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Oil Exploitation - European delegation in EcuadorOil exploitation destroys the rain forest in Ecuador - European delegation inspects damages |
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Press release, 29 September 2009
Hidden oil lakes in the Amazon rainforest - in officially cleaned areas - and soil that has the smell of oil demonstrates the environmental disaster that one of the biggest oil companies - Chevron - left in Ecuador. The non-governmental organisation FDA (Frente de Defensa de la Amazonía) proceeds against Chevron to force the company to clean up the damages on behalf of the civil society. But Chevron holds against it and tries with all methods to influence the lawsuit for its own benefit and protract it. On the "Toxitour" in the northern part of the Oriente, representatives of FDA showed the destruction of the rainforest as well as the contamination of soil and water to the delegation of European politicians and representatives of non-governmental organisations. Holger Matthäus, Senator for Urban Planning and Environment of the Hanseatic City of Rostock, commented: "The destruction in Ecuador proceeds in such immense dimensions - this would not be imaginable in Germany. Here we fight for each woodland, immediately clear oil losses or redevelop brown fields." The 10-days journey through Ecuador led the representatives from Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, Czech Republic and Hungary also to the indigenous community of Sarayaku. The Kichwa community is known for its continuing resistance against the oil exploitation on their territory that was concluded by the Ecuadorian government. Just one week before the European delegation arrived, a historic success could be celebrated: The last one of the explosive devices, which were installed for seismic analysis, has been removed. The community is not only fighting against the oil exploitation but also for their development model and their own cultural identity. They have a satellite dish and a cyber café and an own website that are driven by solar power. Joachim Lorenz, permanent City Councillor for Health and Environment, City of Munich, and President of Climate Alliance comments this approach of municipal development coordination: "The political and financial support of local models as for example in Sarayaku that supports the local economy in assuring social and ecological structures, strengthens the cooperation". Furthermore the European delegation met representatives of COICA, the Coordination body of Indigenous Organisations of the Amazon Basin and partner organisation of Climate Alliance and discussed with governmental and non-governmental actors about approaches in the fields of poverty, oil exploitation, environmental protection and human rights. An important approach is the cooperation between municipal structures in Europe and Ecuador. Peter Molnar, Director of Climate Alliance Austria, comes to this conclusion: "The discussion directly involved people reveals the bitterness if the last related virgin forest areas of the Amazon region with a maximum of biodiversity would be sacrificed in favour of the last decade of the use of oil." The delegation journey to Ecuador was arranged in the scope of the EU project EnergyBridges to know the effects of the developed countries' energy hunger and the "energy (in)justice" in Ecuador Further information: --------------- The community of Sarayaku needs legal support to resist a lawsuit. For that purpose they need about 2,500 Euro. If you would like to support the community, Climate Alliance can forward your donation to Sarayaku. Please make your donation on the following bank account:
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