Greenpeace activists disrupted the shareholders meeting of JBS, the largest meat processing company in the world. The activists stormed the meeting room in the Sheraton Hotel near Schiphol, after which the shareholders present fled the room.
“I am currently looking at the facade of the hotel where we have hung a large banner with the text ‘JBS keep your bloody business out of Africa’“, campaign leader Isabel Willemsen told NRC by telephone.
JBS has plans to expand in Nigeria, according to Greenpeace’s campaign leader. That’s where the action group makes are concerned about: the meat processor has a history of “environmental destruction” and “human rights violations,” according to Greenpeace.
Fake blood
From a canopy above the main entrance of the Sheraton, the activists let fake blood drip down, says Willemsen. Other Greenpeace activists stand under the drops of fake blood with “transparent umbrellas.” Visitors who want to enter are also given such an umbrella. “We currently also have climbers who hang up a 15 by 10 meter banner inside the atrium,” says Willemsen. It contains the same text as the banner hanging on the facade.
In Nigeria, civil society organizations do not receive information from JBS or the Nigerian government about what exactly the meat processing company will do in the country, says Willemsen. Because JBS’s head office was established in the Netherlands last year, Greenpeace Netherlands is now also demanding information be made public. “Our director Marieke Vellekoop came to present that request to the shareholders in the room this morning.”
If JBS does not make matters public, Greenpeace will go to the Dutch courts. The organization “states that the environmental damage and methane emissions caused by JBS’s activities are in conflict with the Dutch duty of care,” according to Greenpeace on their website.
Live blog
Economics blog
Greenpeace activists storm meeting of meat processor JBS, shareholders flee from room
