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TechnoratiLast week Newsweek reported that Chevron is lobbying the U.S. Trade Representative to withhold U.S. trade preferences from Ecuador, to pressure the Government of Ecuador to interfere against a lawsuit brought by peasants in Ecuador seeking redress for the dumping of toxic oil waste in the Amazon. Incredibly, USTR confirmed that it was considering Chevron's request.
The attitude of Chevron towards democracy and the rule of law in Ecuador was summed up by a Chevron lobbyist:
"We can't let little countries screw around with big companies like this -- companies that have made big investments around the world."
Oregon Representative Peter DeFazio has initiated a letter of Representatives to USTR, urging USTR to reject Chevron's request, and to affirm that access to the U.S. market will not be used as leverage to interfere in Ecuador's legal process.
Last week, Chevron announced a second quarter profit of $6 billion -- an increase of 11% over the same period in 2007. It would seem that Chevron could afford to compensate Ecuadoran peasants for toxic dumping in the Amazon.
In 2006, Senators Obama and Leahy wrote to USTR, urging the Administration to let the Ecuadoran peasants to have "their day in court." That's otherwise known as "respecting the rule of law." An Obama spokesman said recently that the senator "stands by his position" that the case is a "matter for the Ecuadoran judicial system."
You would think, given that Senator Obama is standing by his position that the U.S. should not interfere in the case, Representatives who think that the U.S. government should respect the rule of law in Latin America would be willing to raise their voices.
Let's put this proposition to the test. Ask your Representative to sign the DeFazio letter.
Robert Naiman is Senior Policy Analyst at Just Foreign Policy.
Published on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 by CommonDreams.org
9 Comments so far
Show AllI am proud to say Peter DeFazio is my congressman too, just like a couple of previous posters.
I am pleased he is doing this. I hope many other congress members cosign.
Congratulations Senator Defazio. You are one of the few politicians who are beginning to stand up for what is right and not what will bring in the big campaign contributions. You can feel secure that most of your sane constituents will support you.
If a regular citizen did what Chevron is doing we would be arrested and charged with extortion.
This is all the more reason to add Chevron-Texaco to our Exxon Wal-Mart no patronize list. We're running out of companies we can patronize with a clear conscience. I guess we'll have to stop charging all those "necessary" items that we can't afford because we have to buy gas to get to work so we can pay off those pesky charges like food and rent.
it is about time the world realized that business for profit only, has very little to do with the common good,,,just the few greedy fucks, that think they are worth more than the next guy/gal, and because they have more money are exempt from the rules and laws that secure our social contract
Another relevant fact: two of the plaintiffs in the case are recipients of the Goldman Environmental Prize:
Pablo Fajardo Mendoza & Luis Yanza
http://www.goldmanprize.org/2008/centralsouthamerica
Witholding trade preferences from Ecuador could backfire. Venezuela has good relations with Ecuador and could help retaliate. Possibly a "superfund" tax on ALL oil exported from South America to the US that would fund cleanups after scofflaw bullies like Chevron (and Texaco) leave a big mess.
Ecuador may be a small country, but South America is a continent becoming economically more powerful and more independent of Uncle Sam all the time.
Democracy Now today interviews Michael Isikoff of Newsweek, Atossa Soltani of Amazon Watch, Marco Simons of Earth Rights International.
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/8/5/chevron_lobbies_white_house_to_pres...
I just did the above and sent my letter to Darlene Hooley of Oregon's 5th District.
Kudos to Obama and Leahy too.
DeFazio is MY congress critter here in Oregon! I couldn't be prouder.
Please go to the link above and get YOUR critter to sign the letter! Protecting the rule of law EVERYWHERE is truely important.