”
Tribal residents in the mines development site have complained of alleged restrictions on hunting activities, increased military presence, and the desecration of the burial grounds of their dead, among others.
But John Arnaldo, Sagittarius Mines external communications and media relations manager, said the company observes “responsible business practices” in dealing with the communities.
Pelino said industrial stakeholders in Germany, a net importer of mineral products, want to know if raw materials produced or will be produced by mining companies are in accord with good business practices, including respect for human rights.
At least 50 participants from developing and emerging economies in Asia, Africa and Latin America are expected to grace the event dubbed “Mines and More: Development or Poverty?” on September 13.
It is organized by Miserior, the development arm of the German Catholic Bishops’ Organization for Development Cooperation, and the Brot für die Welt (Bread for the World), an agency for ecumenical development cooperation initiated by Protestant churches in Germany.[]
Aside from Pelino, two others from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Brazil will speak about mining in the South and its impact on the local population.
Organizers said in the invitation letter that mining conditions in these areas “concern all of us,” particularly because the vast majority of metallic raw materials in Germany are imported from emerging and developing countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa.[]
