Plundering Paradise: The Struggle for the Environment in the Philippines

Reports of environmental degradation and eco-crises in the Third World are all too commonplace. The Philippines, a vast island chain in Southeast Asia, is a case in point. Its lush land has undergone devastating destruction. Its people have been impoverished. But there’s another aspect to this story. Filipinos are organizing to defend their interests. They are resisting local elites and the transnational corporations looting one of the richest countries in the world. A grassroots citizens’ movement has emerged to promote sustainable, equitable and participatory development.

Interview by David Barsamian.