Dear colleagues,
The Philippine Health Ethics Review Board and Ugnayang Pang-Agham Tao cordially invite you to a forum on Social Impact Assessment Studies in Large Scale Mining in Indigenous Peoples Lands: Ethical and Social Challenges. It will be held on September 18, 2009, 1-5pm at the Philippine Social Science Center Library, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City (beside Iglesia ni Cristo).
The forum brings together practitioners of SIA studies, other researchers, ethicists, representatives of relevant government agencies, NGOs and indigenous peoples organization to: (1) thresh out ethical issues in SIA in large scale mining; and (2) identify ways to protect the rights of affected communities as well as the integrity of the social sciences.
Should you wish to attend the forum or require your class to attend, please communicate with Rosa Castillo at rosacordillera@yahoo.com.
For other information regarding UGAT activities please visit our website www.ugat.org.ph.
Sincerely,
UGAT
FORUM POSTER
The Philippine Health Research Ethics Board in cooperation with Ugnayang Pang-Agham Tao- Anthropological Association of the Philippines cordially invite you to a forum on:
Social Impact Assessment Studies in Large Scale Mining Projects
in Indigenous Peoples Lands:
Ethical and Social Challenges
September 18, 2009, 1-5 PM
Philippine Social Science Center Library,
Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
The forum brings together practitioners of social impact assessment (SIA) studies in large scale mining, other researchers, ethicists, representatives of relevant government agencies, NGOs and indigenous peoples organizations to: (1) thresh out ethical issues in SIA research in large scale mining and; (2) identify ways to protect the rights of affected communities as well as the integrity of the social sciences.
The stakes are high in the revitalized mining sector in the Philippines. It is estimated that the Philippines has $1 trillion worth of unexplored mineral resources. Mining, the centerpiece of the Arroyo administration's economic development plan, is expected to bring billions of pesos in investments and tax shares.
The stakes are high indeed especially for indigenous communities who have to bear the ecological and social costs of mining such as the destruction of environment and its consequent detrimental effects on people’s health, the disintegration of communities and the devastation of livelihood and economic resources. How do communities who become divided into pro- and anti-mining sectors become whole again? How are the rights of people promoted and protected?
Further, there is an emerging concern regarding social research and conflict of interest. What are the responsibilities of social scientists who are commissioned by mining companies to conduct Social Impact Assessment studies, one of the bases for granting an Environmental Clearance Certificate for the operations of a mining company?
The forum hopes to enlighten the participants and to generate ideas for the resolution of the aforementioned issues and concerns.
