By ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW

Reviewing the top issues in 2007, I finally settled on the following as the hottest issues: extrajudicial killings, which include journalists among their many victims; deregulation and privatization of the oil industry; and the liberalization of the mining industry. These must be addressed by the present administration if it wants to show that it is there to protect the interests of the people.

Human rights watchdogs point out that since Pres. GMA took to power in 2001, her regime has chalked up a record of more than 800 extrajudicial cases and nearly 200 cases of forced disappearances. For this year alone, there have been nearly 70 cases of extrajudicial killings; journalists were the victims in five cases, the latest of which is the ambush-killing of broadcaster Fernando Lintuan on December 24. Read the rest of this entry →

By ARTURO BOQUIREN

Recently, a number of officials and potential presidential candidates in the United States have expressed reservations on globalization, or the movement towards a freer world market. This can be surprising for some, because the U.S. economy is described as the freest market in the world. The country has a reputation of being the bastion of trade liberalization and the world’s leader in the creation of the world’s free markets through the process initiated by the World Trade Organization. Most often, the proof cited for the US track record of being the freest economy in the world is this: most imports enter the United States either duty-free or are subject to low tariffs.

News reports are saying that one presidential candidate, Senator Hillary Clinton, has voiced concerns on trade liberalization. Yet, if we are to analyze the expression of reservations vis-a-vis the US as well as this politician’s track record, the reservations are mere posturing vis-a-vis increasing public dissatisfaction with globalization and the US economy. Read the rest of this entry →

By KATHLEEN T. OKUBO

Was that Christmas Day? Is New Year renewed hope? Again?

Oooh wow! That was a sweet and filling Christmas day. And I thought, with Christmas Day done and all the kids gone off to make their best of their short holiday vacation, twas a good time to dig out the warm woolen bonnet, woolen socks and thick soft shawl, and curl up on the couch and catch up with our favorite soap opera or sitcom ‘til New Year’s Day. Read the rest of this entry →

By REV. LUNA L. DINGAYAN

“Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” — Genesis 1:28

Kyoto Protocol

Sometime in 1997, a protocol was signed in Kyoto, Japan by UN member nations purposely to cut emissions of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. But industrialized nations, like the US, emitting the greatest amount of greenhouse gases did not sign the Kyoto Protocol. They seemed not to care even if the rising temperatures will cause widespread drought, floods, higher sea levels and worsening storms.

Thus, we are delighted to note that the US backed down in the recently concluded climate summit held in Bali, Indonesia, even as world leaders adopted a plan to negotiate a new global warming pact by 2009. This is a very significant development, because global warming affects everyone. It is no respecter of race or creed. Read the rest of this entry →

By INNABUYOG-GABRIELA

This was presented by Vernie Yocogan-Diano to the Inter-disciplinary Conference on Mining in the Asia-Pacific on Nov. 26-28, 2007 at Quezon City, Philippines. — Ed

Forum for distressed women

In the Asia-Pacific and national consultation with the Special Rapporteur of Violence Against Women, Dr. Yakin Erturk, last September in Manila, Innabuyog presented the violence against indigenous brought by mining along with militarization of areas covered by mining projects.

Nida Cupatan Legaspi of Itogon, Benguet, strengthened earlier discussions on mining through her testimony— “Damage to traditional livelihood sources has been forcing local women to seek wage employment outside, including overseas. The children of some women who worked far away from home have become vulnerable to abuse by their fathers”. Read the rest of this entry →