REBUTTAL: (Insert here)

Good afternoon your honors, ladies and gentlemen of this house.

I will discuss two points for beneficiality: (1) the continuous operation of open-pit
mining kills the mining industry, and other industries in the long run, and (2)
Environmental sustainability and preservation require more than a passive act on
the part of the government
For my first point:

When we continuously allow the operation of open-pit mining, we are not

actually helping the mining industry in general. Rather, we are helping them dig
their own grave since, in the long run, they will suffer because of the
uncontrollable depletion of natural resources. WE DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN!
Side Affirmative is not, and will never be, for killing of the mining industry. We are
for its sustainability and its development which can be achieved by banning one
method of surface mining which is open-pit mining.

This method of mining is mainly responsible for the depletion of the minerals and
resources of the mining industry. This means, therefore, that the cost of the
seemingly beneficial operation of open-pit mining contemplates on short-term
benefits despite the inherent damage it will cause to the industry in the long-run.
The adverse effects of open-pit mining, pose a threat to these industries
Because

- Continuous operations of these open-pit mining sites dry up the

surrounding land leading for it to be infertile and incapable of growing
crops and vegetation.

- Unintended releases of polluted water and sediment kills marine life and
contaminates the surrounding bodies of water.

The challenge to mining companies is to undertake mining operations which,

although more costly, is more protective of the environment. If mining companies
cant live up to the challenge because of non-compliance, then they dont
deserve to utilize natural resources and operate as mining companies.

On the contrary, our paradigm promotes a more sustainable way of extracting

and developing natural resources which will enable mining companies to thrive
in the long-term.

Once these open-pit mining operations are prohibited, we secure the pristine
condition of the nearby bodies of water and land areas. We augment the
resources of the agricultural industry, which contributes 10% and the fishing
industry, which contributes 17% to the GDP of the country, respectively.

Prohibiting these open pit-mining sites will increase the productivity of these
industries as more resources will be available for their perusal: a win for not only
the mining industry, but for two other major industries of the country.

For my second point, achieving environmental sustainability requires more than

passive measures from the government.

Considering the tragic effects that these open-pit mining operations cause to
society today: IS IT EVEN WISE TO INTERPRET THE LAWS BY ITS EXPRESS PROVISION
OR IS IT MORE BENEFICIAL TO INTERPRET THEM IN THEIR ENTIRETY? We believe its
the latter.

More than the letters, we must implement the spirit of the law, which is to uphold
public safety and health, and eliminate any form of danger that threatens the
same. THIS IS TRUE NOTWITHSTANDING SELFISH INTERESTS, HIDING UNDER THE
CLOAK OF LEGITIMATE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES.

No less than the Constitution prohibits open-pit mining. As stated in the landmark
case of Oposa v Factoran, the right to a balanced and healthful ecology need
not even be written in the Constitution for they are assumed to exist from the
inception of humankind.
Thank you.