TL: NOTES ON ENVIRONMENT PROBLEMS IN BRAZIL SO: Greenbase, Greenpeace (GP) DT: February 9, 1993 Keywords: brazil problems toxics terrec mining dams construction digests gp / Via Greenbase February 9, 1993 This summary answers a request for environment problems in Brazil OTHER than the well-known deforestation of the Amazon. Some of the "other" environment issues facing Brazil today include: * toxic pollution from under-regulated multinational company factories * flooding and habitat destruction caused by huge hydro- electric dam construction * air pollution and lack of sanitation for millions of people in urban areas * side-effects from mining, including mercury poisoning of rivers from gold mining * threats from a would-be nuclear industry * sale of, and destruction of habitat of, endangered species, both plants and animals * many kinds of pollution from the development, transportation, and use of oil. ==================================== A VERY FEW EXAMPLES: ** MINING "Lawyers involved in litigation on behalf of minamata disease patients have established a foundation to fight mercury-related environmental damage in the amazon basin. The lawyers' group, led by mie asaoka, is already funding short-term stays for brazilians researching the problems caused in the lower amazon basin through the release of mercury in mining operations. Asaoka said brazil is currently undergoing the same experience as japan did 30 years ago, but brazilians trying to gauge the extent of the damage in the amazon are hampered by a lack of expertise, money, and equipment." - article derived from a telegraphic report dated 16 December 1992, prepared at the American Embassy - Tokyo. =================================== ** NUCLEAR The Atucha I reactor has been closed many times, sometimes by court order, due to safety flaws. Greenpeace has called for its immediate shutdown. In the latest incident, January 1993, a pipe burst at Atucha I, spilling radioactive water. (See: AP January 26, 1993) More problems, including faulty steam generators from Westinghouse, are found at the Angra Nuclear Power Plant about 80 miles from Rio de Janeiro. (See: Reuter October 8, 1992) The government has received a German loan which will allow it to finish building at the Angra ll nuclear power station outside Rio de Janeiro. (See: Reuter July 17, 1992) The nuclear power program is related to a long-term plan by the Brazilian military to develop nuclear weapons. Early reactor plans, using German technology, included the ability to produce the enriched uranium needed for bombs. In 1987, the government assumes officially the existence of the so called Aramar Project and announces that it already enriches uranium. (Greenpeace internal memo). Civilian nuclear material is also mishandled. The most famous case was 200 people contaminated by highly radioactive caesium-137 in the Brazilian city of Goiania in 1987. The Caesium came for a hospital to an uneducated junk yard owner. ( See: Reuter, August 15, 1992) ============================= ** TOXICS For example, "The environment agency of Brazil's most industrialized state--Sao Paulo--is concerned about the 48.5 million tons of industrial wastes generated each year by 1,500 companies in the state, according to interviews with officials....as much as 5,000 tons of industrial wastes are being dumped in 40 illegal dumps in the Sao Paulo metropolitan region each day.... CETESB is most concerned about disposal of class one wastes, such as heavy metals and polychlorinated biphenyls. Companies in the Sao Paulo metropolitan region produce 187,000 tons of such toxic wastes per year, of which 18,600 are stored, and an estimated 83,000 tons are dumped illegally. " - BNA January 19, 1993 "In June 1989 Greenpeace blockaded a ship in Rotterdam Harbour carrying 1,000 tonnes of "zinc residues" bound for Sao Paulo, Brazil. At the same time Greenpeace discovered that a similar cargo had already left for Brazil just days before. Analysis of the material revealed high levels of toxic heavy metals. Further investigation showed that the material was very likely also contaminated with dioxins. After notifying Brazilian authorities of the impending arrival of the waste shipment, they discovered that the recycling plant due to receive the material did not have a licence to import hazardous waste. In fact, the plant was in continual violation of environmental and occupational health regulations. Many workers complained of illnesses and one death was even reported due to poor health conditions at the plant. The Brazilian authorities ordered the ship to return to Rotterdam without unloading. For many months the Dutch authorities did not know what to do with the returned waste, since the generating countries of Belgium, Denmark and Italy refused to take the wastes back. Finally after 15 months of deliberation, the toxic cargo was shipped to the ASER recycling plant in Bilbao, Spain." - "DUMPING BY ANOTHER NAME -- THE RECYCLING OF IMPORTED HAZARDOUS WASTES INBILBAO, SPAIN BY THE ASER COMPANY." Greenpeace International (GP) June 26, 1991 "According to the Brazilian environmental group, OIKOS, a smelter near Sao Paolo, run by a company called Produquimica, has severely damaged the health of its workers. OIKOS obtained evidence of smelter workers bleeding from the nose, coughing up blood and even dying from the workplace." - GREENPEACE WASTE TRADE UPDATE VOLUME 4, ISSUE 1 (GP) Greenpeace International MARCH 22, 1991 Some chemical-making, like the deadly chlorine, is being transferred to "third world" countries with lower environmental standards, following pressure by ecologists in industrialized countries. Brazil is a classic haven for processes under pressure in North America and Europe. E.g. Growth of 5-20% in chlorine production is projected for Brazil, Mexico, India, Taiwan, and Egypt... Partial List Of Chlorine Production Facilities Under Construction Or Planning: Brazil (4 plants) - Greenpeace memo, Kenny Bruno, Toxics campaign, 1992. ============================= ** OIL Oil spills in Brazil receive little world coverage. Here is an unsung example: "Santos, Nov 3 - On Oct 30, ro-ro mv Skulptor Konenkov was berthed at shed 35, Santos, being supplied with heavy fuel oil, when, allegedly due to fault of a crew member, approximately 80 tons of heavy fuel oil drained into the sea. The pollution reached about 5 km of the port." - Lloyds Information Casualty Report November 5, 1992 Here is another: "An 18-car train derailed at Peti, Brazil, Sept 22, spilling diesel oil and gasoline. Estimates of how much oil spilled vary from 4,000 gallons, based on estimates from officials at the mining company which owns the train, Companhia Vale do Rio Doce, to 21,000 gallons, based on reports in loc alnewspapers. Environmentalists claim that nearly 10,000 gallons spilled. The train was carrying 316,000 gallons of diesel and gasoline at the time of the accident, transporting fuel to the Gabriel Passos refinery, a unit of Petrobras." - Lloyds Information Casualty Report October 31, 1992 OIL EXPLORATION THREATENS ABORIGINAL PEOPLE "Today, the Huaorani are threatened by the oil industry. Although the government has granted the Huaorani land titles over 672.000 hectares, (about half their traditional territory), they do not have the right to the decide how to use the resources under the ground. The American oil company MAXUS holds a 200.000 hectare concession to exploit oil. Most of that concession is in the Huaorani homeland. (The french company Elf Aquitaine, and the Brazilian company Braspetro also hold concessions in the Huaorani territory)." - Oct 21, 1992 by cdp:econet In other cases, roads built for oil exploration and development have brought diseases that decimated native populations. The Italian oil companies ENI and Agip are threatening land owned by the Xavante indigenous people in Mato Grosso. (See: memo by Francesco Martone, Greenpeace Italy) =end=