Pollution in Brazil: mining giant Vale found guilty, but victims dissatisfied
Vista aerea del desastre de Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, Brasil, el 25 de enero de 2019 AFP / Archivos
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Two years after the Brumadinho tragedy in Brazil, the mining giant Vale will pay $ 7 billion in compensation for “social and environmental” damage.
In 2019, the explosion of the dam killed 270 people and caused a disaster for the fauna and flora, polluting the waters of the neighboring river.
The families of the victims denounce this agreement, considered insufficient.
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With our correspondent in Rio de Janeiro,
Sarah Cozzolino
In front of the gates of the State Court of Minas Gérais,
the victims of the tragedy protest
.
Flavia Coelho has lost her father, who has worked for Vale since the start of the dam.
“
The government is celebrating this deal, but my family is crying.
It is 40 years of loyal service to a criminal enterprise, which calculated the value of his life while he gave himself to work.
I hope the money from this deal does not go to corruption.
"
According to the authorities of the State of Minas Gérais, this agreement signifies “
the recognition of the responsibility of the Vale company
”.
The mining giant will have to finance the depollution of the Paraopeba river, and the reforestation of the area submerged by tons of mining residues.
But Jocelino Andreoli, coordinator of the Dam disaster movement, emphasizes that the victims are largely absent from this agreement.
“
He openly violates the rights of victims.
This agreement is illegitimate because it was made in the name of the victims but to benefit the government of the State of Minas Gérais which hopes to be re-elected thanks to the major works that will be done in the metropolitan region
.
"
MAB judges the amount intended for victims insufficient, and announces that it will appeal to the Federal Supreme Court.
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Brazil
Pollution
Environment
Justice