A Critical Matter German: Investments in the Mining Sector
This paper is aimed at informing German civil society groups about the role of German financial institutions in supporting the acquisition of raw materials – primarily from overseas – and the social and environmental impacts of doing so. It builds on information provided by the database and website “From Money to Metal” (http://moneytometal.org/index.php/From_Money_to_Metal), jointly hosted by the Heinrich Böll Foundation and Mines and Communities. The paper identifies German bank loans and debt financing for mining companies; the related issuance of corporate and convertible bonds; and the direct purchase of equity (stocks and shares) in mining outfits by German banks, brokerages, and others. It points out the risks taken – financially, environmentally, and socially.