The
Ecuadorian government is considering a law suit against Chevron.
Ecuador is seeking 18 billion dollars for environmental damage to the
Rain Forest area. This specific oil field is located in the northeast
part of Ecuador. The Lago Agrio oil field has a history of ecological
problems. Ecuador was scouted for oil in the 1960’s and by the 1970’s a
full scale oil extraction plan was carried out. Oil companies in this
area are being held responsible for water contamination, soil
contamination, and deforestation. Law suits have been filed dating back
to 1993. Ecuador has been struggling for retribution for the damages for
several years from Texaco and its parent company Chevron. Reports have
been filed and over 30,000 inhabitants in the Rain Forest have fell
victim to the environmental damage of the company. On October ninth
Chevron lost a U.S. Supreme Court bid to block Ecuadorans from
collecting any type of money related to the lawsuit. In this bid Chevron
was attempting to gain protection from the U.S. government, but the bid
failed. The U.S. Supreme Court stated that Ecuadorans can’t be barred
from seeking to collect the award on a global stage. Chevron has
slandered Ecuador’s government by calling the judgement a product of
bribery, fraud, and illegitimacy. Ecuador is urging the Colombian
government to take similar action against the oil company. Ecuador and
Colombia are neighboring countries that share oil companies that export
oil from the area. Across the world oil companies are not holding
themselves responsible for the damages they are causing to the
environment. Obtaining a sustainable future will require the
participation and cooperation of all oil companies.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-10-31/ecuador-to-sue-chevron-in-argentina-to-enforce-judgment
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/chevron-sued-argentina-ecuadorean-spills-17617118#.UJVwroadfGI
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lago_Agrio_oil_field
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