Check out the Nov/Dec 2008 issue of This Magazine for my photos and article about two Canadian mining sites in the Philippines. The vid above was produced by This using a few of my images and narration.The two sites featured are Marinduque island and Mt. Canatuan (in Mindanao). The former is a site that operated for almost a half century (closed in the 90s) by PlacerDome (now Barrick Gold), it is an example of long term effects of large scale open pit mining. The latter, operated by Toronto Ventures Incorporated, just opened early this decade and is an example of how quickly the negative effects manifest in terms of human rights violations and environmental destruction.
Some of the images not used in the publication are posted below…
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I’ve previously posted on these and other mining sites, please click on the links below for more.
Marinduque/Mt. Canatuan:
What I did on my Christmas Holiday
Didipio:
Gold Mining: The Problem is not Solb
Rapu-Rapu:
I’ve also been interview by BlogTO: Podcast of the interview
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This Magazine: http://www.thismagazine.ca/
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***all images: ©2007 alex felipe / All Rights Reserved.
Please contact the photographer with use inquiries***
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More images from Canatuan, Mindanao.
One of the children living in the small community surrounded by the mine in Canatuan.
The mine inching closer and closer to the small village in Canatuan.
The children of former small scale miners, now forced into farming after the large scale mine destroyed their tunnels.
With the school destroyed, if a child wishes to go to school s/he must cross the open pit and go to the school set up for the miners children.
25/11/2008 at 5:17 am
wanted to know if you’d be interested in trading links/blogroll – check me out Dare Something Worthy Today Too! http://jschulmansr.wordpress.com just leave me a comment…
03/12/2008 at 5:03 am
Hey alex,
Let me just say that, after briefly perusing your blog, it seems like you’re on to something with your writing and pictures. Even across the various topics you maintain a certain style and perspective. I can’t really put my finger on it. It’s kind of like an objective weariness of the world around you, but expressed not negatively, more just melancholy.
Anyways, this little bit on the gold mine was kind of eye opening because i hadn’t really thought there were canadian companies acting so irresponsibly overseas. I held the wreckless corporation label mainly for the American international companies, but i suppose we’re following their lead more and more as time goes on.
But this little article really reminded me of a song by the Gorillaz called Fire Coming Out of the Monkey’s Head. If this song was written about anything, it would have been about Mt. Canatuan and it’s people.
Anyhow, keep it up
Dave
04/12/2008 at 12:47 am
Dave I’ve used that Gorillaz song for presentations on this topic! The first time I heard it was in the Phils and it smacked me right upside the head.
27/12/2008 at 4:06 am
Alex
With this, and many of your other posts, you poignantly illustrate the potential ugliness inherent in an unequal global capitalist system.
No-one can deny that many western multinationals take advantage of the cheap labour costs in developing countries, and turn a blind eye to environmental degradation and human rights violations. And, the fact that locally-owned companies in such countries might act in a similar way is no excuse.
Nonetheless, I feel that the end “guilt” or “responsibility” should not lie with the multinationals in question. The fact is that in the West we (the end consumers) enjoy cheap merchandise because (in great part) of exploitation in developing countries. While western citizens might tut, shake their heads and blame the multinationals for their unethical and irresponsible behaviour, do they care enough to start paying higher prices for things? Because, I suspect, were stricter regulations to be placed and enforced on multinationals – then the ensuing higher costs would be passed on to the end consumers in the West.
If (say) a politician said to voters “We can make it so that no more people in the developing world are exploited by western multinationals – but you’re all going to have to start paying a lot more for things!” then we might start to see the real reason why most turn a blind eye/pay lip service to this issue.
Don’t blame the “evil multinationals” – the real reason that this exploitation exists is that most western citizens care more about having cheap goods than the well-being of people in some country far away…
14/02/2009 at 9:48 pm
Alex,
I live in Tucson, where a newly formed Canadian Company has plans for our Santa Rita Mountain range. Tim C. Baker, was appointed on the board of directors and he was previously with Placer Dome,in Tanzania,and perhaps others.
Your pictures and commentary were very helpful. Please let me if you have any info that we could use to stop this mine from happening. They was to use 3,500 acres for u.s.forest land for the drainoff.
Thank you,
Sue Ann. Oh, would it possible to use your pictures for a billboard for our public campaign.
08/06/2009 at 2:53 pm
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