ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDERS SAY #JUNKTERRORLAW!
Calling on environment and climate advocates from the Philippines and around the world to sign our petition to have the Duterte administration, through the Philippine Congress, repeal the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, also known as the Terror Law.
STAND WITH FILIPINO ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDERS AGAINST THE TERROR LAW!
The global environmental and climate justice movement stands together with Filipino environmental defenders and climate protectors in rejecting the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 recently signed by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
The ‘Terror Law’ is a draconian measure that would worsen the already atrocious human rights situation in the Philippines, previously tagged as the world’s deadliest country for land and environmental defenders in 2019.
With the wide latitude of discretion given to law enforcement agents and very limited accountability mechanisms for their abuses, the Antiterrorism law’s provisions allowing detention up to 24 days without charges, warrantless arrests, and the suppression of freedom of expression and right to privacy threatens the work of Filipino indigenous people, small farmers, artisanal fishers, forest workers, and environmental activists operating in one of the global frontlines of the ecological and climate crisis.
In the first three years of the Duterte Administration, environmental defenders and advocates have been attacked in all fronts as they protect at least 6.2 million hectares of watershed forests, agricultural lands, coasts, and seas. Their work plays an important role in protecting these landscapes and seascapes situated in one of the 18 mega-biodiverse countries that is also the 5th most mineralized and yet the 2nd most climate-vulnerable nation in the world.
Environmental defenders and advocates also stand up against transnational mining companies, big logging and agribusiness, and infrastructures that are considered by government as ‘vital installations’ and ‘critical investments. As such, at least 19,498 of the defenders have been erroneously terror-tagged and subjected to various other human rights abuses.
Despite the dangers they face everyday, environmental defenders are steadfastly the first and last line of defence for our planet. In this era of runaway climate crisis and pandemics emerging from nature under siege, we have to resist laws that undermine our ability to protect our rights to a balanced and healthful ecology, and most especially, the right to life of everyone.
We thus demand the Duterte administration, through the Philippine Congress, to repeal the Anti-Terrorism Law.
𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀
Naomi Klein
Journalist and Social Activist
Greta Thunberg
Climate Activist
Fridays for Future
Nnimmo Bassey
Executive Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation
2010 Right Livelihood Award Laureate
Bill McKibben
Author, Environmentalist
2014 Right Livelihood Award Laureate
Lia Alonzo
Secretariat Coordinator, Asia Pacific Network for Environmental Defenders
Executive Director, Center for Environmental Concerns – Philippines
Kevin Bracken
Convener, International League of Peoples’ Struggle Commission on Environmental and Climate Justice
President, Spirit of Eureka
Rachel Cox
Campaigner, Global Witness
Avi Lewis
Strategic Director, The Leap
Beverly Longid
Global Coordinator, Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL)
Karin Nansen
Chairperson, Friends of the Earth International
Danielle Hirsch
Executive Director, Both ENDS
Natalie Lowrey
Campaign Coordinator, AID/WATCH
Emily Johnston
Communications Director, 350.org Seattle
Hannibal Rhoades
Communications and Advocacy Coordinator, The Gaia Foundation
Daniel Aldana Cohen
Director, Socio-Spatial Climate Collaborative
University of Pennsylvania
Guadalupe Rodriguez
Campaigner
Salva la Selva
Clemente Bautista Jr.
International Networks Coordinator, Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE)
Secretariat Coordinator, International People’s Conference on Mining (IPCM)
Norly Mercado
Asia Regional Director, 350.org
Ramon San Pascual
Executive Director, Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) Southeast Asia
Lidy Nacpil
Convener, Asian Peoples Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD)
Mitzi Jonelle Tan
Convener, Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP)
Luke Borromeo
National Chairperson, Agham Youth
Criselda Charisse Reganion
Founder and Executive Director, Wavefarers
Nat Galibut
Education and Research Officer, Saribuhay University of the Philippines Diliman
Kevin Lloyd Aboy
Acting Chairperson, Saribuhay University of the Philippines Manila
Jeri Latorre
Vice President for Environment and Community Development, University of the Philippines Zoological Society
Chito Arceo
Representative, Aguman da ring Pantas ampon Talasuyu ning ACSci king Scientia ampon Naturalesa (APTAS)
Hannah Mae Sucgang
Chairperson, University of the Philippines College of Science Student Council
Jefferson Estela
Lead Convenor, Youth Strike 4 Climate Philippines
Tara Santos
National Coordinator, Extinction Rebellion Philippines
Jhayee Ilao
Secretary General, Millennials PH
Atty. Mai Taqueban
Executive Director, Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center / Friends of Earth Philippines
Atty. Rose-Liza Eisma-Osorio
Executive Director, Philippine Earth Justice Center (PEJC)
Atty. Zelda Soriano
Legal Director, Community Legal Help and Public Interest Centre
Atty. Gloria Ramos
Environmental Lawyer
Von Hernandez
Environmental Activist
2003 Goldman Prize Awardee
Francis Dela Cruz
Convener, Aksyon Klima
Chuck Baclagon
Volunteer Coordinator, 350.org Pilipinas
Yolanda Esguerra
Coordinator, Philippine Misereor Partnership Incorporated
Rodne Galicha
Executive Director, Living Laudato Si’ Philippines
Nestor Ravilas
President
Penuel School of Theology
Aileen Lucero
National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition
Geri Carretero
Communications Officer, Break Free from Plastic PH
Jove Benosa
National Coordinator, Barefoot Science Collective, Inc.
Beau Baconguis
Environmental Activist and Permaculturist
Leon Dulce
National Coordinator, Kalikasan PNE Co-Convenor, Environmental Defenders Congress (Envidefcon)
