Environmental broadcaster Liz Bonnin hosts new podcast

Dead River is a new six-part podcast series delving into the worst environmental tragedy in Brazilian history – the Mariana Dam disaster of 2015.

On the 5 November 2015, the Mariana Dam collapsed, unleashing over 50 million cubic metres of arsenic-laced waste into the ancient Doce River.

Toxic mudflows ravaged over 700km of waterways, spilling into the Atlantic Ocean. The disaster claimed 19 lives, hundreds of livelihoods, and destroyed the lifeblood of local and indigenous communities: their river source.

Hosted by environmental expert and broadcaster Liz Bonnin, Dead River features powerful first-hand accounts from some of those whose lives were shattered by the events of November 2015, and expert analysis, together with a world-class sound design.

But this series is not just retrospective. In an unprecedented group litigation, over 700,000 plaintiffs are still seeking justice from Anglo-Australian mining giant BHP through the English and Welsh courts in a £36billion case.

This is the UK’s largest class action lawsuit ever and is due to take place later this year, with law firm Pogust Goodhead representing the claimants.

Can justice prevail in the face of corporate power? Will the River Doce ever regain its former vitality? And what lessons can the world learn from this tragic event?

Liz Bonnin says: “From the moment I heard about the story of the Mariana Dam disaster I was gripped. It’s been a true honour to be able to tell it from the perspective of the communities affected and the hundreds of thousands of people still fighting for justice.

“This is a story of a tragedy that took place in the name of power and greed, but it’s also a story about humanity, connection and heroic individuals who are striving for a better, fairer world.

“I hope this podcast will help to amplify all too often unheard voices and raise awareness of the urgent need for accountability in what resulted in Brazil’s biggest environmental disaster. I also hope that it can give us all pause for thought about how the way we live and what we prioritise can impact the health of the planet – that we all rely on to survive.”

Launching Monday 26 February, episodes of Dead River will be released weekly, available on all podcast providers.