Columban priest tackles a mining giant Independent Catholic News By: Ellen Teague November 1, 2009 A Columban priest has challenged the appalling environmental and human rights record of the world’s biggest mining company at its recent AGM on 29 October. Attending alongside other justice and peace activists and indigenous Wayuu people from Colombia, he called on BHP Billiton to respect the human rights of local people in mining areas around the world. Also, to care for water, air and biodiversity which are often polluted by large scale mining, thus destroying livelihoods.
Fr Frank Nally, who worked in the Philippines with indigenous peoples, challenged BHP Billiton’s Hallmark project in the Philippine island of Mindanao…………London-based BHP Billiton is not a household name in Britain, but the activities of the BHP Billiton group have a massive impact on communities all around the world. These are part-funded by high street banks and pension funds investing money provided by millions of individuals, church and other groups in the UK. An alternative report released at the offices of Amnesty International outlined the negative impacts of the company’s operations in Australia, West Papua, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, South Africa, Canada, Colombia and Chile. The report was the work of organisations from many countries, including church-based groups, working with affected communities.
“Our Columban mission is to support the local people and care for the natural world around them” says Fr Nally.
The report catalogued abuses of human rights concerning worker health and safety, livelihood and food security, and environmental problems. It also raised issues around climate change and BHP Billiton’s commitment to increased extraction and promotion of both coal and uranium for power production.
Columban priest tackles a mining giant on Independent Catholic News
Tags: BHP Billiton, indigenous, secrets and lies
