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Helena Taliberti and Vagner Diniz, two very committed Brazilian parents with a passion for life and justice, want to feel connected to the world. “We came here because we are sure that the World Council of Churches (WCC) has a lot of connections,” they said. “The more we are together, the longer and farther we will go. Life is the most precious thing that we have.”
The couple lost their children in a dam collapse in Brazil in January. WCC News met with them after a meeting with the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit in Geneva in early October.
On 25 January, a dam at the Córrego do Feijão iron ore mine in Minas Gerais, Brazil, suffered a catastrophic failure. The dam released a mudflow that advanced through the mine's offices, including a cafeteria during lunchtime, along with houses, farms, inns and roads. At least 248 people died because of the collapse.
Among those who died were the children of Helena Taliberti and Vagner Diniz: their son Luiz, 31, their daughter Camila, 33, along with their daughter-in-law, who was five months pregnant with Lorenzo, their first and only grandchild.
Seeking solidarity in the fellowship
In October, Helena and Vagner, who worship at the First Independent Presbyterian Church of São Paulo, visited Geneva, seeking solidarity from the WCC and other international organizations involved in humanitarian and advocacy work for just mining practices that care for people and for the environment.
Helena and Vagner’s family members were near the dam when it broke because they were visiting a nearby museum. “We are still looking for meaning," said Vagner, who speaks with a sadness that threads through the small silences between his words. “We are still looking for a reason for what happened - and we know that it happened because there was a lack of oversight on the dam, that there was negligence from the mining company, and we don’t want those kinds of things to happen again. That is why we are here.”
A prophetic voice
The couple is determined to influence the investors who hold the mining company, Vale, the largest producer of iron ore and nickel in the world.
As far as reparations, they said, nothing can replace their children. “Our hearts are broken. Our lives were interrupted. There is no future for us because we lost everything. We do not have children any longer. The reason for our lives now is to try to avoid lives being lost again. Because the mining industry kills people. The mining industry jeopardizes the environment.”
A sign of love
Vagner added: “So if we can do something for another person, if we can somehow take care of each other, I think that we will find some meaning in this whole thing.” Helena and Vagner believe they cannot do this alone. “We want to avoid that kind of tragedy happening again,” he said. “We are just two. We need more people. We need the whole society together.”
The couple wants to feel connected to the world. “We came here because we are sure that the World Council of Churches has a lot of connections,” he said. “The more we are together, the longer and farther we will go. Life is the most precious thing that we have.”
In memory of their children, Vagner and Helena have created the “Camila and Luiz Taliberti Institute”, for advocacy for the victims and awareness-raising about the human and environmental risks of the mining industry.
A Plan of Action
The couple lost their children. They want now to fight for the protection of other lives. “Their lives cannot be taken in vain,” he said. “We don’t want the death of our children to be in vain. Coming here is part of bringing people together, establishing networks, asking for the World Council of Churches to spread the message with us and develop awareness among churches.”
Vagner concluded: “If we want to change the mining industry behavior, if we want to respect human rights and respect the environment, then we have to start with the investors.”
Editorial note: We are grateful to Helena Taliberti and Vagner Diniz for being able to share their family tragedy with us and all readers. May our Lord bless and comfort you and your family during this time of grief and give you all the strength you need for the work of justice. Please accept our sincere condolences.
The WCC interview produced in collaboration with Odair Pedroso Mateus, Valter Hugo Muniz, Marcelo Schneider, Susan Kim and Marianne Ejdersten.
