This week, LafargeHolcim’s French unit is expected to be placed under formal investigation in Paris over allegations of financing terrorism in Syria. Under French law, a formal investigation means that prosecutors believe they have "serious or consistent evidence" that could result in prosecution. LafargeHolcim’s former CEO has already been charged. We've posted before on this issue.
Don't expect to see this pumped out of LafargeHolcim’s PR machine. They’re more into this sort of thing:
Moo-ve on over to our #Instagram to find out how we enhance and protect #biodiversity https://t.co/qB2MJPXXkK pic.twitter.com/I2LyconBMp— LafargeHolcim (@LafargeHolcim) May 18, 2018
But before LafargeHolcim moo-ves on over and destroys a successful dairy farm in East Devon that’s been operating for generations; before it degrades and destroys #biodiversity in the process; before it assumes responsibility for the wellbeing of Cadhay's mediaeval fishponds and ancient woodland – irreplaceable assets – knowing that accidents happen, here’s a quiz:
Which company has "a long history of environmental violations"?
Which company has been fined $271,010,228 in the US since 2000 – $215,330,873 for environmental violations – according to Violation Tracker "the first [US] search engine on corporate misconduct"?
Which company is this passage referring to:
A 1993 Environmental Protection Agency study reported that people living near cement plants may inhale harmful airborne dioxins, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, thallium, and lead at levels that might cause cancer or other diseases. Such emissions are especially dangerous to children, the elderly and people with heart and lung conditions.
[You know who] had promised in 1997 that despite the expansion of the Texas plant, new technology would result in cleaner air. It was granted permits to double production.
But emissions went up, not down. Residents near the plant reported a high incidence of cancer as well as illnesses among farm animals. The pollution affected the entire Dallas-Ft. Worth region.
Local regulators said the plant had not installed equipment promised in the permit application, made changes that increased air pollution, and then lied in emissions reports for nine years.
Which company was subsequently called a "high priority violator/significant non-complier"?
Which company was fined A$280,000 for damaging Aboriginal rock art, stone arrangements and sacred places – up to 10,000 years old – at a National Heritage site?
Which company allegedly made €1,100 million in windfall profits by obstructing EU climate policy, lobbying for higher carbon emissions trading quotas and then selling off the surplus?
Yep. LafargeHolcim has "a long history of questionable business practices." It is the parent company of Aggregate Industries, and would be the ultimate beneficiary of any quarrying at Straitgate Farm.
Isn’t that good to know?
