Added: Apr 27, 2010

From: MaritimeUnion

Duration: 3:0

Comparing the company to the mining interests in the film Avatar, protesters in costumes from the film stood with workers outside Rio Tintos Melbourne, Australia headquarters on April 22, alerting the public to on-going abuses of the environment, indigenous people and workers. The action came days after Rio Tintos annual general meeting in London was dominated by concerns over how people were treated, from China to California. The companys behaviour also comes with a financial cost. It is facing potentially huge liabilities in a class-action suit before American courts, alleging crimes against humanity in its operations in Papua New Guinea. Investors and courts expect Rio Tinto to change, said Willie Adams, Secretary Treasurer of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union in the United States. Refusing to respect communities, the environment and workers comes with real financial costs. Mr Adams pointed to the current lock-out of almost 600 workers in Rio Tinto operations in California. In the middle of America's worst economy in 70 years, Rio Tinto has locked the doors to our workplace to try and turn full-time jobs into part-time jobs that cant support families, said American worker Terri Judd, who worked at the mine before being locked out. Around the world, Rio Tintos disrespect of workers is legendary. From sacking Australians unlawfully to locking us out in America to abandoning executives in China, Rio Tinto sees people as disposable, she said. The story is the same in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea and Freeport, West Papua, Indonesia, where years of polluting the environment and attacking indigenous people have caught up to Rio Tinto. Its environmental degradation of rivers in Indonesia caused Norways government to pull almost $900 million in investment, while abuses in PNG years ago expose the company to harsh U.S. court judgments. Tell Rio management to end the lockout out Boron and compensate the people of Papua http://www.mua.org.au/campaigns/boron-bougainville-rios-avatar/ Performance by Samantha Bond, Rapid Response Theatre, actor and AWU Victoria training officer and performers courtesy of BlackBox Video by United Productions Organised by the Mining and Maritime Initiative (MUA, ILWU, CFMEU mining and energy)

Channel: Nonprofit

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