V a t t e n f a l l - Sweden´s other face

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3 Activities of Vattenfall AB in eastern Germany
Following reunification the Sorbs enjoy the protection of the Brandenburg Constitution. In 1993 the Brandenburg Government placed Horno under a protection and preservation order in recognition of its cultural and historic value. Nevertheless, laws were passed in the 1990s to the effect that Horno should be forcibly resettled in favour of strip-mining.
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As the owner of Vattenfall AB, the Swedish State is the party that decides, whether the compulsory resettlement of 60 Sorb families be carried out, or whether coal mining be limited to allow the village inhabitants to remain and the culturally-valuable landscape to be preserved.
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One argument put forward for the destruction of Horno is the protection of jobs in Brandenburg. The number of employees in mining and energy supply will decline in the coming years independent of Horno. The question of Horno's future has become rather symbolic. There are plans for the destruction of a number of other villages in the region, and if one village resisted its destruction, others can also protest. And Vattenfall's mining company probably wants to avoid that -
4 Vattenfall AB does not fulfil its own ethical demands
A number of alternatives have been put forward to avoid the devastation of the listed Sorb village of Horno and the compulsory resettlement of its inhabitants. The LAUBAG Company has regrettably turned down these alternatives, referring to the high costs involved. Here profit is placed before protection of culture and human rights.
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According to Vattenfall's own publications on brown-coal mining in the region, Vattenfall "protects nature and focuses on human health and safety". And furthermore: "Our actions are characterized by respect for the cultures, customs and values of the countries where we operate, in accordance with our ethical principles." In the terms of this description it is abundantly clear, that Vattenfall does not fulfil its own environment-related ethical demands.
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Regarding the question of the compulsory resettlement of the Sorb minority in Horno, Vattenfall has shown no consideration for people and environment. We are of the opinion that the Government should exhort Vattenfall to fulfil its own environment-related ethical demands and to take account of available alternative plans in order to protect the listed village of Horno and to avoid the forced resettlement of its inhabitants.
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Stockholm, October 5th, 2001
Ewa Larsson (mp)
Inger Strömbom (kd)
Åke Sandström (c)
Eva Flyborg (fp)
Sture Arnesson (v)
Ingegerd Saarinen (mp)
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