MEDIA RELEASE: Philippine delegation in Montreal 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 Montreal on Sunday,March 26 during a public forum entitled Community Dinner and Public Forum with Philippine Solidarity Friends. This event begins at 5:00 at St. Columba House.
The delegates will be in Canada from March 20 to April 5. They will also visit Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Toronto.
Hailing from the heavily mined Philippine island of Mindanao, the delegates include 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); and Eufemia Campos Cullamat, a Lumad leader.
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 Community Dinner and Public Forum with Philippine Solidarity Friends
WHEN Sunday, March 26; 5:00 p.m.
MEDIA INTERVIEWS: 4:30 – 5:00 p.m. To arrange an interview at another time, contact Louisa Warrell at 438-992-7389 or louisa.warrell@gmail.com.
WHERE St. Columba House, 2365 Grand Trunk Street
WHO Indigenous Peoples from the Philippines (Lumad) and other leaders will share their stories of how mining impacts them and their resistance. They include:
o Eufemia Campos Cullamat, Indigenous woman leader from Mindanao
o Bishop Antonio Ablon, Anglican Church/IFI, Zamboanga del Sur
o 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 kairoscanada.org/itinerary-for-our-land-our-rights-our-peace
Press Release: Philippine delegation presses Canada for mining justice and leadership in peace process kairoscanada.org/philippine-delegation-presses-canada-mining-justice-leadership-peace-process
Media Contact:
Louisa Warrell (International League of Peoples Struggles (ILPS-Canada)
438-992-7389 (mobile), louisa.warrell@gmail.com
Cheryl McNamara, Media Coordinator, KAIROS Canada
877-403-8933 x 246, 416-875-0097 (mobile), cmcnamara@kairoscanada.org
citynews@postmedia.com, emicheletti@postmedia.com, assignmentmontreal@cbc.ca, daybreak.montreal@cbc.ca, quebecam@cbc.ca, radnoonm@cbc.ca, montrealnews@ctv.ca
