Mining Destruction
Francisco Proner
Watch the meeting with Francisco Proner, moderated by Caroline Laurent-Simon https://cloud.imagesevidence.com/index.php/s/coMFo6eNCieYWyB
The cities of Mariana, Brumadinho and Maceió have been marked forever by environmental tragedies that changed the land and the lives of the Brazilian people. These tragedies are the results of a history of predatory mining in Latin America, and also evidence of crimes committed by multinationals in their ruthless management of the mining industry.
In Mariana, in the state of Minas Gerais, on November 5, 2015, the Fundão tailings dam burst, causing the worst environmental disaster ever in Brazil, releasing 43 million cubic meters of tailings into the nearby river. Nineteen people perished, the village of Bento Rodrigues was devastated, and the pollution spread along some 700 kilometers of watercourses. Fish and other forms of aquatic life were decimated. Local communities were exposed to health hazards, and had no access to clean drinking water. The damage to both the environment and human health is permanent. More than 700,000 people were affected, including farmers, Quilombolas (descendents of escaped slaves) and native communities in 46 municipalities.
Preview
Three years after the Mariana disaster, just a few hundred kilometers away in Brumadinho, another tragedy occurred when the Córrego do Feijão dam collapsed, releasing 12 million cubic meters of tailings. The toxic mudflow killed 272 people, and polluted the Paraopeba River over a distance of 300 kilometers. The impact on the environment was similar to the 2015 Mariana disaster, affecting the lives of 250,000 people in and around Brumadinho. The tragedy is said to be the largest work-related accident in Brazil as most of the fatalities were employees of Vale, the fourth largest mining company in the world, the same company that managed the Fundão dam in Mariana.
In Maceió, in the state of Alagoas, salt had been mined in densely populated areas since 1970. It is clear today that the petrochemical company Braskem has had no proper planning or corporate responsibility exercised for the site. By 2018, the careless management of mining activity had caused earth movements and land subsidence, forcing local residents to leave their homes. Five districts were concerned; more than 60,000 people had to be moved out, and 3,600 local businesses had to close. The “Mine 18” rock salt mine was at risk, and in December 2023, it partially collapsed.
These events have shown just how urgent it is for impartial action to be taken by the authorities, both national and international, to ensure effective security and safety in the mining industry. Legal proceedings have been brought against Vale and other multinational corporations responsible for the management and safe operation of the dams. While a great deal of work has been done, and some legal victories can be cited, the hundreds of thousands of civilians affected by these three disasters are still struggling to obtain justice. International proceedings are still before the courts, and in the meantime, the mining companies continue their operations.
Francisco Proner
