MEDIA RELEASE: Philippine delegation in Ottawa calls for mining justice
Delegation includes a Member of the Philippine Congress, Anglican Bishop and Indigenous activists
(Ottawa, ON) – Make the overseas operations of Canada’s mining sector open for justice and ensure that Canada plays a leadership role in the Philippines’ peace process are two key requests a five-person KAIROS-sponsored delegation from the Philippines will bring to Ottawa March 20 – 23.
The delegates will be in Canada from March 20 to April 5. They will also visit Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal.
Hailing from the heavily mined Philippine island of Mindanao, the delegates will include Representative Carlos Zarate, a Member of Philippine Congress and Chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources; Bishop Antonio Ablon, Anglican Church/IFI, Zamboanga del Sur; Dr. Anie Bautista, National Coordinator, Ecumenical Voice for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines (EcuVoice); Nenita Andes Condez and Eufemia Campos Cullamat, Lumad women leaders.
The delegates will share first-hand accounts of human rights violations in the context of mining projects in their country, including Canadian-owned operations. They will also join KAIROS and the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability in calling on the Government of Canada to appoint an extractive-sector Ombudsperson to monitor Canadian mining operations overseas, and to facilitate access to the Canadian courts for non-nationals who have been harmed by the international operation of Canadian companies.
In addition, the delegates will try to build support for the ongoing peace talks between the Government of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front and other liberation groups.
WHAT ROUNDTABLE: War on Indigenous peoples in the Philippines – examining the struggles of the Lumad Peoples of the Philippines against mining and development aggression
WHEN Monday, March 20; 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
MEDIA INTERVIEWS: TIME: 3:30 and 5:30 pm
WHERE University of Ottawa, Tabaret building, uOttawa Senate room (083 – basement)
WHO Indigenous Peoples from the Philippines (Lumad) and other leaders will share their stories of how mining impacts them and their resistance. They include:
- Nenita Condez, Indigenous woman leader from Mindanao
- Eufemia Campos Cullamat, Indigenous woman leader from Mindanao
- Bishop Antonio Ablon, Anglican Church/IFI, Zamboanga del Sur
- Atty. Carlos Zarate, Member of Philippine Congress/Bayan Muna PartyList; Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources; and Vice-Chair, House Committee on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity
- Dr. Anie Bautista, National Coordinator, Ecumenical Voice for Peace and Human Rights in the Philippines (EcuVoice)
Co-hosted by KAIROS Canada and the Ontario Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines.
For more information, visit the Facebook events page.
WHAT Meet & Greet Luncheon with Philippine Delegation
WHEN Tuesday, March 21, 12:00 – 2:30 pm
MEDIA INTERVIEWS: TIME 1:00 pm and 2:30 pm
WHERE Christ Church Cathedral, Great Hall, 414 Sparks Street
WHO The Philippine Delegation:
- Nenita Condez, Indigenous woman leader from Mindanao
- Eufemia Campos Cullamat, Indigenous woman leader from Mindanao
- Bishop Antonio Ablon, Anglican Church/IFI, Zamboanga del Sur
- Atty. Carlos Zarate, Member of Philippine Congress/Bayan Muna PartyList; Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources; and Vice-Chair, House Committee on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity
- Dr. Anie Bautista, National Coordinator, Ecumenical Voice for Peace and Human Rights in the Philippines (EcuVoice)
Hosted by KAIROS Canada. Please RSVP to ebianchi@kairoscanada.org.
WHAT Building Peace in the Philippines
WHEN Wednesday, March 22, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
MEDIA INTERVIEWS: TIME 5:30 and 8:30 pm
WHERE Public Service Alliance of Canada, 233 Gilmour Street
WHO The Philippine Delegation:
- Nenita Condez, Indigenous woman leader from Mindanao
- Eufemia Campos Cullamat, Indigenous woman leader from Mindanao
- Bishop Antonio Ablon, Anglican Church/IFI, Zamboanga del Sur
- Atty. Carlos Zarate, Member of Philippine Congress/Bayan Muna PartyList; Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources; and Vice-Chair, House Committee on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity
- Dr. Anie Bautista, National Coordinator, Ecumenical Voice for Peace and Human Rights in the Philippines (EcuVoice)
Hosted by KAIROS Canada.
About KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
KAIROS is a faith-based social justice organization of ten Canadian churches and religious organizations. It focuses on Indigenous rights, international human rights and ecological justice. We deliberate on issues of common concern, advocate for social change and join with people of faith and goodwill in action for social transformation. Learn more: www.kairoscanada.org.
Itinerary and bios for the Philippine Delegation
Press Release: Philippine delegation presses Canada for mining justice and leadership in peace process
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Media Contact:
Cheryl McNamara, Media Coordinator
877-403-8933 x 246, 416-875-0097 (mobile), cmcnamara@kairoscanada.org
