Theater Art 101: Struggles and Aspirations

Advocates are encouraged to be creative as much as possible in their methods in advancing campaigns and struggles.

Youth leaders from communities affected and to be affected by the Coal-fired power plants/projects surrounding Panguil and Iligan Bays will attend this three-day workshop organized by Mindanao Peoples' Peace Movement (MPPM), Alyansa ng Kabataang Mindanao para sa Kapayaan and Mindanao Tri-People Youth Center thru its Cultural Program and MPPM-KM Secretariat.

The workshop will facilitate the struggles and aspirations of the young people to come out and be expressed thru their moves, emotions, feelings and gracefulness.

The workshop also aimed to tap the potentials inside these young people as integral instruments for the advancement of their community struggles.

The first two days are the workshops and the last day will be the performance day. The attendees are expected to produce four productions including their collective interpretation of the song PALAYAIN.

YAPAK Artists' Collectives members (bands) are also expected to grace the final production show.

News: Organic Farming for Sustainable Communities - NAMAO

Sibagat, Agusan del Sur - Municipal Agrarian Office held an Organic Farming Skills Training among Nagkahiusang Mag-uumang Organiko (NAMAO) members. Attended by the members of the organization and the Municipal Council Committee on Agriculture Hon Mardovic Benegian, Sr.

The farmers were taught to make own organic fertilizers that made the Municipal Agriculture Office proud and happy.

For two days (11-12 August 2015), it was indeed a success.

Last June of this year NAMAO held consecutive training on organic fertilizer making, herbal medicine processing and organic gardening.

NAMAO for now is to develop a communal organic garden in Purok 13, Poblacio, Sibagat, Agusan del Sur.

According to Mr Toribio Bernadas, the Chair of NAMAO "We have to ensure food security among our families and farmers must do more on organic farming for the environment and health of the communities we are feeding."

NAMAO is to celebrate its first year of existence this 21st of September 2015.

(Budyong Kalandang. 13 August 2015)

Photo from NAMAO FB Account during their PAHINA of the proposed Communal Organic Garden.

Statement: Perpetrators of climate crisis must pay! - AKMK

“Our path to significance has just begun”, now that the mass had taken their bold leap forward to protect, defend their livelihood, and fight for the right to a clean and green future.

The ninety two kilometer walk from Maranding Lala Lanao Del Norte to Kiwalan, Iligan City was merely an illustration or “patikim”- we say, of what we can do when our right is being trampled and when it comes to defending environmental issues. The walk was a massive mobilization, attended by different sectors from different points of Mindanao. The event was a big success to every individual who joined; moreover it was a great achievement to the part of the youth who played a great role in making the event triumphant.

Youth organizations of Alyansa ng Kabataang Mindanao para sa Kapayapaan (AKMK) celebrates the invaluable experiences gained during the 5 day walk to attain climate justice, among the groups that attended were the Liga ng Makabagong Kabataan (LMK) -  Ranao, Nagkahiusang Kabatan-onan Tuburan sa Kinaiyahan (NAKATUKI), Muntay Active Young Leaders Association (MAYLA), MASTERPEACE Agusan del Sur, Movement of Young Catalyst for Change – Agusan del Sur - (MYCC), Lawig: Byahe sa Kausaban, Youth Organization of Christian and Muslim (YOCAM), Pigcarangan Youth Service Organization (PYSO), Kilusang Kabataan (KK), and YAPAK Arts Collectives particularly the SUGO band, Volume 14 Band, Reviver Band and 10 Alpha Band who played their message concerning our environment through songs, a number of youth from Cotabato City and Maguindanao specifically TRY-Change and TLYSA also took part in the event and shared their concerns and experiences. Involvement of various youth organizations outside the alliance was also noted. The joint efforts between the AKMK and other groups built bridges and forged important partnership among the youths. Among these groups are the following: Libertad Power Movement Association - Youth, Youth for Climate Justice, Kids for Environmental Protection (KEP), Sultan Naga Dimaporo Youth, La Libertad Youth Kapatagan LdN and Young Feminist Organization (YFO). The climate walk functioned as an immense opportunity and a venue to air our distress regarding the existence of this problem and to bring out our diverse perspectives towards the problem that we are facing at the present.

What we are facing now served as a great challenge and inspiration to every youth, the future defender of our country that we need to step up our efforts and exercise the power of a collective action to defy the crooked minds of our government.

Perpetrators of climate crisis must pay!

Fight for climate justice now!

Kabataan! Lumaban! Manindigan Kumilos!

Renz Gahum

AKMK Secretary General

akmk_peace@yahoo.com

Statement: To Resist Coal - YFO

The Young Feminist Organization was only able to attend the Climate Walk on the 5^th day (Apologies about that!) due to some other duties. Together with the Ranao Women and Children Resource Center, Inc. we joined the rest of the Climate Walkers in Libertad, Kauswagan. I saw familiar faces of people but most of all; I saw the faces of people coming from different places and walks of life but they all share the common interest and that is: To Resist Coal.

Amidst the humid weather, the Climate Walkers did not fret. They expressed their sentiments and demanded outside the place where the proposed Coal-Fired Power Plant is about to sprout; asking for a representative to speak to them.  Unfortunately, no one from the GN Power got out and spoke to the people. The Climate Walkers made it clear that the GN Power should keep their promises to the residents of Kauswagan and Leave.

Despite the heat, the thirst, the dust and smokes from the trucks and cars passing by, the Climate walkers were still passionate as they continued their walk to Iligan City, never minding the swelling of their feet. There were people who supported us along the way but there were also some who did not understand the struggle of the people. Walking in solidarity with the people coming from the grassroots, you can really feel their struggle and sentiments.

With the construction of Coal-Fired Power Plants, they are the ones who will be directly affected but come to think of it, their struggle is also our struggle. Men, Women and children in the coming generations will pay for the consequences.

We have already felt the effects of Climate Change. Some people might think it’s fiction but it is already happening.

Letting the Coal-Fired Power Plants operate will only fuel it. The Climate Walk was one of the strategies in which we have raised the awareness of the public regarding the issue of Coal-Fired Power Plants.

But I think that we still need to raise awareness more to those who know nothing. We should also continue to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves and most importantly, to act.

Young Feminist Organization

Iligan City and Lanao del Norte

10 August 2015

Statement: LUWASA ANG INAHANG PLANETA, PAGPAKABANA HIGALA! - NAMAO

 Pahayag gikan sa Nagkahiusang Mag-uumang Organiko (NAMAO) - CARAGA Region

Hulyo 19 - 25, 2015 halandumon nga panahon nga mihatag ug laing palid sa kinabuhi sa mga yanong mag-uuma sa CARAGA (Agusan del Sur). Kini mao ang 92 Kilometrong Panaw Baatok sa Coal (92 KM Coal Resistance March).

Ang lima (5) ka adlaw nga panaw gikan sa Maranding, Lala, Lanao del Norte padulong sa siyudad sa Iligan, mahagiton nga mihatag ug kahinam sa tanan nga misalmot niining kalihukan.

Ang otsenta (80%) porsiyento nga mga katawhan sa mga dapit nga giagian nga mipakita ug pagmaya apil na niini ang pagsuporta pinaagi sa paghatag ug pagkaon, tubig mainom, ug uban pa maoy nahimong tambal sa kakapoy sa mga partisipante ug mihatag ug dugang inspirasiyon aron ipadayon ang kawsa sa pagpakigbatok sa mga proyekto sa gobyerno particular ang coal fired power plant nga makadaut sa tanang buhing binuhat, apil niini ang pagkadaut sa kinaiyahan nga hulga sa pagkahugno sa kalibutan nga atong gipuy-an.

Ang partisipante nga gikan sa Rehiyon sa CARAGA makusganon nga misuporta sa panawagan sa katawhan ug sa atong nag-apela sa panggamhanan nga undangon ug dili na ipadayon kining maong mga proyekto tungod kay dili kami buot nga mabungkag ang among kabukiran pinaagi sa pagmina ug mabahinbahin ang among mga katawhan dinhing dapita ug mawad-an ang atong kaigsoonang mga lumad sa ilang yutang kabilin.

MAGPADAYON KITA HANGTUD ATONG MAKAB-UT ANG KADAUGAN NIINING KAWSA ALANG SA KAAYOHAN SA KATILINGBAN UG KINAIYAHAN.

LUWASA ANG  INAHANG PLANETA, PAGPAKABANA HIGALA!

NAMAO
namaoads@yahoo.com
10 August 2015

___________

Nagkahiusang Mag-uumang Organiko is a member of Kilusang Maralita sa Kanayunan (KILOS KA) and Mindanao Peoples' Peace Movement - CARAGA Cluster.

Repleksyon: Silang mga Baliw

A Contribution from a Climate Walker from Cotabato City

Statement: UNITED WE STAND AGAINST COAL FIRED POWER PLANTS! - RWCRC

Last July 19-25, of this year marked the historic event in the history of Mindanao particularly Lanao del Norte and Iligan City. A group of Environmentalist lead by Coal Resistance( CoRe)  Movement in which our organization –the RWCRC is a member  launched a Climate Walk to show  our stand to AGAINST the establishment of Coal Fired Power Plant (CFPP)   in Lanao  (Libertad) , in Iligan Ciy as well in the whole Nation.

As a women-led organization, we are into the protection of our sectors- the women and children; with this initiative we believe that nature is our source of strength to continue nurture our well-being as a person. As women continue give life to the next generation, we kept finding solution how to sustain and live in a healthy and safe environment. With the presence of the 49 Coal Fired Power Plant that will be set up in the Philippines (19 of the in Mindanao), we cannot assure a healthy and safety environment anymore.

While on the other hand, the existing companies besides the river bank of Napo and Lapayan in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte who process the river stones into different sizes (quarry) that are used in the construction of Coal Fired Power Plant is already a threat to our lives. Sooner or later these activities will led to flooding in the areas if water level rises or in time of heavy rains.  Just like what happened in Hinaplanon river, where local capitalist abused the natural  wealth (quarry), that during the time when Typhoon Washi/Sendong struck Iligan City and its mountainous barangays the river overflowed that killed many lives in 2011 .

The continued destruction of river the banks and quarrying for the operation of CFPP is detrimental to the lives of all people and the hazardous effects of this CFPP will slowly and surely kill lives and directly destroy our natural resources.

We cannot just close our eyes and let this happen.  

We  STRONGLY  OPPOSE  COAL  FIRED  POWER  PLANTS (CFPP)! 

We Want a SAFE  PLACE  to LIVE  for WOMEN and CHILDREN  and all the HUMAN on Earth .

We CALL on everyone to campaign and participate to RESIST COAL!

We are doing this for our continued EXISTENCE .

UNITED WE STAND AGAINST COAL FIRED POWER PLANTS.

Ranao Women and Children Resource Center, inc

rwcrc_yahoo.com

5 August 2015 

Statement: Justice to Climate Victims, Survivors and Refugees! Climate Justice Now!

Climate Walkers protesting in front of GN Power Office - Kauswagan, LDN

There are more than many proofs why extractive and destructive economic and environmental activities and projects must be stopped.

The incident in Semirara coal.mining site that claimed more than five lives and damaged vast land and water resource of Antique and neighboring communities have proved us that projects like mining and coal do not bring development but destructions.

The proliferation of coal projects and other related destructive and extractive projects in the country today threatens not only Philippine population but the whole creation.

Showcasing Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte Mayor's testimony boasting and making false statements on coal fired power plant's impact to community in PNoy's ‪#‎SONA2015‬ was a strong indicator that the President himself promotes and advances ecological destruction and mass displacements of peoples and communities.

We join the whole movements in the claim for justice to all Climate victims, survivors and refugees.

We affirm our commitment to pursue Climate Justice!

We demand to government units to pass ordinances and laws protecting the peoples' health, environment and generations and openly denounce coal projects and mining operations, land conversion as well in their localities.

We challenge the Senate and House of Representatives to prove to the people that they are still relevant by upholding the right of the people to healthy and balance environment.

We call on communities and movements to make ecological agenda as a non.negotiable electoral platform in 2016 Elections.

Justice to the Semirara Coal Mining Victims!

Cancel all mining and coal projects' permits and operations!

Bring to court and punish those responsible for all the destructions and damages!

Coal Resistance Movement

5 August 2015

resistcoal@gmail.com