Protesters descend on FTSE 100 mining group’s AGM – but chief executive describes criticism as ‘lies’
Vedanta Resources’ highly successful financial year, and its annual meeting, were overshadowed yesterday when more than 100 protesters, some dressed as characters from James Cameron’s Avatar film, came to object to what they say is the company’s shocking human rights and environmental record.
Police stopped protesters storming the meeting, as pressure groups and celebrities lined up to attack the mining group’s record over its treatment of the Dongria Kondh tribe, which, they claim, will be devastated if Vedanta’s planned bauxite mine in India’s Orissa state goes ahead.
See http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/vedanta-resources-the-worlds-most-hated-company-2037977.html.
Vedanta meeting disrupted by demonstration
Accusing the Vedanta mining company of destroying the Niyamgiri mountain worshipped by indigenous Dongria tribes of Orissa, around 250 supporters of a campaign group ‘Foil Vedanta’ held a vociferous demonstration during its annual general meeting here. The demonstrators last evening carried placards saying ‘Anil Agarwal, Blood on Your hands’, ‘Who killed Arsi Majhi? Vedanta, Vedanta’. They claimed that Agarwal, Chairman of Vedanta, was a “Wanted Criminal”.
See http://www.deccanherald.com/content/84621/vedanta-meeting-disrupted-demonstration.html.
Anti-mining protesters ambushed Vedanta’s AGM
New Delhi, Lanjigarh- For the fourth year in a row, anti-mining protesters ambushed the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Vedanta Resources, a London-based FTSE 100-listed company. The AGM was held in London on Wednesday evening. While in the last three years, Dongria Kondh (tribals from Orissa) representatives protested against the mining of their sacred hill in the state, on Wednesday it were blockbuster Avatar’s aliens, Na’vi, and fashion icon Bianca Jagger.
At the heart of this cross-continental row is the bauxite-rich Niyamgiri hill in the Lanjigarh area of dirt-poor Kalahandi district. While Anil Agarwal-promoted Vedanta Resources wants to mine the hill through its subsidiary companies for its aluminum refinery in Lanjigarh, located 500 km southwest of Bhubaneshwar, and “develop the backward area,” tribals and activists feel that it will displace thousands and leave them without any livelihood opportunities.
See http://www.hindustantimes.com/Anti-mining-protesters-ambushed-Vedanta-s-AGM/Article1-579436.aspx.
Vedanta Meeting Disrupted By Avatar-Inspired Protest
Vedanta Resources Wednesday faced mounting pressure about its human rights and environmental record in India as protesters, including celebrities such as Bianca Jagger, swamped its annual general meeting.
See http://blogs.wsj.com/source/2010/07/28/vedanta-meeting-disrupted-by-avatar-inspired-protest/.
Vedanta’s bad press risks undermining its image
There are many ways to measure best practice in social responsibility, but, as a rule of thumb, if Bianca Jagger, Joanna Lumley, Michael Palin and the Na’avi are against you, you have a problem.
See http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/474d1a70-9a7e-11df-87fd-00144feab49a.html.
Vedanta’s bad press risks undermining its image
There are many ways to measure best practice in social responsibility, but, as a rule of thumb, if Bianca Jagger, Joanna Lumley, Michael Palin and the Na’avi are against you, you have a problem.
See http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/474d1a70-9a7e-11df-87fd-00144feab49a.html.
Channel 4 News Wednesday 28 July
Please forward to about 4 minutes into this clip for coverage of protests against Vedanta at the annual meeting in London:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid62744310001?bclid=207400659001&bctid=292372127001.