August 24, 2006 · Posted in: Environment Watch, In the News, Public Health
Greenpeace reports of contamination in Rapu-Rapu
(UPDATED) GREENPEACE today warned that mining on Rapu-Rapu island in Albay, if allowed to be operated full-scale, will result in “an ecological disaster for the local ecology.” The international environmental group issued its warning as it made public the results of its tests of the Mirikpitik Creek, in the vicinity of the mine site.
Their tests, Greenpeace said, found “very high levels” of heavy metals in the creek, particularly cadmium, copper and zinc.
“These metals were present in dissolved forms at many hundreds of times above general background levels for these metals in river water,” Greenpeace said. Cadmium and copper, the group said, are both “highly toxic” to plants, animals and humans, and exposure to zinc “can also impact aquatic organisms.” (View the Greenpeace report.)
Following Greenpeace’s public release of their inspection results, Lafayette Philippines said it was preparing to sue the group for trespassing. The firm is also seeking the deportation of “three Caucasians” identified as having climbed Lafayette’s conveyor belt to unfurl anti-mining banners.
In October last year, cyanide and other contaminants spilled from the mine into the sea, causing massive fish kills and prompting calls from environment groups for an investigation into the mine operations. The mine — run by the Philippines subsidiary of Australian mining giant, Lafayette — was suspended for several months; in July, a 30-day trial run was started with government’s approval.
The environment department at that time said the “acid test” will determine if Lafayette will be able to mine without violating safety measures. The test run was met by protests.
The Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic mine is considered by government as a flagship project, expected to bring in huge earnings for the country’s mining industry. The mine contains gold, silver, copper and zinc. (Click here for a profile of the mine project, and here for a satellite image of the site.)
Greenpeace scientists took water samples from Mirikpitik Creek on August 2, following reports, the group said, from local residents that there had been fish kills in the stream. Mirikpitik forks into two channels close to its outflow to the sea; samples were taken from both channels.
The samples were then taken for analysis to the group’s research laboratories in UK.
Greenpeace reiterated its call for Lafayette’s mining activities to be halted. “Toxic pollution from the mine would clearly affect the coastal and marine ecosystems of Rapu-Rapu Island,” said campaigner, Beau Baconguis. “Lafayette’s mining operations in Rapu Rapu must be permanently shut down.”
The group called for an immediate clean up and rehabilitation of the mine site and its affected areas.
2 Responses to Greenpeace reports of contamination in Rapu-Rapu
Carlyle
August 25th, 2006 at 4:56 pm
Greenpeace is a disgraceful organization that lies & cheats consistently & is causing great harm to the Philippine economy by making false claims. Their latest claim at Rapu Rapu continues their string of false claims that have come under insufficient media scrutiny. This claim of heavy metal contamination being caused by Lafayette Mining is patently false. The contamination in Mirikpitik Creek as Greenpeace well knows, is the result of previous mining by two earlier companies & Lafayette Mining is working on diverting the seepage from these old workings into their new ponds where it will be cleaned up. They are fixing a pre existing problem. A couple of weeks ago someone deliberately poured a large quantity of herbicide into a clean fresh water stream. Immediately the anti mining activists claimed the resulting pollution was caused by Lafayette Mining when at the time the mine had been closed since last November except for a two week, government officials monitored test run using only fresh water & ground non mineralised rock.
Greenpeace are parasites living off donation from gullible people in distant lands who think they are saving the world when all they do is prevent legitimate development that will assist developing countries to reach their potential.
The people of the Philippines need to question the motives of groups like this & compare them to groups like The World Wildlife Fund that helps remedy problems rather than pulling stunts that hurt both the environment & the people whose livelihoods they destroy, like their fellow traveller activists false claims that Lafayette caused massive fish kills from mercury poisoning when this was false. The media is still reporting this as fact.
The Alyansa Tigil Mina Blog :: Greenpeace vs Lafayette :: August :: 2006
August 31st, 2006 at 2:31 pm
[…] Admittedly local mining news has been shut out due to the much more immediate and dramatic environmental crisis caused by the oil spill in the waters off Guimaras. But mining issues trundle onward – the third phase of Lafayette’s test run was given the greenlight while Greenpeace challenged Lafayette directly. The PCIJ blog has the complete story. Comments » […]