Indigenous Ecuadoran woman humbles US oil giant

[Vehl]

RUMIPAMBA, Ecuador (AFP) – She has no legal training, and doesn't speak the Spanish that dominates government in Quito but indigenous villager Maria Aguinda helped bring a landmark judgment against US oil giant Chevron for polluting the rain forest she calls home.

The diminutive grandmother whose modest home sits near marshes clogged for decades in sticky oil has been at the heart of the David-and-Goliath case, and spoke out after Chevron was slapped last week with a $9.5-billion fine, among the heaviest ever handed down for environmental damage.

"Before I die they have to pay me for the dead animals, and for what they did to the river, and the water and the earth," the 61-year-old Aguinda told AFP at her home in Rumipamba, a town in remote Orellana province where pollution caused by 30 years of oil drilling and petroleum accidents had become a sad fact of life.

more here

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110223/ts_alt_afp/ecuadorcourtcompanyenvironmentchevronusnative

:applause: More power to this lady

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Good for her!

It just goes to show you...

You don't need to be a lawyer, or to speak the dominant language...

You just need to be able to demonstrate that you know what you're talking about with passion...and facts...

Thanks for reporting this!

Recommended.

[social_critic]

4. I doubt she'll get much money

The case has California lawyers trying to get Chevron to cough up money. They will keep most of the cash if any ever shows up. And I don't think they can get money from Chevron in the US, the case is tainted.

[leftstreet]

2. K&R

[Oak2004]

3. That tape was great, but this is the best news of the day n/t

[Vehl]

7. Yep! nt

[truedelphi]

5. What a wonderful story. n/t

[xchrom]

6. ...

:applause:

[steve2470]

8. Thanks for people like her ! nt