"We landed and I talked to the farmers. I was so moved. I'd never seen an open pit mine. You know, I come from the well-to-do class. The Philippines is 7,000 islands. Most of the mining happens in far off, far flung places. I grew up in a bubble. I have beautiful parents. You think that is all there is to life. Then you go there. I was just totally horrified."
Lopez's response was to work with indigenous leaders and activists to organise an anti-mining campaign to collect 10 million signatures in opposition to Palawan mining. The campaign expanded nationally to oppose mining that injured farmland, watersheds, and marine environments across the Philippines. Lopez personally briefed then-President Benigno Aquino III.
https://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/9761-Profile-Regina-Lopez-is-pushing-for-a-new-green-politics-in-Asia
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