The U.S. government and several American corporations are intimately connected with the issue, making it a relevant topic for people in the U.S. to learn about, and also providing ways for us to become involved in effecting change on behalf of the U wa and the tropical forests. The Colombian government, desperate for foreign investment and an economic boost, granted oil exploration rights to Occidental Petroleum in 1992. The prime land was in U wa territory, at the headwaters of the Orinoco river basin. It has been estimated that this land contains 1.5 billion barrels of oil, enough to supply oil needs in the U.S. for 3 months. Many Latin American countries view the exploitation of natural resources as their best hope for rising out of debt.
Developed countries encourage such a perspective because they stand to gain by it.
The U.S., for example, imports 65 percent of Colombia s oil exports. Such arrangements generally make the producing company dependent on larger wealthier nations, leading to further problems with national debt. Currently only a few Colombians, such as the U wa people, are upholding this value. Oil excavation by Occidental Petroleum will destroy a precious ecosystem and the cultural integrity of the indigenous people. Increased violence and human rights abuses also appear to be an inevitable consequence of the development of oil projects in the country.