Mariana Mining Disaster in Brazil - Government and Corporations against the Environment
I'm writing this post because worldwide media were quite underestimating the seriousness of this disaster. I was born in Brazil and when I heard about what's happening I felt very disappointed and sad.
I currently live in Italy, but my heart is with the people and the environment being bullied by Corporations and not helped by the Government negligence.
Indios protesting after the disaster image credit
NOTE - This post is a collaboration with @andrew0: we decided to unite our efforts to document in the best way the disaster and the current situation of other dams in Brazil.
The Mariana Mining disaster
In November 2015, the ore mining dam in Minas Gerais (Brazil) collapsed, producing the biggest environmental disaster in the country's history. The mining facility is owned by Samarco, a joint venture between BHP Billiton and Vale mining giants.
The polluted mud oozed into the Rio Doce (one of the most important Brazil's rivers) killing all fishes for kilometers and making the water polluted and undrinkable for hunderds of thousands people living in that area. The Bento Rodrigues town, close to the mine, will never be habitable again. Then the polluted mud also reached the sea. Damages will have consequences for decades, experts say. 18 people were killed and about 500 remained homeless.
image from NASA - Argentina Independent
Government and Corporations responsibility
Brazil ex-president Dilma Rousseff was heavily criticized for visiting the disaster area after a week.
Prosecutors already have alleged negligence. Back in 2013, Samarco company was allowed to increase the dam's height, but was also requested to perform a dam break analysis due to concerns over safety.
Samarco claims that he had valid government's licenses and followed all government's recommendations.
The company had to pay initial fees and also agreed to give a compensation to repair the damages, but the effective cost for population and environment is incalculable.
image from The Guardian
The current situation
The damage is huge and can not be calculated, additionally two dams more may collapse (one of them already damaged by this accident). High levels of toxic chemicals were found in the mud analyzed.
Environment and population are still suffering, while Samarco has to pay millions Reais which will be not enough to really restore the damage.
Mainstream media didn't focus their attention over this disaster; probably they were busy with the terrorist attacks in Europe and other international news.
We think that this situation needs more media coverage
The population and environment involved were devastated and they need more attention and support.
They must not be forgotten and left alone in this disaster. This was a preventable tragedy, but the government and companies involved didn't monitor the possible dangers and put profit before safety and environment.
We need to learn from disasters like this, to prevent them to happen again elsewhere.
What is the monetary value of human lives lost? How much should this company pay for the destruction of rivers, forests, animals and seas?
They're currently paying 1% of their profits to repair the damage.
Related articles
- Brazil's mining tragedy: was it a preventable disaster? (The Guardian)
- The Forgotten Tragedy: Revisiting Brazil’s ‘Worst Ever’ Environmental Disaster (Argentina Independent)
It seems 30 years after the Bhopal disaster similar sort of things keep happening. Thank you for raising awareness.
It's so sad for me to report this news, but we must to do. The companies, the goverment, and mass media don't care with the planet and the people who lives in those places, for them is more important the profit that the life. I so sorry about Bhopal disaster, i didn't know. Thanks @thecryptofiend.
Sadly we see this happening again and again.
i followed you! perhaps u like my page and find some graffiti art u like :) <3 kalipo
Thanks @kalipo. I'll look your graffit art, and i followed u 2!