Community of Piquia demands Vale to repair the damages caused
Published by MAC on 2020-10-29Source: FIDH, Justiça nos Trilhos
After three decades of suffering, people are demanding concrete actions.
Piquiá de Baixo is a community of 1100 inhabitants in the state of Maranhão, Northwest of Brazil. For more than 30 years, Piquiá has suffered pollution caused by the mining activities of Vale SA, as well as the production of iron, steel, cement and thermoelectric energy from the steel plants such as Grupo Ferroeste. A Change.org petition aims at making Brazilian multinationals repair the damages they have caused.
See also:
2019-07-10 Brazil court convicts Vale for damages
2016-05-04 Brazil: BHP and Vale hit with $44 billion lawsuit over deadly spill
2013-07-17 Brazilian Indigenous groups block iron ore miner Vale's Carajas railway
Make Brazilian multinationals repair the damage caused to the community of Piquia
https://www.change.org/p/vale-sauvez-la-communaut%C3%A9-de-piquia-de-baixo?
29 Oct 2020
Piquiá de Baixo is a community of 1,100 inhabitants in the northwest of Brazil in the state of Maranhão.
For more than 30 years, this community has suffered pollution and its disastrous consequences on their health and their environment, caused by the mining activities of Vale SA, as well as the production of iron, steel, cement and thermoelectric energy from the steel plants of other companies, such as Grupo Ferroeste, which have settled only a few meters from their homes and community.
Every day, these companies pollute the air and all natural resources.
Every day, these companies disturb the tranquility of the community.
Every day, these compagnies put the inhabitants' life and health at risk
Every day, these companies violate the human rights of the community, with the greatest indifference.
And every day, the materials produced are used all over the world for the manufacture of cars, household appliances, building structures, cans...
After three decades of suffering, and on the occasion of the anniversary of Grupo Ferroeste, the community of Piquiá de Baixo, supported by the FIDH and Justiça nos Trilhos, is demanding concrete action:
- That the steel companies and Vale S.A. provide the necessary resources for the construction of the houses and thus allow the relocation of the community of Piquiá de Baixo.
- That the companies offer an integral, fast and effective reparation to the people whose fundamental rights have been violated in the region of Piquiá de Baixo.
- That steel mills not be allowed to continue to operate until they comply with environmental permit obligations ;
- That the companies issue a formal apology to the Piquiá de Baixo Community
See the video of the campaign : https://youtu.be/S5bmvTgjtVo
Access advocacy : https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/globalisation-human-rights/brazil-campaign-calls-attention-to-toxic-impact-of-mining-activity-on