What's happened
A landmark trial in London has begun against BHP, as over 620,000 plaintiffs seek £36 billion in damages for the 2015 Mariana dam disaster in Brazil. The case highlights ongoing accountability issues for the mining giant following one of Brazil's worst environmental catastrophes.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, BHP has been accused of 'cynically and doggedly trying to avoid' responsibility for the disaster, highlighting the profound shortcomings of the reparations process in Brazil. Meanwhile, SBS reports that the trial is seen as a last hope for victims like Rayane Fernandes, who lost her daughter in the mudslide. The Independent emphasizes that the lawsuit seeks £36 billion, underscoring the scale of the disaster and the ongoing struggle for justice. Bloomberg notes that this case will test the willingness of English courts to hold firms accountable for environmental disasters occurring far from their jurisdiction.
How we got here
The Mariana dam disaster occurred on November 5, 2015, when a tailings dam owned by Samarco, a joint venture of BHP and Vale, collapsed, releasing toxic waste that killed 19 people and devastated local communities. Nearly nine years later, victims are pursuing justice in a UK court.
Common question
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What is the BHP Lawsuit in London About?
BHP is facing a landmark lawsuit in London, seeking £36 billion in damages related to Brazil's devastating Mariana dam disaster. This case raises critical questions about corporate accountability and the impact on affected communities. Below, we explore the background of the lawsuit, its implications, and what it means for environmental justice.
More on these topics
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Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At 8.5 million square kilometers and with over 211 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area and the sixth most
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Samarco Mineração S.A. is a Brazilian mining company founded in 1977. It is currently a joint-venture between the Brazilian Vale and the English-Australian BHP, each one holding 50% of the company's stocks.
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Vale S.A. is a Brazilian multinational corporation engaged in metals and mining and one of the largest logistics operators in Brazil.
Vale, formerly Companhia Vale do Rio Doce, is the largest producer of iron ore and nickel in the world.