![]() Shortly after the case was instituted, Engen offered to settle the matter insofar as it concerned Engen, tendering a heavily redacted copy of its licence and annual performance report. Internal appeals of these decisions also failed. The Municipality claimed that the records contained trade secrets financial, commercial, scientific or technical information, which, if disclosed would be likely to cause harm to the financial or commercial interests of Engen and Sapref or that the information was supplied in confidence and its disclosure could put Engen and Sapref at a disadvantage or prejudice them in commercial competition. In this case, which is ongoing, the CER represents the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) and the Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance (VEJA) in proceedings to force eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality to release the atmospheric emission licences and compliance reports of two south Durban refineries.The Municipality had refused requests for these records for the Engen Petroleum Limited (Engen) refinery and the Shell and BP South African Petroleum Refineries (Pty) Ltd (Sapref) refinery in south Durban in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA), arguing that they constituted commercial information of the refineries. It’s time the world woke up to the fact that Brazil’s biofuel is tainted with Indian blood.Engen, Shell and BP refineries’ atmospheric emissions licence and compliance reports South Durban Community Environmental Alliance and Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance v eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and others Other companies must follow Raizen’s example, and stop bankrolling the theft of Guarani land. Survival’s Director Stephen Corry said today, ‘Raizen’s decision is excellent news for the Guarani, who have been left to die on the roadside, and squeezed off their land by sugar cane production. The landmark decision could set a precedent in Brazil, and will see Raizen’s buying of sugar cane from land declared as indigenous, ‘definitely cease’ by November 25. We are committed to respecting indigenous land declared by the Ministry of Justice.’ ![]() Raizen told Survival, ‘We want to use our withdrawal as a good example for other companies to follow. ![]() Raizen has acknowledged the sensitive range of issues faced by the Guarani and promises to carry out a ‘social investment programme focused on the indigenous population.’ Guarani Indians have been protesting against Raízen’s activities on their land. She says, ‘We’ll be able to drink water from our land again. Guarani here report that their rivers have been polluted by pesticides used in the plantations. Valdelice Veron’s community in Mato Grosso do Sul state is directly affected. Many of the tribe live in appalling conditions, in overcrowded reserves or camped on roadsides after being forced from their land. The breakthrough also sees Raizen vow to consult FUNAI, to avoid further investment or expansion in conflict areas that could be recognised as indigenous land in the future. Sustained campaigning by Survival, and pressure from Brazil’s public ministry kick-started negotiations between Raizen and FUNAI, Brazil’s Indian affairs department. Now Raizen has agreed to stop buying sugar cane from land declared as indigenous by the Ministry of Justice. Their leaders are regularly killed by gunmen acting for the sugar cane growers and cattle ranchers who have taken over almost all their land. The company, Raizen, was established in 2010 as a joint venture of Shell and Brazilian ethanol giant Cosan to produce biofuel from sugar cane.īut some of its sugar cane is grown on land claimed by the Guarani tribe, one of the most persecuted and impoverished in South America. ![]() © RaízenĪ biofuels company set up by Shell in Brazil has scrapped controversial plans to source sugar cane from land stolen from an indigenous tribe after a vociferous campaign by the Indians and Survival International. The company vows to stop sourcing sugar cane from Guarani land by November 25. Raizen signs landmark agreement with FUNAI. Shell scraps controversial biofuels plan after Brazilian Indian protest ![]()
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