Outsourcing death
A recent report by an independent research organisation shows that Luxembourg-based steel giants ArcelorMittal and Ternium are responsible for thousands of deaths due to air pollution generated by their factories in Kazakhstan and Brazil. The toxins have caused heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and other serious health issues, resulting in around 4,200 deaths – 3,000 deaths in Kazakhstan since 1996, and 1,200 in Brazil since 2010. None of the companies have given a comment on the accusations yet.
These findings could support locals in Brazil and Kazakhstan in their fight for justice. While Western European companies must follow strict EU laws on pollution and worker protection, many blatantly ignore these standards in their factories in other countries. Less than a year ago, 46 workers died in an ArcelorMittal steel plant in Kazak Temirtau due to inadequate safety measures – yet the incident barely made a ripple in Luxembourg or anywhere in Europe. It's time to hold these corporations accountable, no matter where they operate.
Climate lawsuits may offer a path forward. Many European companies have already been taken to court for endangering lives by harming the environment. While many of these lawsuits have failed, activists in Brazil and Kazakhstan now have a powerful new tool with this report in their fight for justice.