Green group to picket Korean Embassy in protest of mining project

MANILA, Philippines - Environmental groups will picket in front of the Korean Embassy in Makati City Wednesday to protest the sale of the Philippine government’s flagship mining project in an island in Albay to Korean investor LG Collins and KORES. In a statement, Kalikasan People’s Network for Environment said the controversial mining project in Rapu-Rapu island has caused at least three fish kills since 2005 and is endangering the livelihood and ecosystem of the island’s residents. The group said the entry of the new Korean owners “almost guarantees that environmental degradation and tragedies will continue.” To recall, massive local protests have previously pushed for the pull-out of the mine's former owner, Australian-owned Lafayette Mining Limited. “Kalikasan PNE will challenge the Embassy of Korea to heed the calls of Rapu-Rapu's residents, environmental groups, and the academe: the Rapu-Rapu mine project must be closed, its new Korean owners are not welcome and should pull-out now,” the group said in its statement. - GMANews.TV