Logging and mining endanger life on earth

Despite warnings that logging and mining are hazardous to life on Earth. The two activities continue without let-up and are becoming widespread because they provide economic benefits to growing economies. Up to this day no one can prove that mining is economically, socially and environmentally viable. This is a critique of Prof. Alejandro Nadal of the University of Mexico and a member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Commission on Economic, Environmental and Social Policy.

The universal suffering of people worldwide brought about by the abuse on the environment can not be helped by numerous laws – for the protection of nature from destruction — which are helpless in sustaining the fragileness of life on Earth.

One need not look far. Consider mineral-rich countries like South Africa, Peru and the Philippines. Despite the vaunted richness of our natural resources, the people remain poor. With the shortage of oil worldwide caused by the continuing war in Iraq, environmental destruction in the search for more oil will become widespread.

Water, clean air and rich biodiversity will be hard to come by. Even the genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are becoming natural species as claimed by multinational firms. Such species and monarch butterfly are viciously affected. The Cartagena Biosafety Protocol’s moratorium on GMOs must be followed until they are proven safe beyond reasonable doubt or our environment including agriculture will suffer.

The threshold of life has never been more fragile. We call on the government and leaders of the world to have the political will to protect and conserve our environment and natural resources or face the consequence of ecological disaster. The signs are clear and we must heed the call of nature.

(Mr. Claparols is president of the Ecological Society of the Philippines and IUCN councilor).