SURIGAO DEL SUR—Sad to know that my beloved barangay, Adlay, Carrascal, Surigao del Sur is now one of the dirtiest barangays in CARCANMADCARLAN (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza—municipalities in Surigao del Sur). The reason for this is mining.

I am one of the residents of Adlay—where the mining site is located. I have personally observed the destruction brought about by mining. I have seen the siltation of the sea especially during rainy days. Before (mining), sea water was clear. The large amount of dust during dry season causes cough and colds.

The people cannot anymore predict the weather due to the destruction of the forest. The month of March before was dry season, now it is rainy season. For few minutes the sun shines, then rain comes. How long is La Niña (rainy season) and El Niño (dry season) now? The cutting of trees causes direct ultraviolet rays to the earth resulting to global warming.

The people can feel the hardships as a result of climate change and global warming. I interviewed many organizations, such as Cahayag, Social Action Center in Tandag, which call to stop mining.

Even those who worked at the mining site said, "Better without mining, then I would have not gotten sick of asthma—dust covers my nose and when I cough, my saliva is like the color of a worm."

This means: Mining causes climate change and global warming.

Based on what I heard, the government has no plan to stop mining in our area.

Cree Indian Prophecy says:
"Only when the last tree has been cut down,
Only when the last river has been poisoned,
Only when the last fish has been caught,
Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten."

END

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