Sarayaku: People of the Zenith

As in other parts of the Amazon, the Ecuadorian government imposed oil concession blocks in Sarayaku territory without their permission. They only learned that their land had been opened for oil exploration when the helicopters arrived, followed by the men with guns. But instead of becoming another story of pollution and devastation, the story of Sarayaku has been one of resistance.More »

Oil Demand Threatens Ecuador's Rainforest

Up to 8 million acres of pristine Ecuadorian rainforest is under threat by a new plan to drill for oil. A local tribe vows to fight to protect their land.

May 3, 2013 | NBC Nightly News

The Wauroni tribes, who live in the forests of Ecuador, are getting ready to challenge the Ecuadorian government’s plan to sell as much as 8 million acres of rainforest for oil drilling, saying they are prepared to fight to the death to protect the land. More »

Is Chinese Big Oil Going to Destroy Ecuador's Amazon?

May 2, 2013 | VICE

To the world's oil and gas companies, the Amazon rainforest is one huge cash cow just begging to be milked. But anyone who'd rather not rid the world of 30 percent of its animal species would probably argue it's a region that shouldn't be destroyed by rich people.More »

Ecuador Delays 11th Oil Round Deadline

April 22, 2013 | Blog Post

In a bit of an Earth Day reprieve, Ecuador has extended the deadline for companies to offer bids for the 16 oil blocks up for sale in the country's southeastern Amazon rainforests.More »

Idle No More Goes Up Against Ecuador's 11th Round

April 19, 2013 | Blog Post

Actress and aboriginal activist Michelle Thrush demanded to know why the Ecuadorian government is "auctioning off over three million hectares of indigenous land in the Amazon without the consent of the people who live there."More »

Indigenous Leaders meet in Puyo, Ecuador to Oppose the XI Oil Round

April 12, 2013 | Blog Post

"Our territories belong to our ancestors, they belong to our grandparents, first they will have to kill us to operate in our territory," explained delegates from the community of Amazanga.More »

Increasing Pressures on Yasuní Lead to More Violence in the Amazon

April 4, 2013 | Press Release

A group of indigenous Waorani warriors has allegedly carried out revenge killings against other indigenous people deep in the Ecuadorian Amazon. This latest spate follows the March 5th deaths of Ompore and Bogueney, an elderly Waorani couple killed by a group of Taromenane in the community of Yarentaro. It is yet unknown exactly how many Taromenane have been killed in the latest violence.More »

A Tough Sell Indeed

March 19, 2013 | Blog Post

A new report from Analytica Investments warns that the XI Oil Round in Ecuador would threaten "a biodiversity every bit as varied as that of the fabled Yasuní National Park to the North" where one hectare holds more tree species than exist in all of North America.More »

Mounting Pressures on Yasuní Lead to Violent Attack in the Amazon

March 8, 2013 | Press Release

Quito, Ecuador – Amazon Watch reports that based on a statement from the Waorani Nationality Organization of Orellena Province on March 6 two Waorani adults were attacked and killed by members of the Taromenane, one of two Waorani clans that continue to live in voluntary isolation. More »

XI Round Campaign Launches in Ecuador

La Amazonia que nos Queda

March 7, 2013 | Blog Post

So much attention has focused on the protection of Yasuní National Park, and yet meanwhile an area of unspoiled and highly biodiverse rainforest many times larger is greatly threatened by the XI Oil Round.More »

Activists Confront Ecuadorian Government for Auctioning the Amazon

Dozens of protestors publicly denounce government in Paris over oil concessions

February 26, 2013 | Press Release

Paris, France – Dozens of activists protested against the Ecuadorian government during its XI Round oil concession promotional activities in Paris today, where officials met with European investors and oil company executives seeking to auction off an enormous swath of pristine Amazon rainforest.More »