Texaco in Ecuador
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THE AMAZON DEFENSE FRONT
Although originally formed to hold ChevronTexaco accountable to communities that have endured years of pollution, the FDA continues to pursue its original purpose through four main areas of work.
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| The leaders of the Amazon Defense Front. From left: Jorge Saritama, Secretary of Communications; Ermel Chavez, President; Luis Yanza, Coordinator of Texaco Case; Pablo Fajardo, Attorney; Maira Jiménez, Administrator. By: Chris Hufstader/Oxfam |
The Amazon Defense Front (FDA) was originally formed to hold the Texaco Corporation (now ChevronTexaco) accountable to communities that have endured years of pollution. Although the work of the FDA has expanded, it continues to pursue its original purpose through four main areas of work:
Organizational: The FDA carried out an exhaustive consultation of all peasant and indigenous communities affected by Texaco, and developed a clear and unanimous consensus on the affected parties' objectives and priorities. FDA organized the Assembly of Delegates representing the different areas affected by Texaco. This representative body has assumed responsibilities for monitoring the case, keeping the communities informed; and analyzing options for future decision-making regarding the case.
Networking: The FDA allied with environmental groups, the Catholic Church, non-governmental organizations, progressive local authorities and indigenous organizations. These alliances have brought the case to the national and international stage.
Environmental Monitoring: The FDA worked with various NGO supporters to form the Environmental Monitoring Network (Red de Monitoreo Ambiental) in 1996. The FDA, along with other groups including a national environmental NGO and the Church, carried out training workshops and supported the communities in making reports on oil spills or other accidents, and coordinated activities with local authorities and the media. The Network also helped communities identify and expose environmental rights violations.
Technical: In 1994, the FDA worked with the Center of Economic and Social Rights, based in New York, and a team of US-based toxicologists to examine levels of oil-based contaminants in soils and rivers. When the US Court requested official communications from Ecuador regarding the forum of the case, the FDA worked with the Environmental Commission in Ecuador's Congress and other organizations to provide needed information and analysis to counterbalance information provided by Texaco itself. FDA also coordinated with the legal team and its technical personnel to produce an exhaustive survey of all Texaco well sites and their current level of contamination.