Inbrief

The Brazilian government is considering whether two aluminium companies have failed to observe international guidelines on responsible business behaviour during the construction of the Barra Grande hydroelectric plant. Alcoa Aluminios and the Companhia Brasileira de Aluminio stand accused by pressure groups of human rights infringements and social and environmental damage. Two groups, Movement of Populations Affected by Dams, and Land of Rights, submitted a formal complaint last month to the international affairs division of the government's treasury department, which is the national contact point for the OECD's voluntary guidelines for multinational enterprises.