Amazon Indians want Texaco to clean up its mess on sacred lands

[dArKeR]

AFP , COCA, ECUADOR
Sunday, Apr 11, 2004,Page 12

In the heart of the Ecuadoran Amazon, the shouts of protesting Indians mute the sound of an overhead plane.

"Texaco must pay for polluting our lands," the Indians insist.

But, says an executive with the US oil company: "We won't be spending US$6 billion."

This brief confrontation, peaceful but strained, takes place at the tiny airport in this town of 20,000, 200km east of Quito in Ecuador's oil-producing region.

The country produces 418,000 barrels of crude per day, but is not a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

"Half a million hectares of sacred indian lands were polluted by Texaco's oil production -- we demand that the firm clean it all up," says Luis Yanza, spokesman for the 50 protesters, who put the price at around US$6 billion.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/bizfocus/archives/2004/04/11/2003136263

[kalian]

1. Another shameful example....

of how corporations RUIN our Mother Earth. Pisses me off :mad: :mad:

[xchrom]

2. the indians are not alone

in wanting texaco, exxon, dow, and who ever else makes a living producing poisons to clean up their damn mess.
we all have to fuckin live here.

[Judi Lynn]

3. I've read about this for quite a while.

Looks as if Texaco has had legions of p.r. people hard at work creating the impression it has already done its duty and they citizens are all looneytoons.

Yeah, that's probably the case. No doubt Texaco is right. They are known for their honorable, completely above board actions.

[fishnfla]

4. Great book on this

"Savages" by Joe Kane