BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
The Development Service Exchange (DSE) Solomon Islands successfully commenced a workshop on the Mining Toolkit and Media Advocacy Workshop yesterday in Honiara.
The programme started yesterday and concludes today, Friday at the St Barnabas Melanesia Leaf Hut.
Graham Tahu, Apunepara Ha’amwa’ora, Natural Resources Association (AHNRA) grant and programme manager, said that this toolkit empowers communities across the Solomon Islands to influence decision makers about mining and protect what matters most to them.
He said that the workshop provides an opportunity to share insights and ensure effective collaboration for the success of advocating on Extractive industry-related issues by using baseline information from the Mining toolkit and survey.
“This 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, supported by funding from the Earth Rising Foundation,” he said.
He said that the workshop aims to educate resource owners, who are mostly affected by the extractive industry around the country, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding extractive industries or abstain and participate in conservation activities.
He said that participants attending the workshop are from Choisual, Isabel and Guadalcanal, where mining is currently ongoing.
“During these two days, we will be looking at the Mining Mineral Act and laws. Who has the power to make decisions when it comes to the license? Who’s on the Mineral Board? So at least the communities are aware, so when they do their advocacy,” Mr Tahu said.
He said that one of the objectives of the two-day workshop is also to develop a document and make an appeal to the Minister regarding whether changes are needed to the current laws.
“It won’t stop there because we also developed a toolkit over the last seven months. We are also going through this toolkit during the workshop. It will help attendees when conducting their advocacy. The toolkit is also available online. With that, we are also looking for support to go out to the community and do awareness at the community level,” he said.
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