Green Group Launches Tribute for Envi Heroes and Martyrs
ATM Statement | November 30, 2022
Members of Alyansa Tigil Mina launched today a week-long tribute to honor chosen environmental heroes and martyrs as they visited the monument of Armin Marin in Sibuyan Island to pay homage to the slain environmental activist.
Jaybee Garganera, National Coordinator of Alyansa Tigil Mina, said “it is critical that we remember our fallen green warriors, especially during this period when the current administration is revising the nation’s history and eradicating the memory of past heroes. We need to honor and remember those who spent their lives fighting for the communities and the environment.”
Among those being honored is Armin Marin, an environmental activist who was shot by a security official of Pelican’s subsidiary, Sibuyan Nickel Properties Development Corporation (SPNDCC). Marin had been an official of the World Wildlife Fund Philippines and was the 23rd environmentalist to be murdered under the Macapagal Administration.
“Si Armin Marin ay isang matibay na haligi at isang huwaran na lider para sa aming mga Sibuyanon. Tunay siya na nagmahal sa islang ito ng Sibuyan at nagmalasakit sa mamamayan dito. Naghangad siya ng isang ligtas, payapa at sustinableng bukas para sa lahat. Hindi katanggap-tanggap para sa amin ang pambabalewala at paninira ng mining company sa kanyang mga ginawa,” said Elizabeth Ibanez of Sibuyanon Against Mining (SAM) and Bayay Sibuyanon.
(“Armin is a sturdy pillar and role model for us Sibuyanons. He truly loved the island of Sibuyan and was concerned with its citizens. He aspired for a safe, peaceful and sustainable future for everyone. We find it unacceptable that his work is being ignored and defamed by the mining company,” said Elizabeth Ibanez of Sibuyanon Against Mining (SAM) and Bayay Sibuyanon.)
From today until December 8, remembrance activities will be undertaken in different parts of the country to recognize the heroism and martyrdom of selected environmental defenders. Among those who will be honored are: Macli-ing Dulag (Kalinga), Gerry Ortega (Palawan), Eliezer Billanes (Socksargen), Gensun Agustin (Cagayan), Datu Victor Danyan (Socksargen) and Gloria Capitan (Bataan).
“This is a very welcome initiative for us, the youth, who have no knowledge and memory of the courageous acts of past and present environmental warriors. By honoring these heroes and telling their stories, we become inspired to emulate their good work and support advocacies for the environment,” said Charles Gregory Rocil, Nature Ambassador of Sibuyan Island.
The commemorative activities for the envi heroes will culminate on December 8, dubbed as the Day of Environmental Heroes and Martyrs, which is also part of the celebrations for International Human Rights Week.
The alliance hopes to make the remembrance activities a yearly tradition and shall name and honor other environmental activists in the coming years.
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