Ecuador: The Amazon Tribes Vs. Big Oil
Morning in the Amazon… by markg6 used according to Creative Commons attribution license.
A rekindled interest in the richness of the Amazon is one of the results of recently distributed photograph showing members of an uncontacted tribe in the Brazilian Amazon shooting arrows at the photographer's airplane which surfaced on the Internet on May 23rd. However, to some organizations, the Amazon has never been far from their minds, and today we´ll see some videos brought by Amazon Watch, some which were showcased on Witness‘ The Hub editorial section.
First, a video explaining the extent of damages that are imputed to the Chevron- Texaco oil company toxic waste management which for years has contaminated the Amazonian Basin in Ecuador. In the following video, indigenous group members tell about their health problems, cancer and their case against Chevron-Texaco where they ask them to clean up after themselves.
Then, from The Hub, curator Chris Michael picked the following two videos. First, an animation which spoofs corporate propaganda videos and shows a different perspective on the toxic oil waste disaster in Ecuador, inviting viewers to learn more about the trial, about Chevron-Texaco in Ecuador and answers to their replies that they were within the law and weren't the cause of the disaster, and in general about the harm of oil exploitation in the amazonian basin at Chevrontoxico.com
The next video portrays the story of how the tribal leaders are still struggling to keep this disaster from repeating itself, and the Ecuadorian government's insistence on leasing tracts of land where Indigenous reserves lie for oil exploitation, not just without the indigenous tribe's approval but in spite of their open opposition.
Finally, an independent documentary that can be downloaded for free titled Justicia Now: One People's Fight Against Big Oil. Following, a short clip of the film, where it tells how the biggest oil reserve lies under the most biodiverse region in the Amazon, the Yasuni reserve in Ecuador:
3 comments
Perhaps the most vulnerable of all tribes are the ‘uncontacted’ ones – as mentioned briefly above. They are exceedingly vulnerable to any form of contact because of their lack of immunity to outsiders’ diseases (even a cold can kill them), and are having their territories invaded with little way of defending themselves. For more info on this, and to find out how to get involved with campaigning in support of their land rights, have a look at http://www.survival-international.org/campaigns/uncontactedtribes
Now this was interesting and new concept angle. Paying Ecuador to not drill. Bribing the world. One or the other, oil or enviorment. Either way you all pay Ecuador. Extremely fascinating no doubt.