Oct
14
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.”
Sep
11
2009
Nearly everyone is now out of condition. The “survivors” still try to write this article and visited an important discussions with Ecuadorian NGO’s (Pachamama, Ecosciencia) and COICA. We had a roundtable discussion in the COICA office about the issues of REDD (Reducing Emmisions from Degradation and Deforestation) and the Yasuní-ITT proposal of Ecuador.
Most of the participants were very critical on REDD and the representatives of COICA added, that it is very important that the right of the Indigenous Peoples have to be respected.
Also in the Yasuní proposal, the state have to respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. They should be accepted partners in the discussion. Everyone agreed, that the Yasuní proposal is very imporant and should be supported, even though there are some questions unanswered. We hope, that other new concepts which helps to protect the the Indigenous Peoples and the rainforests will take place in the next years.
In the afternoon, most of our group left, travelling back to Europe. Only Silke and Zbyšek stay for a couple of days.
Written by: Silke Lunnebach & Zbyšek Podhrázský
Sep
10
2009
We are back in a civilised climate… Yvonne Ramoz from Acción Ecológica, an Ecuadorian environmental NGO picked us up at the hotel and we travelled to the community Mojandita near the city of Otavalo in the department of Imbabura north of Quito. With the villagers we made a visit to a so called SINK project. The project should be (that’s what FACE / Profafor says) about planting trees to prevent a global climate change. We need to say, that what we seen is just a money hole and even not protecting the climate but rather endangering the people and destroying the paramo (type of a landscape).
The Dutch enterprise – FACE – with an Equadorian partner – PROFAFOR – made a contract with the comunity of local people in the year of 1993. The contract obliges the people of Mojandita to plant pine trees and managing the plantages for a next 30 years. For that, the company payed around 32,000 USD to the community. In this contract, the community signed, that they have to plant and maintain the plantages and also they signed, that if the fire destroys the plantage, they need to pay the obtained amount plus 10,000 USD back to the company. We don’t know, why they signed such a non-balanced agreement. But it happened.
Sep
9
2009
The community of Sarayaku is located aproximately 70 km from the city of Puyo in the department of Pastaza on the banks of river Bobonaza. The community have about 2.000 people which live in five separated villages. We took a short flight from Shell/Mera to Papayaku and there we took a canoe to Sarayaku itself. The canoe trip was wery pleasant with magnificent views on the jungle still untouched by human hands. Water level was very low and we need sometimes to get of the boat and help to pass the sand banks.
In Sarayaku, the actual president Holger Cisnero and the members of the Board of Sarayaku welcomed us. After this official meeting we made a guided tour with Tupak Viteri through the tropical rainforest nearby to village. For some of us it was a real adventure – watching a two metres long snake just in front of them was not a pleasant experience. On this day, the people of Sarayaku were very lucky to find a pride of wild pigs pass nearby. Immediatly they start to make a big hunt and after a few moments the sound of shoots was everywhere. We met hunters returning to the village with their quarry on shoulders. For better imagination of that, see the picture bellow.
Sep
8
2009
It’s a couple of days ago, that we had the opportunity to be online and a lot has happened.
So here you will find a brief report about the last days….
On Saturday we had a flight to Lago Agrio where we met representatives of the Frente de Defensa de la Amazonia (FDA). Donald Moncallo, Carmen Aguillar and her son Umberto acompanied us to our way to Coca. We stopped at various drilling stations, where we got to see the impacts of the exploitation industry. Texaco (today Chevron) started its activities in the Ecuadorian rainforest in 1964. The first oil was drilled in 1967. 1990 ended their concession and the Ecuadorian state overtook the exploitation area.
Today, the people in the region, first of all the FDA is fighting against Chevron to clean up the disaster they left behind (photos are following).
At nightfall we arrived in the oil city of Coca. With the board members of FDA we discussed the actual situation of the Texaco / Chevron case. Although Chevron is obviously working against them, they are optimistic to see the end of the law case in the beginning of 2010.
Anita Rivas, the lady mayor of the city of Coca invited us on a “sightseeing tour” through her town. Coca tries to find other alternatives to oil in promoting tourism.
On our way to Puyo we met two representatives form Eurosolar, who informed us about their project, implementing solar panels in 91 rural communities.
Late, because the lights of our bus didn’t work, we arrived in Puyo.
We now have a meeting the the people of Sarayaku who are planning a community work. So we are going to participate and have to hurry up. Hope to go in later…
Sep
5
2009
After travelling for nearly 20 hours we all arrived in Quito. We all got our connecting flights, but our luggage didn’t… Three of us are still waiting for their backpacks.
On Friday morning, Diego Escobar, coordinator of the environment area of COICA (Coordinating body of the Indigenous Organisations of the Amazon bassin) presented us to an international conference of Indigenous Peoples from the Amazon region, who discussed about Climate change.
Afterwards the ecuatorian Anthropologist Victor Lopez guided us throug the historical centre of Quito. Walking around the plaza grande and entering the “golden” Compania de Jesus-Church we’ve got a lot of lively information about the colonial past of Quitos capital.
In the afternoon we assisted to a reunion with the COICA. In their office the president of the COICA Egberto Tabo presented us their main topics, activities and partners. Their presentation was followed by a discussion around the actual challenges the COICA is facing on their way to the Conference on Climate Change in Copenhague in december.
Subsequent to the common roundtable, the first reunion of the Climate Alliance board outside
Europe took place. The board members and coordinators exchanged on future strategies to strengthen the international alliance in the future.
Today we’re leaving Quito and continue our trip to the rainforest in the eastern lowland Amazon region.
Kristy Schank, Silke Lunnebach
Sep
4
2009
Twelve representatives from cities and organizations from Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, Czech Republic and Hungary are travelling to Ecuador. The delegation from Europe will inspect the ecological and social damage that evolved from long lasting oil production. Methods leading to a development without fossil energy sources will be discussed with indigenous organizations and municipal representatives in the Amazon lowland.
Stations and dialog partners of the delegation tour are amongst others:
- In Quito: COICA (Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin) as partner organization of Climate Alliance, the energy ministry as well as environment and development organizations.
- In the Amazon rainforest in Lago Agrio in the oil producing area, Frente de Defensa de la Amazonía will inform on the immense destructions and ecological damages that will continue even after the ending of oil production.
- In the provincial capital of Puerto Fransica de Orellana (El Coca), the mayor Anita Rivas stands up for the “Green Gold Campaign” to preserve the biosphere reserve Yasuní from oil production
- The Kichwa Municipality of Sarayaku is fighting against oil production in their area.
Aug
31
2009
Climate Alliance’s study tour to the Amazon region of Ecuador
From 3rd to 12th September 2009 a delegation of 11 participants including representatives from cities and organisations from Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, Czech Republic and Hungary will travel to the Amazon region of Ecuador.
The participants will experience locally the effects of long lasting oil production – massive social and ecological destructions. Alternatives are presented as well. Anita Rivas, Mayor of the provincial capital Puerto Francisco de Orellana, also called El Coca, will present the “Green Gold Campaign”. This campaign is based on an initiative of the Ecuadorian government not to produce oil at the biosphere reserve and the protective area of Yasuní. As a financial compensation, a fund shall be created in which international governments and institutions deposit a part of lost income and this money is used for environment and human right projects. The German Federal Government wants to annually deposit 50 million dollar in this fund.
Beside the visit of the oil region, a visit of the Municipality of Sarayaku is planned.
Jul
20
2009
Our trip to Ecuador starts on the 3rd of September. All participants will travel together to Quito.
