Truth, reparation and social justice: Victims’ and academic perspectives on the harms caused by asbestos companies

Authors

  • Marijke Van Buggenhout Vrije Universiteit Brussel
  • Marília de Nardin Budó Federal University of Santa Catarina

Keywords:

Asbestos, social justice, restorative justice, testimonial, rural criminology, environmental crimes

Abstract

This short piece stems from personal experience about the environmental harm caused by one of the biggest former asbestos facilities, Eternit, located in the small Belgian rural village of Kapelleop-den-Bos. Combined with an academic perspective, this piece highlights the relevance of environmental restorative justice in addressing the violations and harms experienced by asbestos victims.
It brings to light the struggles of victim associations to challenge the power, and complete lack of accountability of (former) asbestos producing companies worldwide and offers an understanding of strategies used to promote immunity to the powerful.

Author Biographies

Marijke Van Buggenhout, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Marijke Van Buggenhout, is a member of the Crime and Society Research group at VUB and shares her family’s personal story in this short piece.

Marília de Nardin Budó, Federal University of Santa Catarina

Marília de Nradin Budó, is an adjunct professor of criminal law and criminal procedural law at the center of legal sciences at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil, and coordinator of the research group power, control and social damage

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Published

2022-07-08

Issue

Section

Short articles