Indigenous groups claim they have not consented to oil projects, as politicians visit Beijing to publicise bidding process
Ecuador plans to auction off more than three million hectares of pristine Amazonian rainforest to Chinese oil companies, angering indigenous groups and underlining the global environmental toll of China's insatiable thirst for energy.
On Monday morning a group of Ecuadorean politicians pitched bidding contracts to representatives of Chinese oil companies at a Hilton hotel in central Beijing, on the fourth leg of a roadshow to publicise the bidding process. Previous meetings in Ecuador's capital, Quito, and in Houston and Paris were each confronted with protests by indigenous groups.
Attending the roadshow were black-suited representatives from oil companies including China Petrochemical and China National Offshore Oil. "Ecuador is willing to establish a relationship of mutual benefit – a win-win relationship," said Ecuador's ambassador to China in opening remarks.
According to the California-based NGO Amazon Watch, seven indigenous groups who inhabit the land claim that they have not consented to oil projects, which would devastate the area's environment and threaten their traditional way of life.
"We demand that public and private oil companies across the world not participate in the bidding process that systematically violates the rights of seven indigenous nationalities by imposing oil projects in their ancestral territories," a group of Ecuadorean organised indigenous associations wrote in an open letter last autumn.
In an interview, Ecuador's secretary of hydrocarbons, Andrés Donoso Fabara, accused indigenous leaders of misrepresenting their communities to achieve political goals. "These guys with a political agenda, they are not thinking about development or about fighting against poverty," he said.
Fabara said the government had decided not to open certain blocks of land to bidding because it lacked support from local communities. "We are entitled by law, if we wanted, to go in by force and do some activities even if they are against them," he said. "But that's not our policy."
Amazon Watch said the deal would violate China's own new investment guidelines, issued jointly by the ministries of commerce and environmental protection last month. The third clause of the guidelines says Chinese enterprises should "promote harmonious development of local economy, environment and community" while operating abroad.
Fabara said he was not aware of the guidelines. "We're looking for global investors, not just investors from China," he said. "But of course Chinese companies are really aggressive. In a bidding process, they might present the winning bids."
Critics say national debt may be a large part of the Ecuadorean government's calculations. Ecuador owed China more than £4.6bn ($7bn) as of last summer, more than a tenth of its GDP. China began loaning billions of dollars to Ecuador in 2009 in exchange for oil shipments. More recently China helped fund two of its biggest hydroelectric infrastructure projects. Ecuador may soon build a $12.5bn oil refinery with Chinese financing.
"My understanding is that this is more of a debt issue – it's because the Ecuadoreans are so dependent on the Chinese to finance their development that they're willing to compromise in other areas such as social and environmental regulations," said Adam Zuckerman, environmental and human rights campaigner at Amazon Watch. "The message that they're trying to send to international investors is not in line with reality."
Last July the inter-American court on human rights ruled to prohibit oil developments in the Sarayaku, a tropical rainforest territory in southern Ecuador that is accessible only by plane and canoe, in order to preserve its rich cultural heritage and biodiversity. The court also mandated that governments obtain "free, prior and informed consent" from native groups before approving oil activities on their indigenous land.
A TV news report broadcast by the US Spanish-language network Telemundo showed members of Ecuadorean native groups – some wearing traditional facepaint and headdresses – waving protest banners and scuffling with security guards outside the Ecuadorean government's roadshow stop in Houston.
"What the government's been saying as they have been offering up our territory is not true; they have not consulted us, and we're here to tell the big investors that they don't have our permission to exploit our land," Narcisa Mashienta, a women's leader of Ecuador's Shuar people, said in the report.
Source
Petition to halt oil exploration in Ecuadorean Amazon gets 1m signatures
VIDEO
S T O P !!!!
OUTRAGED!
When will the human race realize that by destroying all this beautiful land we are in turn killing ourselves. This must stop. Perhaps if we stop buying so much plastic made products from China and stop consuming so much gas and oil there will not be such greed to commit such heinous acts on our planet. STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING!
STOP!
I am sickened by the greed and lack of respect for the Indigenous people and THEIR land.
China as seller of plastic..is not problem, I think, social structure based on Money and Authority should change..
video of 'Mark Passio_Scarcity to Abundance' gives clear explanation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNP8Kmjufvk
And mining also... What.s wrong with this people? I can't keep up to all the crimes against humanity that are taking place everyday.
http://archaicrevival.wordpress.com/2013/04/01/ecuador-to-sell-a-third-of-its-amazon-rainforest-to-chinese-oil-companies/?preview=true&preview_id=387&preview_nonce=d32c83a781
What is the matter with you?? Why not develop solar energy and wind to help your people, rather than selling out to countries who will rape your country!!! I hate this with my entire being.
This is even worse than the selling of the whole of northern Sweden to a Russian consortium who wants to clear away all the fine small villages and towns and use it for reindeer farms.
Stop! we need to change to a system where the people decides what to do
Not fair to the people of the land. I vote NO!!!!
How! How could this be true! I really dont understand how could they do this without feeling cold in their heart!
I have a blog, for some month ago i wrote about the Penan people in Borneo. There were only one family left, that lived in the old way. Goverment offered houses and supplies for them, that said yes, to leave there old way of living. China has illegally cutting down the rainforest, bringing it to china, and planting palmoiltrees instead. They grow faster, they use the oil in food pruducts, and also they take a part for biofuel. So i wrote how many more people has to die, because of our greed. Now Equador goes into business with China, probebly they will plant, palmoiltrees there also, after destroying the rainforest. The wourld should be more aware, whithout the rainforest, in different regions of the world we will die, proberly soner than later. Nowone takes in considiration that we need oxygen frech air for breathing. It`s the shortcoming off gaine and greed before thinking threw the consequenses. Fast money, shorter lifetime. The world today, who gives a dam, as long that i can buy whatever i want, leaving the poorest to suffer the conseqenses of our lifestyle. I am a white woman in Sweden, and i am not a materialist, so many things is wrong in my country, but when i see whats happening in other parts of the world, it pisses me off. Juni
You should see what the Chinese are doing in Africa ...not even bothering to 'buy' there, quiet often ...take what they want and the tribes they rape the land of cannot resist as they are too weak.
I think China has destroyed enough of the world. Just look at Tibet for an example. China doesn't need any more land. Don't bend to China's greed (or your own) & mismanagement. Don't sell the rain forest. It is essential that the rainforest isremains for the welfare of the earth. Enough China.
stop destroying the nature especially forests,because are very important for envinronment,and for the native people
How can you sell what is from the people ?
No, no ,no this has to stop, The distruction of the rain forest will ultimately be the destruction of mankind and this beautiful planet which is being distroyed at a frightening rate, what for? greed,
Indigenous rights being trampled as usual.Nothing surprises me anymore. Yaqui Nation.Sonora Mexico
We are the greedy Master's of our own doom.
Earth is NOW a DEAD HELL
How can you just ignore the people who live there? Taking their land is just wrong.
we're well on the way to self extermination
Hell NO!!! We need the Rain Forests! The planet can't survive without them. What the hell is wrong with people these days? Alls people want is f**king money and more money. You won't need money when the planet is destroyed. Besides people live there. You can't just take their land like people took the Natives Americans land away. Save the Rain Forests!
How sad!! Ecuador the new Tibet!! BOYCOT MADE IN CHINA! indigenous people are doing us a favour by standing their ground, this is a matter of life or dead as China has the worse world record of abuses of the environment and all forms of life, read the labels of everything you buy and if it says made in China don't buy it BOYCOT MADE IN CHINA!!!
How much longer are we going to destroy the world or go to war over oil. There are other ways.
Empire building=the blood of others...
NO!!! They have no right! This must stop now!
Sending prayers of hope that some spark of love and awareness melts away greedyness with awareness and a new way of making money that supports everyone involved from plant animal and human...Compassionate Capitolism...i pray with all of my heart and spirit...and so it will be...
Sending prayers of hope that some spark of love and awareness melts away greedyness with awareness and a new way of making money that supports everyone involved from plant animal and human...Compassionate Capitolism...i pray with all of my heart and spirit...and so it will be...
AMAZON NOT FOR SALE........STOP STOP STOP, STOP DESTROYING MOTHER EARTH! STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT!
I just do not understand how they can destroy these lands without a thought to what they are doing, the impact on the Tribes, the land, the animals. They are all so precious, how can they? I hope in my heart of hearts the oil co.'s are stopped & the bridges constructions are stopped.
An important part is missing, here: The rightful owners are being imprissoned!! Stop buying products that are made in China, cut down your consumtion of oil, stop using plastics. We have to make the change because their efforts are made to get OUR money! So stop giving it to them and they will change their ways. They will do anything for our money, so lets make them do good by not supporting companies with bad morals!
It's gonna be a horrific impact on the environment,human lives and animal lives!!!! But who cares,right?!?! Personally I avoid bying "made in china" as much as I can!!!!
China is destroying the air we breathe and raping the animals of their homes,food,shelter and their right to live as the people there. Who knows, maybe China has a nastier plan of invading Mexico, U.S.A and Canada to war. Why do you think China is buying a lot of land in USA.and Canada. Closer for a bomb and to be leader. But Ecuador should NOT be bought or sold. Where do you think all the ferocious(wild),poisonous, gentle animals,reptiles,and furry creatures are going to move. Either way China is out to kill people,animals and creatures. What happens when the balance of nature is disrupted(broken apart)??? (China is also the number one in destroying the ozone layer with fossil fuels. Anyone can google this.)
No this can't happen ,this has to stop this is not fair on the tribal communities living there. And ofcourse how all of this will be reflecting on the enviroment we need our rain forests.Stop destroying the enviroment and peoples well being.These oil companies wanting to buy a third of Ecuadors amazons,need to stop thinking about their pockets for once and maybe start thinking of others and the lives that they are destroying.The Amazon is not for sale.
This is act of terror, If this happens the people will rebel and will fight back and another war will start the media will paint them as radicals as well. There plans to get richer need to end! there plans to gain power need to end! there tearing our planet apart from the inside out
I LIKE TO BREATH, HOW ABOUT YOU. THE RAIN FOREST IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS WORLD THAT IS NEEDED FOR MORE THAN OUR AIR WE BREATH. LET CHINA GROW THEIR OWN TREES. OUR EARTH IS ALREADY FIGHTING BACK FOR WHAT WE ARE DOING TO IT. STOP BEFORE WE ARE PAST THE POINT OF NO RETURN............BUT I THINK ITS ALREADY TO LATE ♥ WHAT IN GODS NAME IS WRONG WITH THIS WORLD. OR SHOULD I SAY,,,,,,,,,,WHATS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE WE ARE LEAVING TO OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS..........NOT MUCH....SO SAD...=(
The Amazon is a treasure...the rain forest is needed to sustain balance to this planet.
This is wrong on so many levels!
We only have this one world and we MUST protect it for all who inhabit it!
and we need to stop parasites on Mother Earth like CHINA. They think money gives them a God given right to do whatever they want...
China will become the rulers of the world, they raping the earth , the people the animals !!Be Aware of the damage !!
NOL country has the right to allow this to happen...ONE WORLD!
Valkoinen Susi says:
People must rise now and fight. Fight the war mongers, the oil industry, the bankers, the corrupt system in their own countries.
We must organize against this sickness.
We must stand firm to the core of life and scream.
Really. It's time, yesterday.
Ask yourself - what change do I want? what can I do here in my comunity? Go on and get busy.
Our offsprings will not have clean air to breathe and no clean water to drink.. the wild life as we know it - paradise on earth - will cease to exist if we continue. Nature will heal itself, sure, as long as the humans is not present.
But we want to live, right? We want to take part of this paradise. Yet we are so blind to the effects of our own actions.
Intelligence and evolution is clearly not working in our favour.
By selling this rich part of life is selling your soul to the DEVIL!!!! Stop in huemanitys name STOP PLEASE!!!!!!!!!! This will never ever come back to what is is now. My heart cryes out loud!
Let's crowdfund and buy it ourselves. Or is there already a fund to donate to??
Sadly, the modern day empires take what they need, either by destabilising the region with national debt or by force if all else fails. Paris was a balloon to keep the masses calm. The the empire elite and their captains of industry will never stop their game in this life time or the next.
STOP!! This is outrageous! What about the Paris treaty saying the era of fossil fuel is over and we're looking for sustainable energy sources?
We are Mindlessly Proliferating our Humans species and Destroying all in our path ! !
THE AMAZON IS PRICELESS,,, AND IT SHOULD NOT BE SOLD--- ESPECIALLY TO THE HIGHLY CORRUPT,,, AND INEPT GOVERNMENT OF RAFAEL CORREA!!!
This is exactly what is wrong with governments and business partnerships. Instead of embracing this treasure and gift of nature, it is being devastated to those whose interest is only money. Do they not realize that by destroying these lands, they will be eliminating one of our main sources of oxygen, and possible natural cures from plants that grow no where else on this planet? Not to mention removing the habitats from all the creatures that live there!
We might as well take a shortcut and just nook ourselves to death. These actions will be another nail in the coffin these monsters have created. This sickens my soul!!!
Correas And his Narcocracia are selling the holl Country too China or anny bothy with manny, he das not give a Sheet to protection humans rigts or the Amazon Rain Forests, but saving gis corrupted government an his cronnies from bankruptcy.
only way to stop is to stop using cars and oil.... we are so reliant on this system, its like telling a billionaire to go broke, give it all away and live like a poor man. Until we stop buying, do you really think this will stop?
This is just sad. We can blame good ole USA corporate greed for industrializing China so they could open slave labor work camps there and ship US jobs overseas. Now we've created a monster.
This affects the entire world with the pollution the Ecuadorian rainforest is part of our lungs.
When the Last Tree Is Cut Down, the Last Fish Eaten, and the Last Stream Poisoned, You Will Realize That You Cannot Eat Money
China próximo conquitador
Fronteiras da América sul e latina
Toda ajuda tem um preço alto,como trocar espelhos por ouro.
“When the last tree is cut down, the last fish eaten and the last stream poisoned, you will realize that you cannot eat money.”
Unbelievabel! Do not sell your land and your freedom, wellbeeing and life to the Chinese.
Why? Look what they do to Tibet. Is it this what you want?
OMG NO! You IDIOTS! China gives not a shite for people nor wildlife, not a shite about Australia and not a shite about Equador nor their people and wildlife and rainforests. They only care for feeding their own country and people, numbers now blown out by over population. Say No to Chinas money and control. Like Australia needs to.
CHINA GO TO HELL!!!!!!!!!!!
Stop the madness!!! Our planet cannot heal the wounds inflicted upon it by uncaring and greedy companies! WAKE UP PEOPLE--WE ARE THE ENDANGERED SPECIES!!!
http://www.campaigncc.org/greenjobs this and its global equivalent is so part of the answer...staggers me that these sorts of initiatives are not being implemented in any meaningful sense.
Have any Ecuadorian officials gone to China to see how they have treated their own land and indigenous people? How far along is this? Why has the world not heard more about this?
It will ruin South America!
NO WAY CHINA!!!!
IDIOTS! STOP RUINING YOUR OWN COUNTRY OR YOU WILL SUFFOCATE IN YOUR MONEY! THERE IS NO MONEY WHICH CAN BUY YOUR CLEAN AIR AND HEALTH AND SAVE THE CREATURES (BESIDE HUMANS) WHICH LIVE THERE. IS IT REALLY WORTH IT? THINK FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE!
Who gave the politicians that live in the cities of Ecuador, the right and the power of authority to sell the land that belongs to the people who live on it?
I doubt if the natives living in the jungle voted away their future homeland voluntarily. China and every other Global Oil Corporation will destroy your country and steal your peoples future.
Another government that does not protect its indigenous peoples nor does it even protect their own environment, of which they are the custodians!!!!
Stop
Please STOP the greedy actions that destroy our most precious resource!
Surprised there's still that much rain forest left to exploit. The Chinese will never stop till they have drained the planet of every possible resource. It's so depressingly sad and helpless feeling to live in this age of mass extinction and corporate backed, Government sanctioned obliteration. Our grand children will be inheriting a poisoned, dead planet. We're a step away from Orwell's "1984." Soylent Green for all.
Shame on greed! Shame on people!
Ecuador has also sold 14% of its total land area to mining companies, with Australian companies owning more exploratory concession areas than any other country.
For more info and/or to support our campaign to halt the extractive industry madness underway in Ecuador please vist:
https://rainforestactiongroup.org
My brothers you are fighting this battle with 20th century tactics. The only thing China pays attention to is losing face. Pay someone to teach their embarrassing disasters in Canada and their criminal behaviors in Sudan. Ridicule them with the inevitable stranded assets in the Amazon. Seriously, think locally act globally like the companies do and they will move on to less troublesome countries.
David Lincoln
Petroleum Geol.
Equidorians in a bind,
With the devil right behind.
Lets hope, with toilette,
Towels and serviettes,
The Chinese will be kind
Put a friggin DATE on your posts! "Monday" just doesn't cut it. Which Monday?
You cannot fight poverty with money. If Ecuador is indeed in need of money, they should charge an adequate amount of taxes to land owners. To my knowledge, most comunas do not pay property taxes and private land owners do not pay enough.
Stop oil explorat ion now stop mining now... enough is enough. . EARTH'S IS DYING..
We are going to do what We can to stop this very bad activity. wwww.ikiamfoundation.org
We are indigenous people and not just indigenous we are part of nature.
ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE, from every perspective: human, animal, environmental, ecological. The future of the whole planet depends ever more critically on people being MUCH more careful with their natural resources and patrimony. PAWS OFF, Govt of Ecuador and China! Shame on you! >:-O
China has one of the fastest growing solar projects in the world - do they really need more oil?
Please stop this insanity!
Idiots no brains just Kill off Plant Earth , who cares anymore, the end is nearer than many realize.
RIP Planet Earth
Holy Molly!!!! What kind of government officials are you elected??? Believe me, one day to your horror Ecuador could lose the identity as a nation. Who knows it became the province of China..wake up people
It is bad enough with the Chinese medicine (lots of wildlife used for that, and it is a farce) without doing anything else......
Terrible... As Ecuadorian it really worries me. Unfortunately the corrupt government is too powerful for doing something as a single citizen :(
Chinese do not need anymore space. They are already doing enough harm to animals. Karma to these chinese and do not sell it to them.
The only effective way to prevent this is to buy ahead the Chinese , pay more price and buy these lands from the hands of stupid Ecuador then make it Nature Reserve. What you say? Where to get the money ? Where all the budgets of nature protection organizations are going? If not enough - organize additional money collection - see how many people are interested - they will also donate how much they can afford - if they know it will really get result !
Ok people, Buckle up! Here we go! If nobody stop this redicules plan than this will be the start of the end of the human race. Oh my god, how can some powerfull people be that stupid!
China could own your country once they get ther
Already sold in 2016. Damage has been done. Article was 2013, I don't remember hearing a word about it at the time.
the monies losers think they bought the prize...when in reality they have purchase theirs, and the worlds, demise