SAY NO TO LAFAYETTE MINING IN RAPU RAPU!

"The Philippines is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, particularly when it comes to marine life. The Bicol region is living proof of this.

The plankton-rich waters of the municipality of Donsol are known feeding grounds for whale sharks. These largest fish of the sea are celebrity animals. Time in 2004 called the Donsol whale shark experience the “Best Animal Encounter in Asia.” The thousands of tourists who flock to Donsol yearly seem to agree.

The epicenter of the whale sharks’ activity is undeniably Donsol. But come migration time, the neighboring municipalities of Bacon and Rapu Rapu find themselves visited by these gentle giants as well.

Threats

Fish in Bacon Marine Reserve.

Enlarge Image

Threats to the sea caused by the mining operations

• cyanide

Cyanide, a highly toxic material, is widely used in gold mining, and the Lafayette mine in Rapu Rapu Island uses this chemical when it processes its ores.

The mine has dams to contain the chemicals they used for processing. But the mine itself, as well as its dams, is located in a typhoon-prone area, and rests on top of an island where geologic hazards exist. The dams failed in October and November last year, promting the mine to release cyanide into the pristine sea.

To get 750 kg of gold, you need 125 tons of natrium cyanide.

Animals can ingest cyanide, inhale it, or absorb it through the skin. Short-term high-level contamination can harm their nervous, respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Further contamination can permanently damage the swimming ability of some species, or in cases even result in death.

For humans, long-term exposure to sublethal doses causes irritation of the eyes, loss of appetite, headaches and dizziness, and damage to the nervous system and thyroid gland.

• acid mine drainage (AMD)

Mining operations produce acid mine drainage or AMD. AMD is a “perpetual pollution machine” because of its long term devastating effect on bodies of water and aquatic life. When iron sulfide rock, the main mineral used in mining, is exposed to oxygen and air, a natural chemical reaction occurs that releases toxic materials. Such toxic materials are carried by the wind, taken up by organisms and transferred to other organisms through the food chain.

It is highly probable that AMD has possibly already seeped into Rapu Rapu’s streams and rivers, before spilling into the sea.

• siltation

Siltation is the settling of fine mineral particles (also known as silt or sediment). These particles settle from muddied water, which is generally the result of land run-off. This muddied water can reach for miles down the ocean.

The problem of siltation is very much evident in Rapu Rapu Island which lacks flat coastlines that would help delay the run-off. The corals around Rapu Rapu Island are already suffocated by heavy siltation and this poses serious problems.

The presence of silt blocks a certain amount of light that generally penetrates the water, decreasing photosynthesis in plants and corals. A drop in the energy of the undersea system’s main producer has a ripple effect all across the food chain. Siltation also suffocates coral reefs and estuaries. A drop in the number and diversity of animals and plants in the ecosystem is imminent.

70% of commercial marine species spend at least some part of their life cycle in shallow saguaros which are highly vulnerable to siltation.

The consequently endangered marine ecosystems and fishing grounds seriously affect coastal communities like those around the coasts of the Bicol region who rely on the sea as a primary source of livelihood.

To read more please visit:
http://www.greenpeace.org/seasia/en/save-our-seas/know-more



This is me doing a picture protest, saying NO against the mining in Rapu Rapu.






















"People who destroy the environment count on people who do nothing"