BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Anti-mining activist Adi Galokepoto Bennett has acknowledged the Mining toolkit developed by the Development Services Exchange (DSE) and its partners.
The project is a collaboration between ICAAD (International Centre for Advocates Against Discrimination), the Development Services Exchange (DSE), Apunepara Ha’amwa’ora Natural Resources Association (AHRNA), and a CBO from Lauru/Choiseul Province.
It is supported and funded by the Earth Rising Foundation.
Speaking to Island Sun during the DSE-organised Mining Toolkit and Media Advocacy Workshop held at St. Barnabas Melanesia Leaf Hut yesterday, Mrs Galokepoto said that communities can now be informed of their rights with the availability of the mining toolkit.
“You let the community know what their rights are? How to use several pathways for raising issues, if they are unhappy with how the government is carrying out mining, whether it’s affecting their livelihood, there are clear guidelines on how to assist those who are raising the issues, rather than taking matters into their own hands,” she said.
Mrs Galokepoto, a member of the Forum Against Mining on Choiseul (FAMOC), said that the toolkit provides an avenue where communities can also share their disagreements.
“At least they have a mechanism where they can also share their grievances. This mining toolkit can help them understand the laws, what process they can follow, and how they can further advocate if they don’t want mining to affect their area. It’s a useful mining toolkit,” she said.
She said that it allows communities to have a say and be aware of the pros and cons of mining, understand the conditions surrounding mining, and the responsibilities of the government.
“So, for us, we are looking at enhancing the process that we started a few years ago, back in 2014, where we tried to do more awareness. At the time, we used whatever materials we had. But this time, at least there’s a standard way we can use to communicate and encourage collaboration amongst our communities for sharing our thoughts and raising awareness of what our rights are as well,” she said.
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