Alright, let's get this straight. We're supposed to be impressed that a UK court finally found BHP liable for the Mariana dam collapse in Brazil? Nineteen dead, entire communities wiped out, and it takes nearly a decade to even get this far? Give me a break.
The Illusion of Accountability
So, BHP is going to appeal. Of course they are. It's always the same song and dance, ain't it? Deny, delay, deflect. They'll drag this out for another decade, racking up legal fees that probably cost less than actually cleaning up the mess they made.
And let's be real, "liable" doesn't mean they're going to magically fix everything. They've already set up this Renova Foundation thing, which is just a PR stunt disguised as philanthropy. Handing out a few bucks to shut people up while they continue to rake in the profits. The article mentions they've disbursed billions. Billions! Like that makes it okay. It's blood money, plain and simple.
The claimants' lawyers argued the trial should be held in London because BHP headquarters "were in the UK at the time of the dam collapse." So? Does that actually mean anyone in London is going to feel a damn thing? Doubtful. It's just a strategic move, a chess game played with people's lives.
Justice Delayed is Justice Denied (and Watered Down)
And the kicker? BHP claims 240,000 claimants in the London lawsuit "have already been paid compensation in Brazil." Paid what exactly? Pennies on the dollar, I bet. Enough to keep them quiet, not enough to rebuild their lives. And Pogust Goodhead, the UK firm representing the claimants, is squabbling over £1.3bn in unpaid fees. So, even the lawyers are fighting over the scraps.
The whole thing stinks. A $30.3bn compensation agreement prevents claimants from discussing the deal or paying legal fees? That's not compensation; that's a gag order with a check attached. They expect us to believe this nonsense, and honestly...I'm starting to feel like I'm taking crazy pills here. Am I the only one who sees this for the sham it is?
Speaking of shams, I had to deal with my internet provider this morning, and offcourse, they were trying to upsell me on some package I don't need. It's the same playbook, isn't it? Exploit, extract, then try to convince you it's for your own good. Maybe I should sue them for emotional distress. Nah, too much effort.
The Real Cost
Look, it's not just about the money. It's about the irreversible damage to the environment, the loss of culture, the trauma that will haunt those communities for generations. You can't put a price on that. But corporations like BHP sure as hell will try. They'll crunch the numbers, weigh the costs, and decide that a few billion in settlements is cheaper than preventing the disaster in the first place. As UK court finds mining firm liable for Brazil's worst environmental disaster reported, the legal battles are far from over.
What’s even more depressing is that Vale, the other half of this Samarco venture, has a separate claim against them filed in the Netherlands. So, even the victims are splitting up, fighting for scraps in different legal arenas. Divide and conquer, baby.