Ecuador – Chevron has been found guilty of environmental destruction, for the second time, by the court system in Ecuador. Chevron appealed a previous ruling that it must pay $18 billion for environmental destruction in the Amazon rainforest of Peru caused by Texaco Oil. Chevron bought Texaco in 2000 and has since refused to acknowledge their liability for the toxic mess in Ecuador. In spite of their persistent efforts, the Ecuador courts have once again declared the company must pay the communities who have been directly affected.
Chevron is currently pursing other means, outside of Ecuador, to avoid paying the communities in the Amazon. Chevron, as the company’s marketers claim, is using international law to uphold the US-Ecuador Bilateral Investment Treaty and pursue recourse from Ecuador in the Hague, Netherlands. The mining and extractive industries frequently employ very talented marketing teams that can spin any situation to make the industry look good. You too can have fun translating Chevron’s actions at the website chevronthinkswerestupid.org – for example: “You don’t get filthy rich… by cleaning up
after yourself”.
Peru – Over the break, the Prime Minister of Peru (an appointed position by the President), Oscar Valdes announced a new law that will make it mandatory for all future mining projects to establish an environmental conservation fund before projects begin. The new law comes in response to pressure from community protests across the country. Also announced was the creation of a new office to settle social conflicts related to the mining sector and other industry. An office similar to that proposed under Bill C-300 in Canada, which was voted down in 2010.
This past summer, the government also passed a law that makes it mandatory for Indigenous communities to be consulted before any industrial project is approved or implemented. Valdes also spoke about his government’s commitment to cracking down on illegal mining in Peru. The law is newsworthy enough to concern Canadian mining companies wanting to start projects in Peru. Yet, as is seen by Canada’s industry-leading laws, environmental conservation funds do not lead to proper clean-up afterwards or less environmental impact.
British Columbia – Things have started to heat up on the northern coast of B.C. as public hearings began on Tuesday, Jan. 10 in Kitimaat as part of the Environmental Assessment of Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline project. More than 4300 groups and individuals have signed up to speak before the committee. Polls from varying sources show a mix of opinions across the province both in favour of new jobs and industry and against the risks of damage to the environment and coastline. The pipeline would also cross unseeded territories that are currently in the court systems between First Nations and the Province.
Natural Resource Minister, Joe Oliver has been quoted as labelling those concerned about the pipeline as “radical groups,” “celebrities,” and “foreign interests.” His accusations undermine the efforts and opinions of communities in B.C. and their allies across the country who see the value in protecting valuable fresh water supplies, wild salmon runs, coastal wildlife and respecting the land claim process. Considering these claims were made by Oliver in his attempt to defend an industry that is largely dictated by foreign interests is shocking. The assessment is scheduled to run into 2013. Judging from the lead up to the public hearings, 2012 should be an interesting and dramatic year following the process in Kitimaat.
