Entre 1967 y 1979 los trabajadores de las plantaciones bananeras en el caribe costarricense estuvieron expuestos al plaguicida llamado DiBromoCloroPropano (DBCP) o más conocido como Nemagón, un químico creado por Dow Chemical para erradicar un gusano que afectaba al monocultivo. Los trabajadores que aplicaron el químico estuvieron expuestos sin la protección adecuada (guantes, máscaras, vestido). También se expuso a las comunidades vecinas en donde figuraron mujeres y niños. |
Entre 12.000 y 30.000 costarricenses reclaman una indemnización económica por los daños sociales y ambientales sufridos producto de la utilización del pesticida Nemagón durante la década de los 70 en las plantaciones de banano.
Description:
Basic Data
| Name of conflict: | Afectadas por el DBCP (Nemagón), Costa Rica |
| Country: | Costa Rica |
| State or province: | Limón |
| Location of conflict: | Zona del Caribe |
| Accuracy of location | MEDIUM (Regional level) |
Source of Conflict
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Biomass and Land Conflicts (Forests, Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Management) |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Intensive food production (monoculture and livestock) Agro-toxics |
| Specific commodities: | Fruits and Vegetables Bananas |
Project Details and Actors
| Project details | -El banano es el principal producto de exportación de Costa Rica. |
| Project area: | 30,000 |
| Level of Investment for the conflictive project | unknown |
| Type of population | Rural |
| Affected Population: | 12.000-30.000 |
| Start of the conflict: | 1990 |
| Company names or state enterprises: | Standard Fruit Company from United States of America Dole from United States of America Dow Chemical Company (Dow) from United States of America Del Monte from United States of America Shell Chemical Company from United States of America |
| Relevant government actors: | Gobierno de Costa Rica, Ministerio de Trabajo (MTSS), Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía (MINAE), Instituto Nacional de Seguros (INS),Cámara de Industrias de Costa Rica (CICR), Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS), Defensoría de los Habitantes (DH).Ministerio de Salud (MS), |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | Unidad Ejecutora Técnica para Atención de Extrabajadores Bananeros Afectados por el Uso del Nemagón,Comisión Costarricense de Dere-chos Humanos (CODEHU),Foro Emaús. |
Conflict & Mobilization
| Intensity | HIGH (widespread, mass mobilization, violence, arrests, etc...) |
| Reaction stage | Mobilization for reparations once impacts have been felt |
| Groups mobilizing: | Informal workers International ejos Local ejos Local government/political parties Neighbours/citizens/communities Social movements Trade unions Women Ethnically/racially discriminated groups Local scientists/professionals |
| Forms of mobilization: | Artistic and creative actions (eg guerilla theatre, murals) Blockades Community-based participative research (popular epidemiology studies, etc..) Involvement of national and international NGOs Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism Media based activism/alternative media Official complaint letters and petitions Public campaigns Street protest/marches Occupation of buildings/public spaces Recourse to economic valuation of the health impact |
Impacts
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Air pollution, Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Food insecurity (crop damage), Genetic contamination, Soil contamination, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover Potential: Groundwater pollution or depletion |
| Health Impacts | Visible: Mental problems including stress, depression and suicide, Accidents, Exposure to unknown or uncertain complex risks (radiation, etc…), Malnutrition, Violence related health impacts (homicides, rape, etc..), Health problems related to alcoholism, prostitution, Occupational disease and accidents, Infectious diseases, Deaths, Other environmental related diseases Potential: Other Health impacts |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Visible: Increase in Corruption/Co-optation of different actors, Displacement, Increase in violence and crime, Lack of work security, labour absenteeism, firings, unemployment, Loss of livelihood, Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures, Social problems (alcoholism, prostitution, etc..), Specific impacts on women, Violations of human rights |
Outcome
| Project Status | In operation |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Compensation Institutional changes Court decision (victory for environmental justice) Court decision (undecided) Migration/displacement New legislation Strengthening of participation Application of existing regulations |
| Proposal and development of alternatives: | Que se realice una valoración médica y psicológica interdisciplinaria de los afectados directos, de sus cónyuges e hijos para determinar las incidencias de la exposición al producto. Que se les de un tratamiento adecuado y una indemnización. |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | Not Sure |
| Briefly explain: | -El plaguicida ha quedado totalmente prohibido en el país y en todo el mundo. -La Sala Constitucional declaró con lugar el recurso de amparo interpuesto por la Defensoría de los Habitantes para indemnizar a los 12.000 afectados por el Nemagón. -La empresa sigue operando en el país con otro tipo de químicos. |
Sources & Materials
| Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc) |
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| References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries |
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| Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network |
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| Other comments: | Este químico también ha sido utilizado en Honduras, Costa Rica, Panamá, Ecuador, Estados Unidos, Israel, Guatemala, Dominica, Santa Lucía, San Vicente, Burkina Faso, Costa de Marfil, España y Filipinas. |
Meta information
| Contributor: | Grettel Navas, Fundación Neotrópica |
| Last update | 18/08/2019 |
| Conflict ID: | 1978 |
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