Multinational companies' disposal site threatens area in the Amazon

An industrial dump in the Amazon that received toxic waste of multinational and other major companies between 1999 and 2003 is causing environmental and health damage in the interior of Pará state.

The waste is stored in barrels spread over 900 hectares in the forest, with some deforested areas, in Ulianópolis (390 kilometers from Belém).

The waste contains chlorine, lead and pesticides, and was sent there by companies such as Pepsi, Vale, Petrobras, Shell, Brastemp, Philips and Yamaha.

All companies hired Uspam (Usina de Passivos Ambientais) to receive, treat and appropriately dispose of the waste.

In 2003, courts ordered for the end of Uspam's activities, after Pará's Public Prosecutor's Office stated that the waste was not adequately disposed of. Technical examinations carried out by the government of Pará showed that the soil was contaminated, leading to risks for people's health and to the environment.

Former workers say the barrels were damaged upon arrival, and their content leaked. A nearby river received some of the waste.

Read more:
http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/internacional/en/dailylife/1097708-multinational-companies-disposal-site-threatens-area-in-the-amazon.shtml

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1 replies	Author	Time	Post
Multinational companies' disposal site threatens area in the Amazon (Original post)	ocpagu	Jun 2012	OP
Penalties for crimes like this must be made far more serious. Lethal dumping must become impossible.	Judi Lynn	Jun 2012	#1

Response to ocpagu (Original post)

Fri Jun 1, 2012, 11:51 AM

Judi Lynn (77,598 posts)

1. Penalties for crimes like this must be made far more serious. Lethal dumping must become impossible.

As long as there is one small space left in the world where they think no one can see them, some congenitally greedy criminals WILL take advantage of it and do their dirty work to enrich themselves.

Accepting bribes from these people for favorable legislation should never be possible for legislators. Any investigation should include EVERYONE involved in the monstrosity, and all their assets should be used to apply toward the cleanup and restoration of the world they have destroyed. It must be made so unprofitable no one will ever want to risk the chance again of facing the penalty.

This is a problem we share with you, ocpagu. Criminals who make the right contacts with legislators also violate and poison our country, as well. Very discouraging, but it should never be so discouraging to allow the terminally greedy clowns to get the last word on the subject.

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