Brazil reaches $23 billion settlement with mining firms over 2015 environmental disaster
Brazil's federal government on Friday reached a multibillion-dollar settlement with the mining companies responsible for a 2015 dam collapse that the government said was the country's worst-ever environmental disaster.Under the agreement, Samarco — a joint venture of Brazilian mining giant Vale and Anglo-Australian firm BHP — will pay 132 billion reais ($23 billion) over 20 years to compensate for human, environmental and infrastructure damage caused by the release of an immense amount of toxic mining waste into a major river in southeastern Minas Gerais state, killing 19 people and ravaging entire villages.“We are fixing a disaster that could...
Minister says UK ‘does not pay reparations’ amid Commonwealth calls for talks
Britain “does not pay reparations”, a minister has said amid calls from Commonwealth leaders for talks in light of the UK’s historical involvement in the slave trade.Foreign Office minister Anneliese Dodds was pressed by MPs about the Government’s stance after the UK failed to keep language on reparations out of a joint statement signed by attending nations at a major Commonwealth summit.The final communique signed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) in Samoa acknowledged calls for a discussion on the matter and said they “agreed that the time has come for a meaningful, truthful and respectful conversation...
UK must consider slavery reparations as it is ‘right thing to do’ – Labour MP
The UK should consider reparations for those who were enslaved because it is “the right thing to do”, a Labour former minister has argued, as MPs urged the Government to open up the conversation.Dawn Butler said she understood why Sir Keir Starmer is pushing to focus on the future but the “wrong people” had previously been paid reparations, with 46,000 individuals receiving Government compensation payouts following the abolition of slavery.During a black history month debate, fellow Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy claimed that people have been “scared” by the large sums of money being proposed but other forms of reparation,...
Calls for adequate compensation for veterans who suffered under ‘gay ban’
Charities have called for LGBT veterans who suffered historical mistreatment in the armed forces to receive adequate compensation, in an open letter to the Prime Minister.This comes after veterans minister Al Carns vowed that a financial redress scheme for those who suffered under the “gay ban” would be launched at the start of next year.Survivors of the scandal suffered days of sometimes brutal interrogation when it was discovered they were gay; many were dismissed from the forces, lost out on job opportunities and were shunned by families and friends.An independent review into the service and experience of LGBT veterans...