Pitfalls and Pipelines - Philippine Indigenous Peoples Links

Chapter 2.2: Challenges at the National Policy Level
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Chapter 2.2
Challenges at the
National Policy Level
Once communities and activists have created national
networks, they can move beyond a focus on specific projects,
and start to advocate for policy changes at the national level.
Although, of course, national networks can support activities
around a specific project. Even with this more general policy
focus, advocating at the national, or regional, level may still
come back to a single project. This may be considered particularly
important when local politicians cannot be persuaded to
support the cause, especially if they have already found favor
with the extractive industry companies. Supportive legislators
or officials may be of assistance, in sharing key items of information
or conduct inquiries into any wrong-doing. Obviously,
if possible, such support should be across political parties, and
focused on legislators who are genuinely committed to the
cause.