Friends of the Earth Australia

9th May 2008

Visiting academic condemns misuse of Australian aid in Bangladesh coal mine

Friends of the Earth Brisbane are concerned that aid money from the Asian Development Bank are being misused to finance a socially and environmentally disastrous coal mine project in Bangladesh. On May 14th FoE Brisbane will be hosting visiting Professor Anu Muhammad of Jahangirnagar University, talking about the profound local and global effects of the mine.

The Phulbari Coal Project in Bangladesh is a contentious project under consideration for funding by the ADB. It has been widely opposed on human rights, environmental and social grounds. Australia is in a position to stop it.

The mine is expected to forced the dispossession of as many as 150,000 people, increase regional pollution and drain precious water resources from the Barind tract. The mine has already been the linked to human rights violations after five protesters were killed and 200 injured when authorities opened fire on 50,000 demonstrators opposing the mine in August 2006. Numerous other human rights violations have also been reported by international NGOs including beatings and death threats to local groups protesting the mine.

FoEB spokesperson Kim Stewart says, “Australia has an obligation to recommend more environmentally and socially appropriate projects for third world nations. As the fourth largest aid donors, our government has some sway over such projects.”

"Phulbari is expected to generate $650 million form this project, so why is the ADB funding it to the tune of $300m?"

"To add insult to injury, this mine is going to impact further climate change - a scenario that is already set to devastate Bangladesh."

Professor Anu will speak in Brisbane:

14th May, 6:30pm

Ahimsa House

26 Horan St, West End, QLD

For more information:

Friends of the Earth Brisbane, Kim Stewart 0413 397839

AidWatch, Flint Duxfield on +61 2 95578944 or aidwatch@aidwatch.org.au