Global Policy Forum

In a recently released short documentary, Brazilian initiative Justiça nos Trilhos (JnT) explains about social and environmental conflicts in iron ore extraction in the Amazon region of Carajás, northern Brazil—and the connections with the German car industry. Again and again, mining and processing of natural resources has involved violations of human rights and an escalating of violence and conflicts. Largely, this problem has lately received public attention as far as diamonds, coltan and other “conflict commodities” are concerned. However, the extraction of other commodities, such as iron, copper and bauxite, frequently also goes hand in hand with violations of human rights, severe environmental degradation, conflicts and the criminalisation of human rights defenders.

July 7, 2015 | Justiça nos Trilhos

From the iron ore to the car

In a recently released short documentary, Brazilian initiative Justiça nos Trilhos (JnT) explains about social and environmental conflicts in iron ore extraction in the Amazon region of Carajás, northern Brazil—and the connections with the German car industry. Again and again, mining and processing of natural resources has involved violations of human rights and an escalating of violence and conflicts. Largely, this problem has lately received public attention as far as diamonds, coltan and other “conflict commodities” are concerned. However, the extraction of other commodities, such as iron, copper and bauxite, frequently also goes hand in hand with violations of human rights, severe environmental degradation, conflicts and the criminalisation of human rights defenders.

Should you have trouble watching the film, click here.

The video is also available in German and Portuguese.

The documentary resonates very well with the report "From the ore to the car" that was released by Global Policy Forum together with Bread for the World and MISEREOR already in 2012.

Vom Erz zum Auto Abbaubedingungen und Lieferketten im Rohstoffsektor und die Verantwortung der deutschen Automobilindustrie Report - September 2012 Herausgegeben von Brot für die Welt, MISEREOR und Global Policy Forum Europe Autoren: Uwe Kerkow, Jens Martens, Axel Müller Download (pdf - 1,93 MB) From the ore to the car Mining conditions and supply chains in the commodity sector and the responsibility of the German automobile industry Summary Download (pdf - 1,2 MB) Du minerai à la voiture Conditions d’extraction et chaînes d’approvisionnement dans le secteur des matières premières et la responsabilité de l’industrie automobile allemande Version abrégée Download (pdf - 1,2 MB) Desde el mineral hasta el automóvil Condiciones de explotación y cadenas de suministro en el sector de materias primas y la responsabilidad de la industria automovilística alemana Versión abreviada Download (pdf - 1,2 MB)