MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Brazil is suing BHP and Vale 'at least' US$ 5bn for Minas Gerais mining disaster
A Brazilian federal court has ordered BHP Billiton and Vale to set aside US$ 491.5 million, with the possibility of billions more, has frozen the mining giants' assets in the country, and ordered it to carry out extensive environmental and social work in the region hit by a dam burst at its joint venture. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesAnd I suppose that the Government - Federal, State and Municipal, which issued operating licenses and were meant to oversee that Samarco abided by the safety norms, have no responsibility in the disaster. Always someone else's fault.
Dec 24th, 2015 - 04:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The only thing fining the companies does is to lower the share price.what should be done is to ncarcerate those responsible up to the highest level including not only the company officers but the government environmental regulators
Dec 26th, 2015 - 02:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You're right...but in this tropical paradise, no one is ever responsible ....look at out fat-ass president....her claim that she “knew nothing ” (about the PB corruption scheme, despite her being the President of the Board of Directors and the Minister of Mines and Energy while it was all happening under her nose) is enough to dismiss any charges. Just deny everthing.
Dec 26th, 2015 - 03:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0So where does the buck stop? Incidentally there seems to be an incipient movement for the southern states for greater independence. How does that look from your standpoint?
Dec 26th, 2015 - 06:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The buck stops - relatively speaking - when the PT is ousted, probably not before elections at end 2018....until then, we'll just carry-on, being merrily swilled down the toilet...
Dec 27th, 2015 - 07:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The separatist movement in the south (by Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná), has existed for a hell of a long time, but the first time I heard of it, in Brazil's recent history, probably goes back 25 years ; the movement came to a head when several prominent Southern politicians carried-out a plebiscite (technically not a plebiscite as it was not an official consultation), amongst about 20,000 people, in the 3 States, in 48 towns all with more than 100,000 inhabitants....and roughly 55 to 60%, varying from State to State, were in favour of forming a new country. Despite drawing national attention, it went no further, quashed by the Federal Government, based on the fact that the Constitution declares that the Federation formed by the States and the Federal District (Brasilia) is indissoluble. To declare independence unilaterally, might have lead to civil war. However, the reason for this sentiment amongst the population in these States, is due to the fact they are of mainly European descent, with relatively little miscegenation, which has allowed many (positive) aspects of their cultural legacy to survive. Besides this, they have a better employment rate than the Brazilian average, their educational system is better, as is their HDIndex .
A similar movement pops up every now and again in the State of São Paulo, promoted by groups who are against , among many polemic issues, the uncontrolled flow of immigration from the north and northeastern States, placing an undue burden on the “Paulistas”.
All I can say is that if RS, SC and PR want to secede from the rest of Brazil, that they allow SP to join them - after kicking out all the 'petistas' and the free-loaders.
http://en.mercopress.com/2015/12/24/brazil-is-suing-bhp-and-vale-at-least-us-5bn-for-minas-gerais-mining-disaster#comment425413: John Birch's body lies a mouldering in the grave.
Dec 29th, 2015 - 01:33 am - Link - Report abuse 0Miscegenation, now there's a word I have not heard in a long time. And the right wing nuts dream of a racially pure state. You heard it here first folks.
What a jerk!
In 25 years Hepatia, in 25 years.
Dec 29th, 2015 - 01:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@6 Hippy
Dec 29th, 2015 - 04:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Miscegenation.....no one here mentioned or insinuated anything to do with 'right-wing' ... but am curious to know how your small brain concluded that the “ little miscegenation” in the south of Brazil, is a “right wing dream of a racially pure state” ?
You should stop listening to those voices echoing in your empty head...or to the politically correct liberal bs you love to gobble up.
Once again you lost a good chance - to keep your mouth shut.
Nevertheless, Happy 2016, Herpes !
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