Global Action on Arcelor Mittal: June 2010

Monday, June 7, 2010

Government of Liberia and ArcelorMittal complicit in the misuse of county development funds

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- "The County Social Development Fund established by the government of Liberia and ArcelorMittal Liberia is failing to address the needs of communities impacted by the operations of ArcelorMittal in Liberia. This is the key conclusion of a new report released by Sustainable Development Institute from Liberia, Friends of the Earth Europe and Global Action on ArcelorMittal, a coalition of civil society groups tracking ArcelorMittal operations worldwide,"

-- press release, Global Action on ArcelorMittal.

ArcelorMittal: Going nowhere slowly

Comprising case studies from seven countries ranging from the Czech Republic to India and South Africa, the report reveals new problems emerging around ArcelorMittal’s iron ore mining operations in Nimba County, Liberia, including unclear resettlement plans for local people, a lack of permanent employment from the mine, threats to the Mount Nimba Nature Reserve, and a questionable donation of 100 pick-up trucks. The report highlights that despite ArcelorMittal's rhetoric on social responsibility, it continues to destroy the environment, risk people’s lives and displace local communities