Letter to the editor - International petition against hunger and plunder in the seas

On 20th to 23rd October 2008, an international fact finding mission (IFFM) was organized by PAN AP, PCFS and FIDEC in Central Visayas, Philippines to look into the effects of off-shore oil and gas exploration. The IFFM team was composed of various organizations' representatives from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.

The findings of the IFFM team prove that off-shore mining activities have destroyed the marine ecosystem and have greatly affected the lives and economic activities of the communities, who are greatly dependent on the marine resources for their daily existence.

As a result of the IFFM, the team recommends for the government to immediately stop the off-shore oil and gas exploration activities. According to their joint manifesto, these extractive activities violate the economic, social, and cultural rights of the Visayan people, especially the right to food and food sovereignty.

We urge everyone to support the struggle of the Visayan fishing community by signing on to the online petition letter found at http://www.foodsov.org/html/ petition10.php. This letter will be automatically sent to the concerned offices and individuals.

Ms. Norly Grace Mercado

Secretariat

People's Coalition on Food Sovereignty (PCFS)

P.O. Box 1170, Penang 10850, Malaysia