War on War protests against Anglo shame
27 April 2010
Last Thursday we were outside Anglo American's Annual General Meeting in central London, protesting over allegations of human rights abuses.
Anglo American South Africa Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Anglo American, is being sued in South Africa by former gold miners suffering from the lung disease silicosis. Outside the multinational's AGM, War on Want displayed a banner declaring "Anglo Shame".
The London Mining Network went into the company AGM with former miner Alpheus Blom. The group claimed the company has failed to protect black South African gold miners from the life-threatening disease.The protest was followed by a meeting at SOAS organised by War on Want and the London Mining Network. The evening of lively debate included speakers from War on Want, Leigh Day and Co solicitors and Alpheus Blom.
It seeks compensation for lung diseases silicosis and silico-tuberculos.
If the case succeeds, tens of thousands of other gold miners in South Africa could make claims worth millions of pounds.
Image by Jonathan Oppong-Wiafe
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