support fishersfolks' fight against off-shore mining

Dear friends,

Warm greetings!

On 20th – 23rd October 2008, an international fact finding mission (IFFM) was organized by PAN AP, PCFS and FIDEC in Central Visayas, Philippines to look into the effects of off-shore oil and gas exploration. The IFFM team was composed of various organisations' representatives from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.

The findings of the IFFM team prove that off-shore mining activities have destroyed the marine ecosystem and have greatly affected the lives and economic activities of the communities, who are greatly dependent on the marine resources for their daily existence.

As a result of the IFFM, the team recommends for the government to immediately stop the off-shore oil and gas exploration activities. According to their joint manifesto, these extractive activities violate the economic, social, and cultural rights of the Visayan people, especially the right to food and food sovereignty.

A full documentation of the IFFM is published in the Speak Out and can be downloaded from http://www.foodsov.org/resources/hungerplunder.pdf .

A photo essay can be viewed at http://www.foodsov.org/html/gallery.htm .

We urge everyone to support the struggle of the Visayan fishing community by signing on to the online petition letter found at http://www.foodsov.org/html/petition10.php. This letter will be automatically sent to the concerned offices and individuals.

Thank you for your support.


Sincerely,
PCFS Secretariat

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Pesticide Action Network (PAN) is a global network working to eliminate the human and environmental harm caused by pesticides and to promote biodiversity based ecological agriculture. PAN Asia and the Pacific is committed to the empowerment of people especially women, agricultural workers, and peasant and indigenous farmers. We are dedicated to protect the safety and health of people, and the environment from pesticide use and genetic engineering. We believe in a people-centered, pro-women development through food sovereignty, ecological agriculture and sustainable lifestyles.