Author: DAVAO TODAY

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Rapu-rapu reopening a go-signal for more destructive mining investments — Ibon

MANILA — In the wake of the reopening of the controversial Rapu-Rapu polymetallic mine in Albay last February, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources recently announced that investments in the mining sector are expected to hit $348 million this year. But whatever benefits such investments supposedly bring would be cancelled out by the severe social and environmental costs of large-scale mining, according to independent think-tank IBON Foundation.

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Philippines urges its illegal workers in Kuwait to avail of amnesty

MANILA ? The DFA has urged Filipinos staying illegally in Kuwait to avail of the amnesty granted by the Kuwaiti government to illegal aliens.

In his report to DFA Secretary Alberto G. Romulo, Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Ricardo M. Endaya said that the two-month amnesty ? from 1 May to 30 June 2007 ? was granted by the Kuwaiti government for illegal aliens to allow them to leave Kuwait without having to pay penalties or face prosecution.
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Iran: Human rights groups protest detentions and travel bans

Joint statement from Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Federation for Human Rights, Reporters Without Borders

(New York, May 31, 2007) ? The Iranian government should immediately release two Iranian-Americans from detention and clarify the case of a third who may have ?disappeared,? a group of leading human rights organizations said today. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Federation for Human Rights, Reporters Without Borders and the Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi also urged Iran to lift travel bans on two journalists with dual nationality whom Iran has barred from traveling back to their home countries
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‘I’m not going to Melo panel; Ermita cannot speak for me’ — Satur

MANILA — House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna President Satur Ocampo
today categorically denied that he has agreed to testify before the
Melo Commission regarding extrajudicial killings of activists,
including 130 members of Bayan Muna.

“I have not made any statement that we are ready to appear before the
Melo Commission. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita is not authorized
to speak for me or Bayan Muna,” said Ocampo.
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Arroyo lauds 6.9% GDP growth

Statement of the President: On economic growth in the 1st quarter of 2007

I am pleased to announce that the economy has shown rather strong growth in the first quarter of 2007. Gross domestic product or GDP grew by 6.9 percent, while gross national product or GNP grew by 6.6 percent. This is a great sign that we will meet our GDP growth target of 6.1 to 6.7 percent for 2007.
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