The Amazon vs. Chevron - An indigenous plea and a toxic legacy

"Get a job"? That's your comment? Hardly seems worth responding to but here goes... I happen to be one of the "kids" who was with Emergildo. I'm 37, a working-class guy from Baltimore, raised by a nurse and a clothing store salesman, who saved enough money to help me and my sister with college (student loans did the rest) but sadly fell a bit short of establishing a trust fund. And I was drinking black coffee, thanks. I'm very glad to hear about your experiences in the Gulf. However, for a few decades, Texaco deliberately 'pumped and dumped' in the Amazon because they thought they could get away with it. They couldn't imagine that they would ever be held accountable. And these efforts are helping to define a standard which oil producers must meet everywhere, even in the jungles of faraway developing countries – not only off the coast of the United States. What you should have written was that "In the gulf, these folks are fanatical about safety and health of the environment – too bad they weren't in Ecuador. What a shame. I will spread the word and let people I know at Chevron that they should do the right thing and clean up the mess they left there."

Uh, no. Working class middle aged woman who hasn't known what it is to not work since I was 15 years old. The work ethic was instilled in me as was a love for this Earth and it is my life. It isn't about politics or economy, it is about morality and a strong sense of understanding my place in this world and knowing that how I treat the world around me reflects on who I am and the world my child will live in as well as effecting the lives of others. It is amazing the stereotypes people will place on others in order to validate their own shortcomings.

You should be more careful about making assumptions about people who you dont know, next you will be saying that French people are rude.

I do agree with you however that generally the oil companies are the ones who take better environmental protection steps than the local government who would rather pocket the money among their cronys.

Until I see these natives go after the politicians who where in power in their OWN country I will sincerely doubt their motives and intentions.

Coldmtn- where did I ever say "get a job"? Don't try putting words in my mouth- I don't appreciate it. I just find it interesting that companies like Chevron are fanatical about preventing pollution in the Gulf of Mexico, but this fanaticism doesn't extend to their operations in Nigeria and other poor countries

Okay, true, I was paraphrasing, based on your comment about us "...upper middle class white kids... living off of a trust fund, or an allowance from their parents, but, ya know, some of us have to work for a living." Anyway, I appreciate your contemplating the double standard that many, if not all, oil companies employ.

the price should be there business practice, not money.

The minions are out. And for your edification, it is not only about the indigenous people here. It is about the LAND, the WATER, and the sacredness of this place that has been forever POISONED. And should Chevron have to pay the 27 billion to clean up their mess that is still getting off EASY. There isn't a dollar amount you can place that matches the value of what has been destroyed. But why should we expect any corporate mouthpiece to understand that?

If you like, read about the history of this battle... from 1964-1992, Texaco (now Chevron) was the exclusive operator of the oil production that poisoned Criollo's community and thousands of others. They called the shots, and made the decision to dump billions of gallons of toxic waste water instead of reinjecting it, build hundreds of unlined toxic waste pits, and spilled millions more gallons of crude throughout the region. Texaco (now Chevron) chose substandard operating procedures to make a couple extra bucks per barrel of crude, because they thought they could get a way with it. The plaintiffs from the Amazon first filed their lawsuit in 1993, only months after Texaco left, and while Petroecuador may have done damage since then, Criollo and his fellow plaintiffs insist that it's important to first seek justice with the 'father' of the harms done unto them. And then, they may indeed go after the 'son' which inherited the faulty infrastructure that Texaco designed and built to pollute. I bet if you were the victim of such callousness, you would see that it makes perfect sense. Frankly, the argument that this is an example of the "natives" going after Chevron because it has the "deep pockets" is absurd and deeply insulting to a man like Emergildo Criollo, who lost two sons to the company's contamination long before there was any issue of who did or didn't properly remediate the poison that has long ravaged his rainforest home.

You must be joking. After they wrecked the land and made huge profits, they should absolved?
Sure the government is to blame in some sense, but guess who leans on the leaders to get what they want? If you guessed the corporations via free trade, WTO and world bank, you are correct.
Please don't cry for the corporations of this world, they don't need our emotional support, they already run and ruin the planet with no conscious....

What mouthpiece or minion? I simply came to the conclusion after seeing the documentaries and other articles about this, that though texaco was guilty of some polluting like almost any oil operation is, that it was indeed the government of ecuador at the time who was the one who is responsible for the vast majority of the destruction and harm done.

Why are they not going after the government officials who where in power at the time, or took over operation after texaco left? They can make it sound like a father son mother nature we are one with the planet type wording argument, but the fact is that chevron is a rich company and they are going after that which has the deepest pockets and is easiest to find, instead of the guiltiest.

Even they say that the government of ecuador was largely responsible for the destruction so why are they not going after those individuals?

Yes the wto and federal reserve are very guilty of implementing certain status quo maintenance practices and doing harmful loans in order to keep the status quo, but dont blame free trade. It is because of free trade that you have a computer in front of you and a fast internet connection not to mention the millions of other benefits that people dont realize is as a result of free trade.

If free trade is so bad then provide one alternative which is better?

I see what you mean but I think it's still better to blame the person who made the mess... they have deep pockets BECAUSE they rape rainforests... That's the connection you're missing... and if they aren't taught a much bigger lesson, they will continue to do it.

You come out of the blue with no other activity but to respond here to stand by environmental rapists. So excuse me while I state that I don't believe your motives.

Although I watch current tv, I love sergios white hot top five and my favorite news program is vanguard who I hold in the highest esteem.

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