Local residents explain that the operations of an iron and steel plant that belongs to ThyssenKrupp and of Brazilian corporation Vale are causing havoc in the area. The plant has been operating for two years, although it does not have a permanent license to operate there.

On Friday, at the kick off of the Peoples’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro, a parallel event to the United Nations Summit on Sustainable Development held in the same city, Real World Radio participated in the ’Toxic Tour’ around the area affected by the iron and steel plant in Bahia de Sepetiba. The tour, which was named ’Rio+Toxic’, was organized by several social movements and organizations mainly from Brazil, such as Jubilee South, the Brazilian
Environmental Justice Network and Friends of the Earth Brazil.

Since mid 2010 ThyssenKrupp (TK) has been producing steel in the area of Bahia de Sepetiba. According to its website, the company expects to reach an annual production of five million tons when it is working at full capacity. The residents of Santa Cruz report that the factory regularly releases steel particles in the air, which are easily found on the soil too. Add that to its greenhouse gas emissions, and the environmental pollution caused by the company is really huge and it also affects human health.

After TK began its operations, Rosimeri Almeida Lopes, a resident of Santa Cruz, began to experience swelling in her face and head. She would faint regularly. A doctor confirmed that she was having an allergic reaction to the « steel powder » she was breathing. So he sent her to an allergist, but so far Almeida has not found any doctor to assist her.

She told Real World Radio that the doctors of the area have received threats from TK and are afraid. She mentioned that the doctor who diagnosed the allergy had to move over fear of retaliation. Almeida told us, with tears in her eyes, that she cannot afford an allergist in another region and said that at the moment she has no medical assistance. She demanded support to the authorities and said she represents many people who are suffering health problems in the area as a result of the operations of the steel company.

Meanwhile, Yaci do Nascimento, a local fisherfolk, told Real World Radio about the difficulties to fish in the area. Thousands of families in the area depend on fishing. The regular dredging removed the pollution of the water from the Bay.

Besides, there is a big fishing exclusion zone, so in order to fish they have to sail for hours. Many times the fish captured are contaminated.

Do Nascimento, who is part of the Coordination of People Affected by Compañía Siderúrgica del Atlántico, said thousands of fishermen have been affected and that they have demanded compensation for damages as a result of the company’s impact on their activity.

Meanwhile, Ivo Siqueira Soares, also a fisherman, told Real World Radio that the Brazilian Navy and the Federal Police protect the fishing exclusion zones as if they worked for the company. But he claimed this behavior does not surprise him since the iron and steel company gives millions of dollars to different government bodies.

Foto: Radio Mundo Real