NEWS RELEASE: Workers most affected but the richest 1% got all of APEC gains

Lost income, travel ban, road closures and clamp down on protests are all that workers will get this week while APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) VIPs and delegates travel in comfort, ensured of total security, and their agenda heard and advanced during high level meetings.

People walk to Baclaran from NAIA Road (MB Photo by Ali Vicoy)

 

According to the partylist group Partido Manggagaw (PM), this contrast is a mere continuity of the sharp divide that characterizes APEC history – “workers doing the great sacrifice while APEC leaders and the capitalist class take control of enormous wealth and appropriating it among themselves and the region’s 1%.”

 

Members of Partido Manggagawa and the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) have a scheduled protest against the scourge of contractualization along the Airport Road and Roxas boulevard tomorrow but the total shutdown of the area is preventing many participants, including those coming from Cavite, from linking in.

 

“APEC will neither pay for workers’s lost wages nor care about their lost hours in traffic.  APEC also won’t bother curtailing workers’ rights to protest. These are all because APEC is all for business, its agenda is all about free trade and free market,” stated PM chair Renato Magtubo.

 

Magtubo said that for almost three decades, APEC was nothing but an exclusive gathering of business leaders whose agenda for trade and investments are guaranteed by aligning governments’ legal frameworks on economic policies. 

 

“Workers who created APEC’s USD 31 trillion GDP and facilitated 47% of world trade have never been made part of this Summit.  All of APEC’s agenda come from the top CEOs under the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC),” said Magtubo.

 

According to PM, part of APEC policies that have been pushed by business is labor flexibilization that takes a major form in outsourcing/contractualization programs.  “PAL’s outsourcing program is hailed by its bosses, as well as the Philippine President, as ‘global best practice’, indicating a major shift in the country’s industrial relation,” added Magtubo.

 

“Worldwide labor contractualization has become a plague – a policy that killed trade unionism, destroyed workers’ security of tenure, depressed wages, killed small and medium businesses, and driven millions of workers to unemployment and precarious working conditions in the informal economy,” explained Magtubo.

 

With a population of 2.8 billion people, the APEC economies are also home to the most number of billionaires, while some 750 million poor people live on less than USD 1.25 a day.

 

The Asian Development Bank has in fact noted that Asia’s rising inequality has denied the benefits of growth to many millions of its citizens “as the regions rich get richer much faster than the poor.”

16 November 2015

STATEMENT: We are all Parisians. We are all Migrants. We are all Refugees

(Statement on the events in Paris, Sinai, and Beirut, Nov 16, 2015.)

By Walden Bello

Former Chairman of the Committee on Overseas Workers’ Affairs, House of Representatives, Republic of the Philippines

We express our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who perished in Paris, Beirut, and the Metrojet explosion over the Sinai.

Those who planned and took the lives of hundreds of innocent human beings committed hideous deeds, deeds that go against the universal values of humanity. These barbaric acts can never, never be justified by an appeal to religion. They go against the essence of Islam, a religion that affirms life.

At the same time, we must discern the reasons why people are driven to such acts. Their actions stem not from nihilism but from a perverted sense of justice, out of a desire for vengeance against wrongs done to their people. As a recent statement from Attac France points out, one cannot separate the events in Paris from the military interventions of the French government in Syria, Mali, Chad, Niger, and Central African Republic. One must also place them in the context of the exclusion and economic marginalization that has led to a profound sense of alienation and anger among France’s migrant population. Isis or Daesh, Attac correctly states, “derives its inhuman strength from these injustices.”

President Francois Hollande declares that “France is at war.” He needs to be reminded of the words of another head of state, at a time of infinitely greater challenge, that in circumstances such as that in which France finds itself, “The worst thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Despite its superficial militance, President Hollande’s statement is really a case of giving in to fear and panic.

The failure of the “War on Terror” declared by the US government since 2001 reminds us that a military strategy is the wrong answer to Isis. While governments must protect their citizens, the principal response to Isis and Al Qaeda should be to address the historical and contemporary injustices that have bred them. The “merciless war” that President Hollande promises is wrongheaded and will merely accelerate the descent into even more violence. Instead of a declaration of war, the only viable response of humanity today is one that repudiates vengeance and seeks peace with justice.

A grave danger that confronts Europe is a response that scapegoats migrants and migrant communities as responsible for the deeds of Isis and advocates curtailment of their rights and the closing of borders to people seeking asylum from the wars in the Middle East in which the Western powers are implicated. In France, the National Front led by Marine Le Pen, is likely to benefit from the fears and prejudices stoked by the attacks. It is imperative that the peoples of France and Europe stand fast against these racist, anti-Muslim reactions. It is imperative that they resist calls to “merciless war” that simply conciliate and embolden the rabid right.

Filipinos are prominent among the migrant populations of Europe, North America, and the Middle East. While they may not be the targets of attack at this point, anti-foreign and anti-migrant feelings, if allowed to spread, will eventually target them too. They must stand in solidarity with all migrant communities.

We are all Parisians. We are all migrants. We are all refugees.

PAHAYAG: Huwag Ilihis ang Isyu, Pakinggan ang mga Katutubo!

Kumalat at kumakalat ang paninira at pagpapahina sa giit ng mga non.moro Lumad sa ARMM sa usaping bangsamoro. Iniuugnay sa mga rebolusyonaryong kilusan ang mga personalidad ng mga non.moro Indigenous Peoples na nagsusumikap mailagay sa panukalang bangsamoro ang kanilang mga karapatan sa teritoryo, pagkakilanlan at bilang mamamayan. Na kuno sila ay mga kasapi ng Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Mndanao, Communist Party of the Philippines, at kung anu.ano pang maka.kaliwang grupo.

Sa totoo lang, hindi ito ang isyu dito sa iginigiit ng mga lumad sa Bangsamorong usapin. Kung susuriin pa, posible nga namang may membrong lumad ang mga maka.kaliwang kilusan at maging ang Moro Islamic Liberation Front , Moro National Libertaion Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters at iba pang grupo. Kahit gagawa pa ng profiling sa mga pwersa nito.

Subalit ang tunay na isyu dito ay ang pagpapahalaga at pagkilala sa mga demokratikong karapatan bilang mamamayan ng mga non.moro lumads sa loob ng anumang political entity sa bansa.

Kung mismong ang panig ng Pamahalaan ng Pilipinas ang tatalikod sa mga lumad dahil hindi nito kayang panindigan sa usapang pangkapayapaan ang lehitimong karapatan ng mga lumad ay tiyak ngang maghahanap ng iba pang porma ng pakikibaka ang mga lumad. ANG PAMAHALAAN NG PILIPINAS MISMO ANG NAGTULAK AT MAGTUTULAK SA KANILA NA KUMILING SA MGA REBOLUSYONARYONG KILUSAN. At napatunayan na ito sa kasaysayan.

Kung ang attitude ng mga panig na nag.uusap at ng mga supporters ng pag.uusap ay ang pahinain at isantabi ang mga lehitimong karapatang ito, bahagi rin ito sa mortal na pagkakasala laban sa mga lumad.

Kung ang red.tagging ay upang pahinain at ineutralisa ang assertions ng mga non.moro ips, malaking mali ito.

Maliwanag na may bigat at may katuturan at kabuluhan ang hinaing ng mga katutubo. DAPAT LANG PAKINGGAN.

SUPORTAHAN ANG PAKIKIBAKA SA SARILING KAPASYAHAN NG BANGSAMORO!

TIYAKIN ANG MGA DEMOKRATIKONG KARAPATAN NG MASANG MORO!

KARAPATAN SA LUPAING NINUNO AT PAGKAKILANLAN NG MGA LUMAD SA BANGSAMORO, BIGYANG KATIYAKAN!

KARAPATANG PANTAO AT KALIKASAN TUPARIN!

KAPAYAPAAN!

Tatay Remo Fenis

STATEMENT: PRAYERS and SOLIDARITY to all our friends and comrades in Paris, France.

Our PRAYERS and SOLIDARITY to all our friends and comrades in Paris, France. 

Violence against innocent civilians and humanity is at all times not a justification for a legitimate cause but simply an act of terrorism and evil doing. This is not an Islamic Jihad but a big misconception. Because a true act of Jihad will never harm humanity and the environment.

People in the Philippines, let us all be vigilant in our own security situation as well especially this time when our government is busy preparing for the upcoming APEC Summit in Manila next week. The grand preparations poured in to this APEC is even extremely scandalous knowing that more than half of our populations are hungry, no decent place to live in and are suffering in dire poverty.

ACT and BE PART OF THE SOLUTION and NOT the problem!
WORK FOR PEACE!!!

Tri-People Organization against Disasters (TRIPOD) Foundation

STATEMENT: 2 year after ST Yolanda: More to be done - MIHANDS

Particularly the Philippine government and line agencies must have to work more than very hard to ease the hardships of the survivors. 

Rehabilitation efforts must not be used for the electoral advantage of the administration's bets and the rest of the politicians.

The Civil Society and pressure groups must be instruments in empowering the survivors in claiming their rights.

To the survivors, organize and claim justice for you, those departed and for the environment.

We have more reasons to fight for ‪#‎ClimateJustice‬.

MiHANDs 8 Nov 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMPrX3y_qzc
DUYOG TA BAY

PAHAYAG: Panawagan ng mga Lumad ng Mindanao

Itigil ang Panunupil sa mga Katutubong Lider at Pamayanan!

Itigil ang Pag-agaw ng aming Karapatan sa Pagkontrol at Soberinya sa aming Lupaing Ninuno at Likas naYaman!

Panawagan ng mga Lumad sa ika-18 Anibersaryo ng Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA)

Oktubre 29, 2015

Kaming mga kasapi ng Katawhang Lumad - Council of People’s Representatives ng Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement (MPPM KL-CPR), na nagmula sa mga tribung Agusan Manobo, B’laan, Banwaon, Dulangan Manobo, Erumanen nu Menuvu, Higaonon, Kulamanen, Lambangian, Mamanwa, Manobo Lapaknon, Matigsalog, Obu Manovu, T’boli, Tagakaulo, Talaandig, Tinananen, Teduray, Subanen, at Surigao Manobo ay labis na nababahala sa patuloy na pananamantala at panunupil sa aming mga karapatan ng mga pwersa ng gobyerno, rebolusyonaryong grupo, politiko, at mga kompanyang may interes sa aming Lupang Ninuno. Ang mga ito ay nagdudulot ng matinding hirap sa aming pamumuhay at kalagayan.

Ang aming buhay ay malalim na naka-ugat sa aming Lupaing Ninuno. Dito namin kinukuha ang aming mga pangangailangan sa araw-araw, at dito rin namin isinasabuhay ang aming tradisyon, kultura, pananampalataya at pamamahala bilang isang mamamayang Lumad.

Ang patuloy na pagwasak sa aming mga lupain sa pamamagitan ng malawakang pagmimina, pagtotroso/logging, plantasyon, rantso, at iba pang mga proyekto na pwersahang pumapasok sa aming mga lupain ay patuloy na pagwasak rin sa aming pamumuhay, pagkatao at kinabukasan ng aming mga susunod na salinlahi. Ito ay nagresulta sa pagkawala ng kontrol at soberenhiya ng mg katutubo sa kanyang lupaing ninuno at likas yaman.

Kami ay palagi at patuloy na naaapektuhan sa labanan ng gobyerno at mga rebolusyonaryong grupo. Ang aming mga lupaing ninuno ay nagiging lugar ng digmaan o battle ground sa pagitan ng mga pwersa ng gobyerno (AFP) at rebolusyunaryong grupo kagaya ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) at maging iba pang armadong grupo. Dahil sa kanilang tunggalian na karaniwang na-uuwi sa gyera, kami ay napipilitang mapatigil sa pagsaka at iwanan ang aming mga komunidad dahil sa takot na madamay sa kanilang digmaan. Kasama rin dito ang takot at pagkabahala ang pag re-recruit sa aming mga kabataan at kalalakihan ng mga armadong grupo.

Ang patuloy na karahasan sa aming pamayanan ay mas lalong nagpapahina ng aming sariling katutubong pamamahala. Marami sa mga kaguluhang ito ay nagsimula ng maliit sa loob ng pamayanan na kayang-kaya na sanang lutasin ng mga katutubong pinuno. Subalit ito ay ginagatungan at pinapalaki ng mga tinatawag na “support group” at dinadala sa paraan ng paglutas na hindi naaayon sa tradisyunal na nakasanayang paraan. 

Ang IPRA ay batas na para sa amin, at dapat itong ipatupad upang aming matamasa at mapangalagaan ang buhay na aming nakasanayan na nakabase sa aming katutubong kultura, pananampalataya at pamamahala. Subalit hanggang ngayon ay hirap pa rin kaming matamasa ang mga karapatang ipinagkaloob ng IPRA.

Kadalasan, sadyang hindi sinusunod ang proseso ng pagkuha ng aming pahintulot sa paggamit sa aming mga lupain o angFree, Prior, and Informed consent (FPIC), sapagkat ayaw naming magpapasok ng mga proyektong nakakasira sa aming lupaing ninuo, o ng mga grupong ginagawang lugar ng gyera ang aming lupain lalo na ang mga kabundukan.

Dahil sa aming kagustuhang protektahan ang aming mga tribu, komunidad at lupaing ninuno at isulong ang aming karapatang pangalagaan at pagyamanin ang aming mga lupaing ninuno, kami at ang aming mga komunidad ay ginugulo, kinakasuhan, binabantaan, at pinapatay. Maliban dito, kami ay ipinagtutulakan pang miyembro o supporters ng mga armadong grupo kagaya ng NPAs, o kung hindi naman ay ng military o di kaya’y ng private armed groups.

Kayat ngayong anibersaryo ng pagkakatatag ng IPRA, ang batas para sa amin, kami ay nananawagan na:

1. Tigilan ang patuloy na militarisasyon sa aming mga komunidad at lupaing ninuno. Kami ay nananawagang lisanin ng mga armadong grupo lalo na ng New People’s Army, MILF, militar at ng mga private armed groups;

2. Itigil ang pag recruit sa mga lumad bilang kasapi ng New People’s Army at AFP at gawing Bagani (Pulang Bagani, Alamara, Bagani ng Militar). Ang Bagani ay katutubong pamamaraan ng pagprotekta sa katutubong pamayanan at sa mga taong nakatira sa ilalim ng pamumuno ng pinuno ng tribu. Itong tradisyunal na katutubong pamamaraan ay hindi dapat lapastanganin sa pamamagitan ng paggamit sa pangalan ng Bagani sa iba pang layunin maliban sa pinuprotektahan ang tribu at ang lupaing ninuno.

3. Respetuhin at kilalanin ang aming karapatan sa katutubong pamumuhay, kultura, pananampalataya at sariling pamamahala.

4. Magkarooon ng IP peace program ang Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) at ang National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) ay magkaroon ng peace program. 

Para sa mga katutubo,

5. Ipagpatuloy at palakasin natin ang ating Indigenous Political Structure (IPS) o katutubong pamamahala at paglutas ng mga problema bilang mekanismo para sa proseso ng epektibong pag desisyon ng tribu;

6. Magkaroon nga pagtitipun ang lahat nga mga katutubong pamamahala at lider sa loob ng Mindanao para pag-usapan at makonsolida ang totoong konsepto at gamit ng mga Bagani para maiwasan na hindi magamit sa mga bagay na hindi naayon sa kanyang mga tungkulin.

7. Ipinapanawagan sa lahat ng mga katutubong mamamayan na manindigan at ibalik ang tiwala at kumpiyansa sa sariling pamumuno at kakayanan para maiwasan ang pagkawatak-watak at dominasyon ng taga labas na idolohiya.

Ito ay aming nilagdaan ngayong ika 18 taong anibersaryo ng IPRA bilang pagpapakita sa aming pagkakaisa at lakas.

Itigil ang Panunupil sa mga Katutubong Lider at Pamayanan!

Itigil ang Pang-aagaw sa aming mga Lupaing Ninuno at Likas-Yaman!

Hustisya para mga Pinaslang na mga Katutubong Lider!

Signed:

(Sgd)

Rodelio N. Ambangan

09266803846 

Chairperson

originally posted http://tripeoplesjournal.blogspot.com/...

Youth-led ECOWALK launched in Lanao

As the Climate negotiation in Paris is fast approaching and the impact of climate change intensifies, worldwide movements for climate justice launched various forms of expressions and campaigns.

The 21^st Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) will be held Paris this December 2015. The various movements are to appeal that is directed to the international community to cooperate in addressing climate change and to support the conclusion of an ambitious, universal and legally-binding agreement to limit the warming of the earth.

Joining the worldwide battle against dirty energy and to advance renewable energy source, the Liga ng Makabagong Kabataan – Lanao launched ECOLOGICAL WALK (ECOWALK): A Call for Climate Justice. It was participated by more than 50 young people, fisher folks and farmer communities’ members from municipalities of Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Kapatagan, Lala, Kolambugan and Tubod all in Lanao del Norte.

The walk was also participated by several youth and Mass Organizations namely, Pigcarangan Youth Service Organization (PYSO); Nagkahiusang Kabatan-onan Tuburan sa Kinaiyahan (NAKATUKI); Liga ng Makabagong Kabataan–Iligan and MSU; Muntay Active Young Leaders Association (MAYLA); Coal Resistance Movement; Kilos Ka – Lanao; Demokratikong Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (DKMP); and Lanao Fisheries Advocacy Network.

“We have to show explicitly our resistance to Coal projects around Panguil Bay in Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte provinces as children of fisher folks,” Ian Gruta, a member of LMK said.

A number of individuals from the community of Log Pond, Tubod, Lanao Del Norte also joined the ECOWALK.

The walk started at 5:00am on October 10, 2015 in Maranding, Lala to Poblacion, Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

The walk was welcomed by Tubod Association of Barangay Captains President Luncio Bagol and Municipal Councilor Hon. Jun Manosa of Tubod. Both gave thanks to the initiative and have committed to stand with the Lao Estate tenants.

In a short program, there was sharing of issues among us and our communities like, land conversion and harassment from a developer claiming the land they are tilling.

According to LMK-Lanao Chairperso Jastine Abelardo, fighting and standing for the communities and nature is worth doing after they have visited the whole site devastated by the housing project in the community and after hearing and seeing the situation of the Lao Estate in Tubod tenants.

Mr Abelardo narrated that, “the EcoWalk is also to highlight our strong demands for:

1. ‪Climate Justice!

2. ‪Stop the Lumad Killings!

3. Food Sovereignty Now!

4. Cancellation of Coal Projects in the Philippines!

5. Justice for the community and individual victims of repressions and militarization!”

The groups and walkers have agreed to engage the 2016 National Election candidates on the basis of environment and agrarian concerns.

Contact Person:

Jastine S. Abelardo

Liga ng Makabagong Kabataan – Lanao

Chairperson

lmkabataan@yahoo.com.ph

13 October 2015