Amazon oil
Ecuador's economy has grown and average of 7% a year due to oil production, most of the oil comes from the Amazon Rainforest. Ecuador produces almost four-hundred thousand barrels of crude oil per day. The government-owned company, Petroecuador, is responsible for about 55% of Ecuador's crude oil output and sixteen privately-owned companies are responsible for the remaining 45%. (Hurtig, 2004). Yasuni National Park is located on the western side of the Andes and sits on top of 850 million barrels of crude oil. The park is one of the most diverse regions on the planet, a single hectare of this rainforest is home to as many species of insects known in the United States and Canada combined. (Wallace, 2013). There are more species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians in one area in the park than in any other similar sized area on the planet. (National Geographic, 2012). Yasuni is also home to two indigenous tribes, the Kichuwa and the Waorani, they live off of the land. Ecuador receives fifty percent of its revenues from Amazon oil. President Correa created the ITT-initiative in 2007 as a way to preserve the park. He asked for compensation from developed countries to leave Yasuni untouched and to fund alternative energy projects. Correa asked the world for about three and a half billion dollars to be paid to Ecuador, only half of what the oil under Yasuni is worth, but only received two-hundred million dollars by 2012, so the initiative was dropped. (Wallace, 2013).
Conflicts with Drilling: The indigenous tribes do not want to lose their culture or their land to oil companies. The indigenous tribes know the environmental, health, and social impacts the drilling will have on their communities so they do not want drilling to proceed. (Widener, 2007). The workers who drill in the park do not respect the land or the people living in the rainforest. Oil companies have had spills that they never cleaned up, they do no properly dispose of toxic wastes, and they left oil sludge in pits after abandoning the extraction site. The toxins that are left behind get into the streams and soil poisoning the tribes' resources. (PeoplesUnderground, 2013). Oil companies are not taking responsibility for damages that they have already caused and many are not taking the proper precautionary measures to avoid pollution. Drilling would also disrupts the wildlife in Yasuni, all wildlife depends on the water and if it is all contamination they will be poisoned and animals and insects might get toxins on their body which will kill them. The inhabitants, people and wildlife, in the rainforest are entitled to a life free of oil pollutants and toxins. |
Oil Production Map from Chevron
Yasuni from Winter
Waorani Tribe Members from Wallace
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Oil Pollution in the amazon
Oil Pollution in the Ecuador from LA Times
Frog covered in Amazon Oil from Vidal
Texaco's Oil Pollution from Krauss
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Since the development of oil extraction in Ecuador, billions of gallons of untreated wastes, gas, and crude oil have been released in the environment. Oil below earth's surface is often mixed with natural gas and water containing hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and salts. An estimated five-million gallons of untreated toxic waste enters the environment every year. A well produces over four-million gallons of waste every day, it is left untreated and is released into open pits. Oil wells create an average of four-thousand cubic meters of drilling wastes, these wastes should be deposited into lined waste pits to avoid leaching and the overflow of the pits during rain, but in Ecuador there have been countless cases of unlined, abandoned pits. (Hurtig, 2004). In the United States there are standards that must be followed during oil exploration, these standards were not always followed by companies drilling in Ecuador, some of which are from the US. When oil is extracted there should be a pit that is lined for toxic waste water, which will later be re-injected into the ground, then the pit will be refilled and restored to its natural state. (Justicia para Ecuador, 2013). However, this did not happen in Chevron's pits in Ecuador.
Chevron's Disaster: Since 2001 Chevron has owned Texaco, prior to Chevron owning the company, they drilled in Ecuador for twenty-three years. The pits that were operated by Texaco in Ecuador were not lined and the waste water was not re-injected into the ground. Chevron had pipes from the toxic waste pits draining into waterways, toxins entered the watershed and toxins seeped into the soils and contaminated groundwater. When Chevron was done extracting oil from a site they did not dispose of the oil sludge and other toxic wastes, they left the wastes out in the open in the pits, but they installed overflow pipes that would drain into streams when it rained, further contaminating the waterways. The toxic gasses that came from the extraction were not captured, instead Chevron burned the gas with open, un-monitored flares. (Justicia para Ecuador, 2013). |
Lawsuit Against Chevron: When Chevron purchased Texaco it purchased the damage Texaco caused in Ecuador. Toxins in the soil are ten-thousand the allowable concentrations, some of the sites that were remediated by Chevron still have contaminations higher than what Ecuador’s regulations allow. Texaco’s operations in Ecuador are worth twenty-seven-billion dollars in damages. In 1933, Ecuador filed a lawsuit against Texaco in a US court for the damages but they wanted the lawsuit moved to Ecuador so it was. (K Videos, 2014). Texaco paid forty-million dollars to cosmetically treat some of the pits and they believed that was enough. After scientists researched the damages cause by Texaco’s operations, the company should be paying Ecuador eighteen-billion dollars for cleanup and to compensate the effected communities. Chevron has been attacking scientists and they have been trying to cover up the damages that they caused. Chevron believes that Petroecuador should be held responsible for the cleanup because they were partners in the extraction. Since Texaco was the operator in the field, under US law they can be held responsible for the entire cleanup. Chevron also believes that oil companies should be allowed to release one-hundred times more petroleum hydrocarbons in Ecuador than in the United States. (Justicia para Ecuador, 2013). Chevron did not keep a master list of all of the pits they were responsible for but there is an estimated nine-hundred-sixteen pits in total and Chevron has only cleaned up one-hundred-sixty-two of those pits. The lawsuit against Chevron has been appealed. (K Videos, 2014).
Overall Damage in Ecuador: Much of the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador is suffering from the damages caused by oil companies. In areas with oil activities, several studies have found petroleum hydrocarbon contamination in water, while in areas where there are not any oil activities, there are no contaminations. Concentrations of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons are ten to ten-thousand times greater than the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States recommended levels. High concentrations of oil contaminations have been found in the stomach and muscles of fish after an oil spill. (Hurtig, 2004).
Overall Damage in Ecuador: Much of the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador is suffering from the damages caused by oil companies. In areas with oil activities, several studies have found petroleum hydrocarbon contamination in water, while in areas where there are not any oil activities, there are no contaminations. Concentrations of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons are ten to ten-thousand times greater than the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States recommended levels. High concentrations of oil contaminations have been found in the stomach and muscles of fish after an oil spill. (Hurtig, 2004).
Effects of oil on Human health
Kichwa Children Near Contamination from Goff
Texaco Contamination from Rowell
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Indigenous and peasants in areas near oil development have suffered due to the contamination. There has been a decrease in aquatic life in the streams that have been contaminated. The deaths of livestock have increased due to drinking contaminated water. The indigenous and other locals are dinking, cooking, bathing in this contaminated water. Skin rashes after bathing in the contaminated water have increased. People are also suffering from increased rates of skin cancer. There has been an increased rate of stomach, rectum, skin, soft tissue, kidney, cervix, and lymph node cancer in people who live in contacted regions. (Gay, 2010). Children get covered in the crude when they are playing and then they die several years later. (AmazonWatch, 2015).There has also been an increase in childhood leukemia. Spontaneous abortions have been over two times higher among communities near oil contamination. (Gay, 2010). An indigenous tribe was told that the oil in the water was rich in vitamins and minerals. (Justicia para Ecuador, 2013). Women living in close proximity to oil fields have also reported symptoms tiredness, ichy nose, sore throat, headache, red eyes, ear pain, diarrhea, and gastritis. The rates of death in contaminated communities have also increased overall. (Hurtig, 2004).
The oil companies are disrespecting the land and committing crimes against human rights. Human beings should not have to fight for clean water and should not have to live with the high levels of contamination that those in Ecuador are living with. The oil companies should be held responsible for cleanup and compensating the indigenous and all other people affected. Drilling standards in Ecuador should be improved and companies should have to submit reports proving they are following the standards and taking the proper precautionary measures. |
Works Cited:
AmazonWatch. (2015). The Chevron Tapes: Oil Giant’s Corruption & Toxic Pollution Exposed in the Amazon Rainforest. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l618BhvWkz4&feature=youtu.be
Gay, J., Shepherd, O., Thyden, M., Whitman, M.(2010, December). The Health Effects of Oil Contamination: A Compilation of Research. Retrieved from https://www.wpi.edu/Pubs/E-project/Available/E-project-121510-203112/unrestricted/Health_Effects_of_Oil_Contamination_-_Final_Report.pdf
Hurtig, A., Sebastian, M. (2004). Oil Exploitation in the Amazon basin of Ecuador: a public health emergency. Pan Am J Public Health. 15(3). Retrieved from http://amalavidaexperience.weebly.com/uploads/3/9/0/2/39029957/paper-ecuadoroilhealth2004.pdf
Justicia para Ecuador. (2013, August). The True Story of Chevron’s Ecuador Disaster. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=_azgdnGBdh8&feature=youtu.be
K Videos. (2014, May). CBS 60 Minutes- Amazon Crude. Retrived from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGG1nIwxNhs&feature=youtu.be
National Geographic. (2012, December). Amazon Adventure- Documenting Life in Ecuador’s Yasuni National Park. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tADHWKZzw9w
PeoplesUnderground. (2013, May). Rainforest Tribes Declare War on Big Oil Destroying Rainforest, Very Sad. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=ACBzaNmdid4&feature=youtu.be
Wallace, S.(2013, January). Rain Forest for Sale. National Geographic. Retrieved from http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/01/125-yasuni-national- park/wallace-text
Widener, P. (2007, March). Oil Conflict in Ecuador. Organization & Environment. 20(1). 84-105. Retrieved from http://amalavidaexperience.weebly.com/uploads/3/9/0/2/39029957/paper-ecuador-oilconflict2005.pdf
AmazonWatch. (2015). The Chevron Tapes: Oil Giant’s Corruption & Toxic Pollution Exposed in the Amazon Rainforest. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l618BhvWkz4&feature=youtu.be
Gay, J., Shepherd, O., Thyden, M., Whitman, M.(2010, December). The Health Effects of Oil Contamination: A Compilation of Research. Retrieved from https://www.wpi.edu/Pubs/E-project/Available/E-project-121510-203112/unrestricted/Health_Effects_of_Oil_Contamination_-_Final_Report.pdf
Hurtig, A., Sebastian, M. (2004). Oil Exploitation in the Amazon basin of Ecuador: a public health emergency. Pan Am J Public Health. 15(3). Retrieved from http://amalavidaexperience.weebly.com/uploads/3/9/0/2/39029957/paper-ecuadoroilhealth2004.pdf
Justicia para Ecuador. (2013, August). The True Story of Chevron’s Ecuador Disaster. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=_azgdnGBdh8&feature=youtu.be
K Videos. (2014, May). CBS 60 Minutes- Amazon Crude. Retrived from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGG1nIwxNhs&feature=youtu.be
National Geographic. (2012, December). Amazon Adventure- Documenting Life in Ecuador’s Yasuni National Park. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tADHWKZzw9w
PeoplesUnderground. (2013, May). Rainforest Tribes Declare War on Big Oil Destroying Rainforest, Very Sad. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=ACBzaNmdid4&feature=youtu.be
Wallace, S.(2013, January). Rain Forest for Sale. National Geographic. Retrieved from http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/01/125-yasuni-national- park/wallace-text
Widener, P. (2007, March). Oil Conflict in Ecuador. Organization & Environment. 20(1). 84-105. Retrieved from http://amalavidaexperience.weebly.com/uploads/3/9/0/2/39029957/paper-ecuador-oilconflict2005.pdf
Picture Citations:
Chevron. (2010). Map of Operations. Retrieved from https://www.texaco.com/ecuador/en/history/mapofoperations.aspx
Goff, A. (2013). Oil is Not Life in the Amazon. Retrieved from http://www.giveclearwater.org/2013/08/oil-life-amazon/
Krauss, C., Romero, S. (2009). Ecuador Oil Pollution Case Only Grows Muckier. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/10/world/americas/10chevron.html?_r=0
Los Angeles Times. (n.d.). Human rights impacts of oil pollution: Ecuador. Retrieved from http://business-humanrights.org/en/human-rights-impacts-of-oil- pollution- ecuador-22
Rowell, A. (2011, Febuary). Chevron Guilty. Retrieved from http://priceofoil.org/2011/02/15/chevron-guilty/
Vidal, J. (2015). Chevron hits out at British documentary on oil pollution in Ecuador, Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jun/17/chevron-hits-out-at-british-documentary-on-oil-pollution-in-ecuador
Wallace, S. (2013). Uncontacted Group Kills Two Natives in Ecuador. Retrieved from http://scottwallace.com/tag/uncontacted-tribes/
Winter, S. (2013 January). Rain Forest for Sale. Retrieved from http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/01/125-yasuni-national-park/wallace-text
Chevron. (2010). Map of Operations. Retrieved from https://www.texaco.com/ecuador/en/history/mapofoperations.aspx
Goff, A. (2013). Oil is Not Life in the Amazon. Retrieved from http://www.giveclearwater.org/2013/08/oil-life-amazon/
Krauss, C., Romero, S. (2009). Ecuador Oil Pollution Case Only Grows Muckier. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/10/world/americas/10chevron.html?_r=0
Los Angeles Times. (n.d.). Human rights impacts of oil pollution: Ecuador. Retrieved from http://business-humanrights.org/en/human-rights-impacts-of-oil- pollution- ecuador-22
Rowell, A. (2011, Febuary). Chevron Guilty. Retrieved from http://priceofoil.org/2011/02/15/chevron-guilty/
Vidal, J. (2015). Chevron hits out at British documentary on oil pollution in Ecuador, Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jun/17/chevron-hits-out-at-british-documentary-on-oil-pollution-in-ecuador
Wallace, S. (2013). Uncontacted Group Kills Two Natives in Ecuador. Retrieved from http://scottwallace.com/tag/uncontacted-tribes/
Winter, S. (2013 January). Rain Forest for Sale. Retrieved from http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/01/125-yasuni-national-park/wallace-text