Umweltverbrechen multinationaler Konzerne - Greenpeace

Subsequent
behaviour of company
According to CETESB, Shell removed and incinerated 2,500 tons of
contaminated soil and fuel sludge in an attempt to remediate the
area.
In late April, the company committed to decontaminating the 180
thousand square meters area until 2003, which will include removing
and burning parts of the soil and installing hydraulic barriers in the
groundwater. Shell will also have to pay CETESB a USD 33,000
fine 139 .
However, Shell did not acknowledge the contamination by "drins" in
the area, claiming that the contamination could have come from
other sources. The company refutes the possibility that it has
contaminated workers and the local community. They claim that
they have already invested over USD 9,000 a year to identify
contamination problems in their facilities in Brazil.
Legal outcome In March 2002, the Public Prosecutor started a public legal case, in
which the defendants are Shell and CETESB (state environmental
agency).
Final Greenpeace
statement
139 Folha de S. Paulo, 22/4/2002
The case shows the need for making transnational corporations like
Shell accountable and liable for the cleanup and compensation of the
victims of contamination. The refusal from Shell Brazil in negotiate
the solutions with the local community, workers union and authorities
is a clear indication of the need of a global accountability/liability
instrument so justice can be sought at its headquarters in
UK/Netherlands.
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