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Mining in Palawan has already ravaged forests, generated flooding and caused the siltation of rivers and farmland. It has alsodestroyed sacred sites.

The impact of nickel mining in the concession ofRio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC). Dario Novellino

Rolando Punoi, a Tagbanua from Sitio Lamane described the impact of mining on his land, Now we see mining companiescriss-crossing our forest, drilling the soil, stripping the trees away, destroying our watersheds, polluting our drinking water.The company MacroAsia, owned by billionaire Lucio Tan, plans to mine the ancestral land of the isolated Palawan living

around Mt. Gantong and the Mantalingahan range.These communities are particularly vulnerable and will not survive the loss of their land.London-based Toledo Mining Corporation holds a significant stake in a Nickel Laterite operation which is also threatening thePalawans land.Time will come when our children no longer recognize the names of trees, the footprints of animals, the birds songs. This will be the time when theforest is gone, the mining companies are gone, the rivers no longer flow And us? We will still be here.MARYLIN SAMPARAN, PALAWANWOMANAnother company, the Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation, is planning to mine in the Bulanjao Range at the southern tip ofthe islandan area of rich forest which provides vital water sources for both indigenous communities and migrants.The companys road is already causing serious environmental damage such as landslides, soil erosion and deforestation of thewatersheds.Under a provincial government initiative, many thousands of hectares of oil palm and other agro-fuels have been planted inPalawan.This is having a devastating impact on the biodiversity of the region and is limiting peoples access to customary natural

resources.The Palawan have not been properly consulted about either the mining projects or the oil palm plantations.The Philippine government is also delaying the implementation of the countrys Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA), whichprovides for the identification, delineation and recognition of indigenous land. The mining projects on Palawan Island clearlyviolate this and other Philippine lawsThe Palawan grow most of their food on small plots of land in the forest. Before clearing an area for planting, they consult andappease various spirits and interpret omens in their dreams.

Palawan planting upland rice in the Philippines. Dario Novellino

Wild pig is the Palawans favourite meat, and they must make a request to the pig animal master before catching it.Bees are also believed to have their own master, who can only be seen by the beljan(shaman) during trance.Some communities perform a ceremony every seven years to cleanse the world and restore the cosmic balance.The Palawan collect and sell resin, rattan canes and wild honey. The more settled of the Palawan also grow rice and coconutto sell, and raise domestic animals such as cows, buffalos and pigs.Mining has already made it difficult for some Palawan communities to grow and hunt enough food. Parts of their forests havebeen devastated, their rivers have silted up and their sacred sites have been destroyed.The huge nickel mining projects will destroy miles of forest, depriving the most vulnerable Palawan of their livelihoods.he principle on which the Palawan base their life is called ingasiq, meaning compassion. This underlies all their actions andemphasizes the importance of behaving with generosity and sympathy towards others.Their ceremonies, prayers, chanting and healing dances are all part of what they call adat et kegurangurangan, or thecustoms of the ancestors.For the Palawan, the universe is vertical and divided into fourteen different layers. The souls of the beljan(shamans) are ableto travel to these other levels in order to heal the world and to re-establish the cosmic balance.Shamans are not seen as special or sacred people, but are those who, either in a trance or dream, are able to enter theinvisible world and contact super-human beings. They can see and extract impurities that are causing sickness from apatients body. They are also usually experts in the use of medicinal plants.Good health is dependent on a balance between the body and its life force (kuruduwa). The loss ofkuruduwacreates adisturbance, which makes the body vulnerable to illness and attacks by malevolent beings.The land and the forestThe supreme being for the Palawan is known as Empuq, (the Lord or Owner) and he is believed to be the creator of all thingsin the world. Other benevolent beings live in the higher mountains.The Palawan believe that the forest is home to a large number of demons. Demons known as lenggamare believed to be thecaretakers of poisonous and biting animals such as scorpions and snakes.Over-hunting or harvesting certain trees can cause these creatures to attack humans.The Palawan live in the south of Palawan Island in the Philippines, both in the mountainous interior and in the lowlands.There are around 40,000 Palawan in total. Some of those in the interior are very isolated and have little contact withoutsiders.The Palawan are shifting cultivators, clearing a small area of forest and growing food on it before moving on and allowing theforest to regenerate.They grow upland rice, which they believe has a human-like personality. They also collect honey and hunt wild pigs.The rocks are the bones of the land, the trees are the hairs. When the rocks became exposed, it is like when human bones are exposed. If there is awound in the world, rice will not grow well.MURINA, PALAWAN MAN

http://www.toledomining.com/http://www.toledomining.com/

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In 2000, a road was built around the island, attracting thousands of new settlers from other parts of the Philippines andforcing many Palawan further inland.In 2006 there was a big mining push by the Philippine government. The President called for a revitalization of mining acrossthe nation. This now poses an even more serious threat to the Palawan communities.Hundreds of mining applications have been made by companies seeking nickel and chromite, as well as other resources, onindigenous peoples land on the island, including the areas where isolated Palawan live.In 2008, a 25-year moratorium on small-scale mining in Palawan was passed. However, large-scale exploration and extraction

are set to continue, especially in areas inhabited by the vulnerable and isolated Palawan communities.A family of Taut Batu (People of the Cave) at theentrance of Pangi-Pangi cave, in SingnapanValley. Dario Novellino

Open pit and strip mining would devastate the mountains and forests, pollute the rivers and the sea, and destroy thePalawans burial sites, important landmarks and spiritual places.How does Survival help?Survival is campaigning with local organizations to stop mining on the Palawans land without their genuine full andinformed consent.

We are also urging the Philippine government to officially recognize and protect their territory, in accordance with Philippinelaw.Palawan is the Philippines' last frontier. Known for 2 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and rich biodiversity, this narrowshaped island attracts millions of visitors, scientists and businesses to its breathtaking natural beauty and resources.Palawan of late is under threat and many of Palawan's concerned citizens are taking steps to stop the threat of destruction

caused by unmitigated and careless mining practices. Government laws are in place to protect Palawan but pending miningpermits are increasing in alarming numbers.

On January 24, Dr. Gerry Ortega, a Palawan-based radio broadcaster and popular civic leader was shot by a lone gunman inPuerto Princesa. Doc Gerry spoke openly against mining in Palawan . As Project Manager for ABS-CBN's Eco tourismPalawan with Ms. Gina Lopez and Puerto Princesa Mayor Hagedorn, Doc Gerry championed eco-tourism as a betteralternative to mining. Doc Gerry was fond of saying and often quoted with "Di kailangan sirain ang kalikasan paramapakinabangan"

At his funeral, family friends and supporters started the 10 million signature campaign to say NO to Mining In Palawan.