BUTUAN CITY (MindaNews/5 April) – The greediness of man, particularly those in the mining industry, has caused so much woes to the communities, among them massive environmental damage, Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos said.
“The greed of man is the main cause for the ongoing environmental problem and conflict the region is currently facing, the prelate said in one of his Holy Week messages.
Greed, he noted, has no limit. Thus, those embracing it as a business policy make themselves as rich as they can be without looking at the welfare of the people.
The bishop said, though, that not all mining companies are greedy as some “avail of graces from God” and thus do give priority to people’s welfare, and even look after people in poverty.
He thus advised miners to make sure that the environment is not damaged.
Pueblos stressed that if the miners would only think of themselves and the profit that they make, then it is better to stop the mining operation.
“I ask that you (miners) to consider the good of all. It should be service oriented, not profit oriented,” said the bishop.
The bishop lauded the recent recommendation made by Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma that there should be a moratorium on mining while an investigation is to be conducted on its overall environmental effects.
Mining, along with logging, was blamed for the massive destruction brought about by Typhoon Sendong last December.
“It is the church’s stand on the issue that a study should be done because we are the ones who are going to suffer the consequences,” Pueblos said. (Erwin Mascarinas / MindaNews)