In, like, one of the biggest environmental deals ever, Brazilian mining giants Vale and BHP just agreed to a jaw-dropping $30 billion settlement with Brazil over that catastrophic 2015 Mariana dam collapse. So, back in the day, this dam—owned by Samarco (which Vale and BHP jointly run)—basically gave way and let loose tons of toxic waste. The disaster swept through Minas Gerais, left 19 people dead, and contaminated more than 500 kilometers of the Doce River, which is, like, totally sacred to the Krenak Indigenous community.
Now, the details of this deal are, like, massive. Brazil secured $30 billion to cover everything from environmental repairs to helping people who lost everything. Expert Dr. Alessandra Cardoso calls it “the scale of the damage” and says the amount is fair. But, she totally warned that they need to, like, actually make sure the money goes where it’s supposed to—like actually rebuilding and making the environment whole again.
Dr. Flávia Andrade, who knows everything about environmental justice, said that Brazilian authorities really need to keep an eye on how this unfolds over the next 20 years. “It’s crucial that Brazilian authorities monitor the long-term execution to ensure that projects like the Doce River restoration genuinely benefit local communities,” she explained. And apparently, Vale’s CEO Gustavo Pimenta is all about “health, sanitation, and economic recovery in the affected areas,” and even claimed that 94% of resettlements are done.
But wait—there’s, like, more drama! While they’re settling up in Brazil, BHP is also dealing with a huge lawsuit in the UK for £36 billion. Over 600,000 Brazilians are involved, saying the past compensations just weren’t cutting it. BHP, though, thinks this lawsuit is a bit extra, saying it’s all being handled by the Renova Foundation, where they’ve put up about $8 billion so far.
So, yeah, it’s a major win for Brazil and a serious lesson for the mining industry worldwide. It’s a total make-it-right moment that will hopefully pave the way for some real change, not just in Brazil but across the globe, like, making companies take responsibility for real.
XOXO,
Valley Girl News
