Northern Territory News
*Activists to put BHP in spotlight*
Publication: Northern Territory News (25,Thu 26 Nov 2009)
Section: Business
Keywords: *Olympic (1),Dam (1),uranium (1)*
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BRISBANE: The displacement of villages in Colombia, the destruction of sacred Aboriginal sites, human rights abuses and health concerns are the ugly side of BHP Billiton, environmental and human rights activists say.
As shareholders and the company's leaders prepare for BHP Billiton's annual general meeting in Brisbane today, Friends Of The Earth Australia has launched an alternative annual report, BHP Billiton -- Undermining the future.
The report contains case studies of the company's mining activities which the activists say are contrary to its sustainable development policy.
The National Union of Food Industry Workers of Colombia president Duban Antonio Velez Mejia is in Brisbane ahead of the AGM to highlight human rights issues for workers and villagers affected by BHP Billiton.
``Hundreds of communities have been displaced because of mines in my country,'' he said.
``A worker with BHP only gets between $3 and $4 an hour and some contract workers get less than $3 an hour.''
He said mining had caused a lot of sickness in Colombian communities.
Indigenous elder Eileen Wingfield, from the Kokatha people in Coober Pedy, South Australia, said the *Olympic* *Dam* *uranium* mine had destroyed her community.
``Many are sick, they are dying. Our ancestors were healthy ... but since BHP opened this mine everything has been bad,'' Ms Wingfield said.
Her daughter Rebecca Wingfield said sacred cultural sites had been damaged and elders have been deceived by ``cheeky'' tactics, such as paying tribes for access to the land.
She will raise this issue at today's AGM.
Friends Of The Earth Australia spokeswoman Mia Pepper said shareholders had the power to influence BHP Billiton.
``Shareholders should be asking how BHP Billiton is making their profits,'' Ms Pepper said. ``(Their profits) are not as valuable as someone's right to a life.''
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