocked the celebration of International Day of Peace by sowing discords, displacements and disharmony on previously peaceful communities, and destroyed the rights of the people to life, livelihood, healthy environment and food security policy of the State. Among the individuals, as well as among nations, respecting the other people's rights leads to the path of peace. As Cicero said “The name of peace is sweet, and the thing itself is beneficial, but there is a great difference between peace and servitude. Peace is freedom in tranquility, servitude is the worst of all evils, to be resisted not only by war, but even by death.”

How can we have peace, when the basic law of the land and the rights of the people are trampled upon by DOE. How can the people have peace when foreign corporations are lording over our resources and doing activities that threaten our very existence?
The scientists, fisherfolk, lawyers, teachers and students have spoken - there is no room for oil drilling anywhere else in the world for it causes global warming and is extremely hazardous to us humans and in the environment

We commend the brave acts of the fisherfolks in Sibonga and Argao for reclaiming their rights and making their voices heard, despite the sheer arrogance of DOE-NORAsia.

We reiterate our stand that there is no middle ground when it comes to environmental protection and protection of people’s right to live in this planet with other living things.

DOE should cease all development of fossil fuel and instead pursue aggressively clean sources of energy, as mandated by its charter. Double talk from DOE will not solve the problem.

STSCM YOUTH