| Oil, indians and Ecuador's cruel reality 2005 |
minister threats
OILBOOMSince 1967 the oil industry is booming in Ecuador. This should be a financial blessing for a country with a great foreign debt. Unfortunately most of the oil dollars go directly to the foreign oil companies. In 1967 47% of the population were poor, in 2000 this figure had risen to 70% !! Even the state deficit is greater than ever. |
pollution of the rainforest
During the oil exploration almost 2 million hectares of tropical rain forest has disappeared. Apart from that more than 6.000.000 litres of oil residues ended up in the ground and the water. With disastrous consequences for plants, animals and people. Cancer and death cases have risen in the last years. And no one admit responsibility. |
violations of human rightsMost of the oil exploration is in the Amazon area, where many indigenous people lived in harmony with nature for thousands of years. Until the outbreak of oil fever, oil companies came and went with beautiful promises. In reality they caused an ecological disaster. Because nowadays they are not welcome anymore, the oil companies use other means to get access to these areas. Such as: murder, threat, extortion, violence, use of the army and illegal entering of the autonomous territories.sign our petition |
THE KICHWA'S OF SARAYAKUJust like the warlike village from the time of Asterix, Obelix and the Romans, the Kichwa's of Sarayaku defend their territory. They learned from the misery of the other indigenous people, such as the Huarani, Secoya's, Siona's, Shuars and Achuars. resolutionThe Kichwa's refuse to admit the oil-multinationals on their territory. In this way, they have held their fort for some years already. Strengthened by a resolution of the Inter-American Court for Human Rights. armyUnfortunately the government of Ecuador and the oil companies ignore this resolution. Besides some death threats and abuses of Kichwa leaders, the army of Ecuador is now stationed in this region. |
