From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: OILSPILL IN HIGH AMAZON
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1992 19:17:26 GMT

/** reg.samerica: 104.0 **/
** Topic: ALERT 1: OILSPILL IN HIGH AMAZON **
** Written  9:49 am  Aug 15, 1992 by hrcoord in cdp:reg.samerica **
From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord>
Subject: ALERT 1: OILSPILL IN HIGH AMAZON

/* Written  1:35 am  Aug 12, 1992 by cordavi in cdp:gn.tribalsurvi */
                  CORPORACION DE DEFENSA DE LA VIDA
                            C O R D A V I 

               ECOLOGICAL ALERT FROM THE HIGH AMAZON:
                            A NEW OIL SPILL

     CORDAVI, an Ecuadorian organization practicing public interest
environmental law, reports to the world environmental community the
following news of the oil spill that occurred in Ecuador in July
1992.
     The actual oil spill originated in the Sacha oil field,
located 50 km to the south of the town of Lago Agrio, in the
Sucumbios Province. This is part of the traditional territory of
the Siona Secoya and Cofan native peoples.  It is also the home of
various communities of the indigenous Quichua peolple.
     This oil field was operated until last year by the U.S.
corporation TEXACO; due to negotiations with the Ecuadorian
government, it is now operated by Petroecuador, an Ecuadorian state
agency. Petroecuador is folowing the legacy of Texaco, the
petroleum giant in this Ecuador for the past 20 years.  The
responsibility for this spill lies with Texaco, whose extraction
techniques only promote economic benefit to the company and
disregard environmental repercussions. 
     The consequences of this huge spill will be felt most acutely
by the indigenous communities who have lost their usual sources of
water and will now have only contaminated water.
     This spill is only one of many such spills that have occurred
during the past two decades of oil exploitation in Ecuador, and the
spills will continue as long as Ecuador is forced to sell its oil
to pay back an impossible external debt.

              -----------------------------------------
                            C O R D A V I
                  P.O.Box 17-12-309 * Quito-ECUADOR
                       e-mail:  root@codavi.ec

** End of text from cdp:reg.samerica **

/** reg.samerica: 105.0 **/
** Topic: ALERT 3: WHAT CAN WE DO? **
** Written  9:49 am  Aug 15, 1992 by hrcoord in cdp:reg.samerica **
From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord>
Subject: ALERT 3: WHAT CAN WE DO?

/* Written  1:38 am  Aug 12, 1992 by cordavi in cdp:gn.tribalsurvi */
                  CORPORACION DE DEFENSA DE LA VIDA
                            C O R D A V I 

               ECOLOGICAL ALERT FROM THE HIGH AMAZON:

                           WHAT CAN WE DO?

     Almost 50 percent of the oil money taken in by the Ecuadorian
government is used to pay its external debt.  This means the
rainforest is being destroyed, in part, to pay an unpayable and
unjust debt.  Ecological equilibrium, which is a common right of
humanity, is being sacrificed in the EAR to satisfy the private
interests of the World Bank and other development agencies, which
demand that the Ecuadorian government pay high interest on the
debt.  If this situation isn't altered, damage of the EAR and other
rainforests will continue.  
     Sixto Duran Ballen, the new Ecuadorian President, who assumed
power on August 10, says he will increase oil extraction in the
EAR.  This mean new oil spills will also increase.
     CORDAVI calls to the international environmental community and
citizens throughout the world to support an Amazon salvation
agenda, through the following actions:

1.-  Send a letter to the Ecuadorian President, Sixto Duran Ballen 
     with a copy to Ecuadorian Embassy, asking for a halt to oil
     plans in the Huaorani, Siona-Secoya, and Cofan Native
     Territories; and Yasuni National Park and Lagarto-Cocha
     Reserve, located in the Napo Rio Basin (part of the Amazon
     Basin).  All are virgin rainforests and MAXUS and Petroecuador
     currently have plans to extract oil from them. 
          Write to: Presidencia de la Republica: Calle Garcia     
                    Moreno y Espejo, Quito-ECUADOR.

2.-  Write to the World Bank, demanding the following:
     a.-  Declare the Ecuadorian Amazon Region on ecological      
          emergency; 
     b.-  Reduce the Ecuadorian external debt by the amounts that 
          the government expects to obtain from oil explotation in 
          these areas.
     c.-  During negotiations regarding debt reduction, suspend   
          payment of debt interest and suspend support to oil     
          activities.

3.-  Write to:
     a.-  TEXACO, demanding payments of compensation for its 20   
          years of ecological damages in the EAR which are worse  
          than damages caused by the EXXON Valdez disaster
     b.-  MAXUS Corporation, demanding that they leave the Huaorani
          Native Territory and Yasuni National Park; and stop
          constructing oil roads in this area.
               Write to: Charles Blackburn, President of Maxus
          Corporation.  717 Harwood, Dallas, TX 75201.  USA

              -----------------------------------------
                            C O R D A V I
                  P.O.Box 17-12-309 * Quito-ECUADOR
                       e-mail:  root@codavi.ec
** End of text from cdp:reg.samerica **
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive