Red mud has been named the most serious sustainable environmental problem associated with the aluminum industry and recently led to the tragic loss of human life and environmental damage in Hungary, with other spills also occurring in India, China, Canada and Brazil. The environmental and social costs associated with bauxite mines and the Bayer process are spurring opposition to the development of new alumina production opportunities in a number of key countries.

Citizens, the world over, should demand better laws to protect them from the creation of the toxic red mud residue and flooding.

I am all for the production of aluminum; however, I am totally against the toxic residue resulting from the "Bayer manufacturing process". New technology exists which does not create the toxic red mud residue and environmentally remediate the existing red mud.

We must stand together and sign this petition to influence governments, corporate citizens etc to institute changes to protect our environment.

 

Here are articles on the matter:

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/10/a_flood_of_toxic_sludge.html  [Images of red mud flooding]

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/33296

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/india-toxic-sludge-leak-vedantas-red-mud-pond-threatens-rural-communities-2011-06-0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LRejzIQfdI

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2007/04/07/alcan-river.html

http://www.earthtimes.org/pollution/red-mud-remediation-treatment-developed/2116/

http://world.einnews.com/pr_news/108018726/canadian-company-offers-the-first-treatment-to-neutralize-red-mud

http://www.dnaindia.com/mobile/report.php?n=1722627&p=0

http://www.aluminiumtoday.com/news/view/canada-orbite-aluminae-incs-patented-red-mud-neutralisation-treatment

 

Recent studies estimate Red Mud to be around 3,000 million tonnes at the end of 2010 [Klauber, C., Grafe, M., and Power, G, 2009] – and growing at approximately 120 million tonnes per annum. According to the International Committee for the Study of Bauxite, Alumina and Aluminium (ICSOBA) “Alumina refineries world over presently generate more than 100 million tons of red mud per annum, which is likely to increase with the setting up of new production facilities and decreasing ore quality. Less than 5% of red mud is being utilized in the world with the remainder disposed in ponds.” Red mud is toxic and highly caustic, a serious health hazard that threatens to pollute water and soil. Red Mud has been named the most serious sustainable environmental problem associated with the aluminum industry and recently led to the tragic loss of human life and environmental damage in Hungary, with other spills also occurring in India, China, Canada and Brazil.

 

Petition will be delivered to Amnesty International, International Committee for the Study of Bauxite, Alumina and Aluminium (ICSOBA) and International Aluminium Institute (world-aluminium.org), Red Mud Organization and to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE - New Delhi, India).