Campaigners welcome rejection of Vedanta proposal

Commenting on the decision by the Indian Government to reject a proposal by Vedanta Resources to mine the aluminium ore in the eastern state of Orissa, Juliet Swann, Head of Campaigns at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said:

“Our own RBS have connections to Vedanta as they have given financial advice to Sterlite, a subsidiary of Vedanta, along with credit letters worth £60m. This decision, and the protests against Vedanta’s environmental and human rights record should ring loud in the ears of RBS as they persist in claiming they are not responsible for the damage caused by their financial activities.”

Liz Murray, of the World Development Movement, added:

“The Indian government is right to use its powers to stop Vedanta mining on the tribal lands of the Kutia and Dongria Kondh people. The UK government should follow suit by using its own powers to stop the UK bailed-out banks, in this case RBS, from continuing to use taxpayers money to provide finance for these kinds of damaging projects. The UK government could, instead, turn RBS into a green investment bank, investing our money ethically and for sustainable development.”

ENDS

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Per Fischer, Press Office, Friends of the Earth Scotland
t: 0131 243 2719

Notes to Editors

Friends of the Earth Scotland exists to help people in Scotland look after the planet for everyone’s future. We think globally and act locally in Scotland, delivering solutions to climate change by enabling and empowering people to take both individual and collective action. We offer help to people with the big things in life – helping to sustain a healthy society and environment. We believe that all of our children’s futures will be better because of what we do. www.foe-scotland.org.uk