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Article

3 Feb 2015

Author:
Samantha Hargreaves and Hibist Kassa, South African Civil Society Information Service

Southern African women activists raise concerns about coal company's harmful impacts

'Women stand their ground against big coal', 3 Feb 2015: …50 grassroots women activists gathered…to stand their ground against Big Coal…in South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana…[W]omen [living]…within walking distance of Sasol…explained how sinusitis and asthma are distressing their families…[and expressed] concern that Sasol has polluted the entire area’s water supplies…Women from Mozambique…described their dislocations by Vale from productive fields close to markets and services. They now live in a…rettlement area…[where] [t]he land cannot be farmed and families are being starved…Coal encroaches on community lands and livelihoods, but fails to create…promised work…Some coal mining companies are accused of…sexist practices…and pervasive sexual harassment…[T]he women recorded how they have been harassed and threatened, sidelined…and victimised during…peaceful protests. One of the participants said, “When you speak…you never know what is going to happen to you.”…

Part of the following timelines

Southern African grassroots women protest coal companies' negative social, health, environmental impacts; Sasol and Vale respond

Mulheres de organizações de base da África Austral protestam contra os impactos negativos sociais, ambientais e sobre a saúde provocados por empresas carvoeiras; Sasol e Vale comentam

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