Pinoy priest wins world environmental prize

[GLT]

Pinoy priest wins world environmental prize
by Jojo Malig, ABS-CBNnews.com
4/17/2012 12:07 AM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/-depth/04/16/12/pinoy-priest-wins-world-environmental-prize

MANILA, Philippines - A Filipino priest has won the 2012 Goldman
Environmental Prize for his campaign to protect Mindoro island and its
people.

The Goldman Environmental Foundation named Fr. Edwin Gariguez as one
of 6 winners worldwide who were recognized for their efforts to
protect the environment and their communities.

The foundation said Gariguez is leading a grassroots movement against
a large-scale nickel mine to protect Mindoro Island's biodiversity and
its indigenous people.

The other winners are Ikal Angelei of Kenya, Ma Jun of China, Evgenia
Chirikova of Russia, American Caroline Cannon, and Sofia Gatica of
Argentina.

The Goldman Environmental Prize, which now in its 23rd year, is
awarded annually to grassroots environmental heroes from each of the
world's 6 inhabited continental regions, according to the foundation.
It is considered as the largest award for grassroots activism with an
individual cash prize of US $150,000.

Thsi year's winners are awarded the prize April 16 at the San
Francisco Opera House.

Another ceremony will be held at the Smithsonian's National Museum of
Natural History in Washington, D.C. on April 18.
Fr. Edwin Gariguez, winner of the 2012 Goldman Environmental Prize for
his campaign to protect Mindoro island and its people. Goldman
Environmental Foundation photo

Father Edu vs Intex

Gariguez, who is known as "Father Edu," has been serving as a pastor
of the Mangyan Mission Catholic Church in Mindoro.

He is also executive secretary of the National Secretariat for Social
Action, Justice and Peace of the Philippine Catholic Church.

"Motivated by his religious beliefs and a strong desire to uphold the
will of the people to protect their environment, Father Edu co-founded
the Alliance Against Mining (ALAMIN), a broad coalition of Mindoro
residents, elected officials, civil society groups, church leaders and
indigenous peoples who oppose mining on the island. He is not opposed
to mining per se, but believes measures to safeguard the environment,
protect indigenous communities’ rights and ensure a fair distribution
of economic benefits should be required," the Goldman Environmental
Foundation said.

Gariguez was key in uniting thousands of indigenous peoples, farmers
and local and provincial political leaders in numerous protests
against mining on the island.

"Undeterred by threats of violence and verbal harassment from mining
officials and the military—and reeling through the loss of a colleague
at ALAMIN who was murdered because of his activism—Father Edu went on
to broaden the grassroots movement beyond Mindoro," the foundation
said.

It added that in 2002, the local government responded to strong public
opposition to mining by passing an island-wide moratorium that
required , Norwegian mining company Intex to stop any activities
related to large-scale mining.

"Intex ignored the local ordinance and continued business as usual.
This egregious violation of the people’s rights led Father Edu to take
his fight overseas, traveling to Europe to address Norwegian
parliamentarians and Intex shareholders. In conjunction with a
Norwegian NGO, Father Edu filed a complaint with the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development," the foundation said.

"Due to the negative international attention Father Edu brought on the
mining project, nervous Intex shareholders began asking detailed
questions about the mine. At the same time, Father Edu put pressure on
his own government to uphold its laws and maintain better oversight of
the mine project. In 2009, he led an 11-day hunger strike until the
federal Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) finally
agreed to conduct an investigation into the mine’s environmental and
social violations. DENR indefinitely revoked Intex’s permit, halting
the mine," it added.

"As a result, major funders, including Goldman Sachs, divested of
their funding, leading Intex to make an unsuccessful attempt to sell
the $2.4 billion project in 2010. Shortly after the botched sale,
Intex’s CEO resigned due to 'severe setbacks,'" it added.

"The Philippines' president, who took office in June 2010, has stated
that he will fight corruption and take a comprehensive look at mining.
Father Edu has made it clear that he will sustain pressure on the
government to follow through with its pledges," it added.