Not letting go of our dreams

You may already have received a similar email but allow us to give way to this very important message from Ms. Gina Lopez, Managing Director of ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.

 She is appealing to all of us to join and support their 10-million campaign to ôStop Mining in Palawanö, and keep alive the dream, not only of recently slain Gerry Ortega but of all concerned Filipinos to protect and preserve the natural wealth of the Philippines, particularly ôthe richness of Palawan, the wealth and pride of the country,ö which is as well ôthe wealth of the world.ö

 Here is the message of Ms. Gina Lopez. Here is her direct appeal to you, to us all. Please pass this on to all you can pass this important appeal to.

 ô On January 24 a very dear friend and colleague Gerry Ortega was shot in the head dead. I was just with him that weekend - and a few minutes before he died what we were discussing over the phone was an anti-mining campaign in Palawan - given that on December two huge mining applications were railroaded - and they were to be near protected sites.

 Gerry is dead but we will not let go of his dreams - and mine - and probably yours too.

 Palawan has 17 key bio diversity sites - which means it is part of the 70% bio diversity sites which are essential for sustaining life in the planet. It has 2 world heritage sites, 8 protected sites. Yet if you see Palawan on the map you will note that it is a very thin island - which is 82% mountain. It means that if the forest gets denuded and the minerals excavated - the tailings seep directly into the sea affecting the coral reefs. The top soil is thin - and the island eco system is fragile.

 Mining is not the way to go for Palawan.

 I have five eco tourism sites wherein the communities involved can now send their children to school, can dream bigger dreams. Mayor Hagedorn in Puerto Princesa has banned mining and logging - and focused on tourism and agriculture. From 2 flights a week, Puerto Princesa now boasts 10 flights a day. His revenues have gone up from several million to several billion.

 Mining as an economic path in a magnificent ôLast Frontierö is based on a paradigm of economic growth that is myopic and archaic . In this age of climate change and global warming any economic development that does not recognize and revere the web of life should be thrown in the dustbin.ö

 Please, please support the ten million signature campaign to Stop Mining in Palawan.

 The richness of Palawan is the wealth and pride of the country, it is the wealth of the world.

 Log in to no2mininginpalawan.com.Register your vote and please, please send it to thousands others.

 You can also include your household by downloading the form printing it - and faxing it to 4152227 or you can scan it and send it (to this email address): [email protected]. Questions can be sent to this email address: [email protected].ö

 You may also wish to log on to this site for further details: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/insights/01/31/11/appeal-gina-lopez.

 By doing your share, you are not only participating in a campaign to preserve the natural wealth of our country and the whole world. You will also be honoring and celebrating Gerry Ortega who lost his life in order to keep alive the wealth of this country for you, for me, for all of us, and for the whole world!

 Together with this signature campaign, let us also rally and pray for justice for Gerry Ortega as well as for foremost botanist Leonardo Co who was also slain while serving our people and our country at a heavily forested area in Kananga, Leyte.

 Let us also pray for strength and protection for Lieutenant Colonel George Rabusa and former government auditor Heidi Mendoza who have committed to let the truth be known despite grave threats to themselves and their families.

 Let us honor them all, these selfless, truth-loving Filipinos who make us all proud and who inspire us all to rally behind our dreams to have truth and sincere, honest service for our people, for our country, for our God in our land, in our midst.

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 Email: [email protected]