Blog 10: Chevron Sued in Argentina Over Ecuadorean Spills

     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