Philippines, mine dispute

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Until recently the people of Macambol - a cluster of villages on the pristine Philippino coastline - were a close-knit community who relied on fishing and farming to survive.

Now, an international mining company is planning to develop a nickel mine and processing plant there worth $20bn.

Since their land was earmarked for mining, the community of Macambol has fallen apart. There is deep division between neighbours and families. Many believe the two mining companies...
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Until recently the people of Macambol - a cluster of villages on the pristine Philippino coastline - were a close-knit community who relied on fishing and farming to survive.

Now, an international mining company is planning to develop a nickel mine and processing plant there worth $20bn.

Since their land was earmarked for mining, the community of Macambol has fallen apart. There is deep division between neighbours and families. Many believe the two mining companies involved - BHP Biliton (British) and AMCOR (Philippino) - are fuelling tensions to remove local opposition to the project.

Although the community should have an informed say over mining on their lands, they claim that BHP Billiton has kept them in the dark about potential impacts of the new mine and that its local partner has used bribery to buy support and silence opponents of mining.

The community is now split in two. There are those for whom mining represents a path out of poverty; and those who fear mining will lead to displacement, pulluted rivers and the loss of their habitat.

This photo essay explores how the arrival of mining and development can impact on the lives of locals, their families and the wider community.
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