Category Archives: Uncategorized

NEW ANALYSES OF WATER QUALITY AND RADIATION STUDIES ON THE RIO TINTO/QMM MINE IN MADAGASCAR

Following the public release of the QMM Water Report 2021-2023 and the 2023 JBS&G radiation report, the Andrew Lees Trust (ALT UK) requested independent hydrology and radioactivity experts to review the studies and their findings. The experts’ analyses have now … Continue reading

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CONFLICT AROUND THE RIO TINTO QMM MINE IN 2023 RESULTED IN ARRESTS, IMPRISONMENT, AND IN THE DEATHS OF THREE LOCAL PEOPLE.

Protestors raising issues about the QMM mine in June 2023 were met with armed police and military force. 127 protestors were arrested and 87 reportedly incarcerated, including women. One of the women was seven months pregnant. Subsequently, in October 2023, … Continue reading

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77,000 signatures calling on Rio Tinto to agree to an independent audit of water quality at the QMM mine in Madagascar

In September 2023, civil society actors, with the support of Eko, brought a petition of over 77,000 signatures to the offices of Rio Tinto demanding greater transparency on water quality and tailings management. See details n The Ecologist article here … Continue reading

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RIO TINTO AGM 2023 – a week of actions

Raising awareness, amplifying the voice of local communities and promoting human rights around the QMM mine in Madagascar This year’s AGM of the multinational mining giant Rio Tinto marked 150 years of the company’s global operations. As in previous years, … Continue reading

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Human Rights Defender Ketakandriana Rafitoson in the UK with ALT UK to hold Rio Tinto/QMM to account at company AGM

Executive Director of Transparency International Initiative Madagascar (TI-MG), Ketakandriana Rafitoson (Ke), who also leads the Publish What You Pay coalition in Madagascar (PWYP MG), was in London this past week to attend the 2023 Rio Tinto AGM. Ke – along … Continue reading

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QMM MINE IN MADAGASCAR FALLING SHORT OF RIO TINTO’S COMMITMENT TO THE GISTM (Global Industry Standard for Tailings Management)

Last week the Andrew Lees Trust (ALT UK) participated at the Global Tailings Summit (GTS), hosted by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Church of England Pension Fund. The event was held over the fourth anniversary of the Brumadinho … Continue reading

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RIO TINTO IN MADAGASCAR: CAN QMM’S GRIEVANCE PROCESS STAND UP TO SCRUTINY?

Rio Tinto/QMM has released information about its recent grievance process and commitments agreed during a conflict resolution negotiation in May 2022 to address community losses and reduce tensions following months of protest. See QMM PDF on the “doleances” process HERE … Continue reading

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Rio Tinto in Madagascar: “the conflict is not over” as QMM receives more than 8000 complaints from villagers

After months of crisis in Anosy following QMM’s mine tailings dam failures and the release of a million cubic metre of QMM mine basin water into the local environment with subsequent fish deaths and fishing ban, Rio Tinto’s CEO agreed … Continue reading

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Conflict ends, negotiations begin in Anosy

Settlement is underway after months of protests, road blocks, hostage taking and tear gas fired in the Anosy region. The conflict followed a fishing ban that left villagers without food security and livelihoods. See article in The Ecologist here The … Continue reading

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FISH DEATHS IN ANOSY FOLLOWING QMM MINE WATER RELEASE : PROBABLE CAUSE

The Trust has been monitoring closely the events in Anosy region following the QMM mine tailings dam failures at Mandena in February and March, and the appearance of dead fish in the lake following the second overspill incident and an … Continue reading

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