Rainforest Action Network

Stop U.S. Agribusiness Violence!

Last week, six peaceful protesters were severely injured by tear gas and rubber bullets in front of a Bunge soy-crushing facility in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.

U.S. based agribusiness giant Bunge claims to defend human rights, but the company's actions speak far louder and more violently than its words.

Thousands of small farmers and Indigenous people blocked roads and railways and invaded dams and plantations to call attention to the global food crisis and policies that favor agribusiness over small farmers.

At the Bunge soy-crushing facility military police swarmed the peaceful gathering and attacked non-violent protesters.

Bunge and its shareholders are responsible for this egregious display of violence and must be held accountable.

We must hold U.S. corporations accountable for the violence that occurs in and around their facilities. Bunge has a direct line of communication with the police, whereas the protesters do not. The company can demand that the police behave differently.

Today you can help flood Bunge CEO Alberto Weisser's office with faxes demanding that he take responsibility for preventing attacks on peaceful demonstrators.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am outraged that last week six peaceful protesters were severely injured in front of a Bunge soy crushing facility in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Hundreds of small farmers gathered in front of the Bunge facility in a peaceful display to raise awareness about the global food crisis and to reclaim bags of staple grains that were lying on the street ready for distribution to the community. They were met with severe violence by the Military Brigade (MB) police.

Men, women, and children were injured with rubber bullets and tear gas. I find this repression of peaceful protesters completely unacceptable, and hold you along with Bunge shareholders accountable for allowing such violence to take place in front of a company facility. As a U.S. corporation operating abroad, I expect you to uphold the highest standards of civil liberties and human rights. Furthermore, at your recent annual general meeting you stated that Bunge operates with full regard for human rights and local laws.

This most recent incident in Rio Grande do Sul seems to prove otherwise.

You are increasingly under public scrutiny for buying soy from plantations that use slave labor, burning native wood from the Cerrado in your soy processing plants, and now, you are associated with violence being used against peaceful protesters.

Is this the image that you want to continue to build?

In order to prevent such incidences from occurring in the future, it is imperative that you make a public statement condemning the use of police brutality against non-violent protesters.

In addition, I expect you to commit to respect the rights of peaceful protesters who exercise their civil liberties at any Bunge facility in the world.

I expect an immediate response to this letter as well as comprehensive implementation of my requests.

In Concern,

Campaign Launched:
June 19, 2008