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| Anglican Church in India mine row | Anglican Church in India mine row |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Environmental campaigner Bianca Jagger has criticised the Church of England for investing in a company involved in a controversial Indian mining project. | Environmental campaigner Bianca Jagger has criticised the Church of England for investing in a company involved in a controversial Indian mining project. |
| Ms Jagger says the operation is taking place on a mountain considered sacred by the tribe that lives there. | Ms Jagger says the operation is taking place on a mountain considered sacred by the tribe that lives there. |
| She has announced plans to hold a protest at the annual meeting of the UK-based company behind the mining project on Monday. | |
| The Church said that it was "concerned" about the allegations. | The Church said that it was "concerned" about the allegations. |
| A spokesman told the BBC it was reviewing its involvement with the company, Vedanta. | A spokesman told the BBC it was reviewing its involvement with the company, Vedanta. |
| Vedanta insists the mining project in the remote and inaccessible Niyamgiri hills in the eastern Indian state of Orissa is ethically and environmentally sound. | Vedanta insists the mining project in the remote and inaccessible Niyamgiri hills in the eastern Indian state of Orissa is ethically and environmentally sound. |
| 'Totally unethical' | 'Totally unethical' |
| Ms Jagger is supported by UK-based campaign groups, including ActionAid and Survival International. | Ms Jagger is supported by UK-based campaign groups, including ActionAid and Survival International. |
| Church embroiled in mine row Tribe takes on global mining firm | Church embroiled in mine row Tribe takes on global mining firm |
| She argues that it is wrong for the Church of England and other investors to have a stake in a company which ignores the religious beliefs of minority communities. | |
| "I appeal to the Church of England to realise that this mining project not only endangers the culture and beliefs of the tribal community but is also extremely damaging to the environment," she said. | "I appeal to the Church of England to realise that this mining project not only endangers the culture and beliefs of the tribal community but is also extremely damaging to the environment," she said. |
| "It will have a severe impact on wildlife in the area - including leopards and tigers - in addition to destroying rivers, streams and plant life." | "It will have a severe impact on wildlife in the area - including leopards and tigers - in addition to destroying rivers, streams and plant life." |
| The Church has shares in Vedanta worth £2.5m ($4.1m). | The Church has shares in Vedanta worth £2.5m ($4.1m). |
| Vedanta is about to start mining bauxite in the Niyamgiri hills, to be processed at a refinery that has already been built in the area. | Vedanta is about to start mining bauxite in the Niyamgiri hills, to be processed at a refinery that has already been built in the area. |
| Bauxite is used to make aluminium. | Bauxite is used to make aluminium. |
| The company and its Indian partner have been accused of forcing people to move from the land. | The company and its Indian partner have been accused of forcing people to move from the land. |
| Many tribal peoples in the area are animists and regard the Niyamgiri hills as sacred. | Many tribal peoples in the area are animists and regard the Niyamgiri hills as sacred. |
| Church of England Ethical Investment Advisory Group spokesman Edward Mason said that he would meet tribal representatives and officials from Vedanta to discuss the project, which was a cause of concern. | Church of England Ethical Investment Advisory Group spokesman Edward Mason said that he would meet tribal representatives and officials from Vedanta to discuss the project, which was a cause of concern. |
| "We are keen to use our influence as a shareholder to improve corporate behaviour," he said. "We work to a robust ethical investment policy... in areas where there are concerns we talk with the companies and hear what they have to say and what we expect from them." | "We are keen to use our influence as a shareholder to improve corporate behaviour," he said. "We work to a robust ethical investment policy... in areas where there are concerns we talk with the companies and hear what they have to say and what we expect from them." |
| A statement by Vedanta issued to the BBC said that the company was committed to developing the project "in line with the best international standards for environmental management" and in such a way that it benefited people living in the region. | A statement by Vedanta issued to the BBC said that the company was committed to developing the project "in line with the best international standards for environmental management" and in such a way that it benefited people living in the region. |
| "We are proceeding with the project on the basis agreed with the Indian Supreme Court, and we urge campaigning groups to respect the decision of the legitimate authority in India, the world's largest democracy," the statement said. | "We are proceeding with the project on the basis agreed with the Indian Supreme Court, and we urge campaigning groups to respect the decision of the legitimate authority in India, the world's largest democracy," the statement said. |