2010 | Amazon Watch
Amazon Watch

All: 2010

United States To Back U.N. Indigenous Rights Declaration

Mongabay.com | The United States will endorse the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP), making it the last industrialized power to support the agreement, which recognizes the rights of indigenous peoples on issues including free prior and informed consent (FPIC), right to sovereignty, territory and respect for traditional...

United States Endorsement of the UN Indigenous Rights Declaration a Welcome Development

Application of Declaration Crucial in U.S. Foreign Policy

Washington, DC – The Obama Administration's endorsement of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) is a welcome development, Amazon Watch stated today. Following a policy review process, announced in April of this year at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Administration released its new...

Chevron's Desperation, Evidence Tampering, and Insults

Oil Giant's Lawyers Concoct Fake "Forgery" to Cover Up Their Own Pattern of Unlawful Activity At Trial

Quito, Ecuador – With evidence growing that it has engaged in blatant misconduct to undermine an epic environmental trial in Ecuador, Chevron is now claiming that the fingerprint signatures of mostly illiterate indigenous persons filed years ago with the court as part of the original lawsuit were "forged" and that therefore the 17-year trial...

Joint Letter of Concern for the Safety of Tony James

The following 38 organizations from around the world are writing to express our concern for the security and well-being of Mr. Tony James, President of the Amerindian Peoples Association. According to the Executive Board of APA, in a statement issued on December 10th, there have been multiple incidents over recent months in which unknown people...

Amazon Watch is building on more than 25 years of radical and effective solidarity with Indigenous peoples across the Amazon Basin.

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Declaration about the Consultation Process in Peru around the Forestry Law

We, the undersigned organizations, wish to express our grave concern regarding Peru's process of "consultation" regarding its Forestry and Wildlife Law. Although the current process represents an advance in comparison to previous processes, it lacks legitimacy as well as the support of the country's representative indigenous organizations.

Indigenous Peruvians Win Appeal Against Oxy

Lawsuit to Proceed in U.S. Federal Court

Los Angeles, California – Indigenous plaintiffs from the Peruvian Amazon won their appeal today in the landmark human rights and environmental contamination lawsuit against U.S. oil giant Occidental Petroleum (Oxy), as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that the case should be heard in Los Angeles, Oxy's hometown.

Critic of the Belo Monte Dam in Brazil Receives "Right Livelihood Award"

Belem, Brazil – International Rivers, Amazon Watch and the Movimento Xingu Vivo para Sempre celebrate the news that Bishop Erwin Kräutler will be one of four recipients of this year's Right Livelihood Award, often referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize."

Sanctioned Chevron Lawyers Violating New Court Order in Ecuador Trial

Chevron Refusing to Pay Court Expert After He Found Contamination At "Remediated" Sites

Lago Agrio, Ecuador – Chevron lawyers who were recently sanctioned for obstructing the Ecuador environmental trial where the company faces a potential $113 billion liability are defying yet another court order, according to court papers made available today.

March and Human Banner Are Reminder that "The Rivers of the Amazon Are Alive"

700 people, many threatened by dams and deforestation, form a human banner on Tapajós River in Santarém to bring attention to the threat of large dams in the Amazon

Santarém, Para, Brazil – For the people of the Amazon, the forests and the rivers are life. That is why they mobilized at the V Pan Amazon Forum in a global call to protect the rivers of the Amazon.

Just Released: James Cameron's "A Message from Pandora"

The 20-minute Feature Available on the Avatar Extended Collector's Edition DVD Casts Timely Spotlight on the Battle to Stop the Belo Monte Dam in Brazil

Los Angeles, CA – James Cameron, the creator of Avatar, has produced a short new film called "A Message from Pandora" – released this week — about an epic battle to stop the massive Belo Monte Dam on the Xingu River in the Brazilian Amazon.

Q&A: What Will Be the Impact of the Trans-Oceanic Highway?

Latin America Energy Advisor | Officials in Peru and Brazil are pushing for a 2011 completion of the Trans-oceanic Highway, a 3,400 mile long road that will connect Brazil's Atlantic coast to Peru's Pacific ports. What economic and environmental effects will the highway have on Brazil, Peru and the greater region?

Construction of the Belo Monte Dam Could be Delayed

Brazilian Environmental Protection Agency Technicians Recommend Against Partial Construction License Until Safeguard Conditions Are Met

Brasilia, Brazil – The technical team from Brazil's environmental protection agency, IBAMA, has issued its long-awaited technical assessment on the Belo Monte Dam Complex strongly recommending against a partial installation license until the dam building consortium, Norte Energia complies with upwards of 40 social and environmental...

Fines Against Two Chevron Lawyers Increased For Obstructing Trial

Oil Giant Reaches Into Bag of Dirty Tricks to Delay End of 17-year Litigation

Lago Agrio, Ecuador – A trial judge in Ecuador has increased the penalty for two Chevron lawyers found to be obstructing the trial where the oil giant faces a multi-billion dollar judgment for the deliberate dumping of 18 billion gallons of toxic waste, according to court papers made available today.

Video Reveals Chevron's Fraudulent Oil Cleanup, Evidence Tampering & Lies

Released For First Time on Public Website

Quito, Ecuador – New graphic videos showing Chevron's misconduct and environmental contamination in Ecuador were released today for the first time on a public website, representatives of the indigenous groups suing the company announced.

Indigenous and Riverbank Communities: Suspend the Belo Monte Dam

As the government prepares to issue the dam's construction license, communities urge the Commission to denounce illegalities in licensing and violations of human rights

Washington, D.C., Brazil – Today international and Brazilian human rights and environmental organizations submitted a formal petition to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), denouncing grave and imminent violations upon the rights of indigenous and riverine communities that will be affected by the construction of Belo Monte...

Chevron Sting Operative in Court over Charges He "Cooked Evidence"

San Francisco, CA – Self-described Chevron sting operative Diego Borja, scheduled to appear in court today in San Francisco, is conceding that the oil giant "cooked" evidence to defend itself against a multi-billion oil contamination lawsuit in the Ecuadorian rainforest, according to documents filed in court.

Video: Chevron Oilfield Worker Describes Toxic Dumping in Ecuador

Lago Agrio, Ecuador – A former Chevron oilfield worker has described in graphic detail how the company ordered its employees to systematically dump toxic waste into the waterways of the Amazon rainforest, according to representatives of the communities suing the oil giant.

U.S. Questions Development Bank after Troubled Gas Project in Peru

The Washington Times | A Washington Times examination of the IDB-backed Camisea Natural Gas Project in the Peruvian Amazon reveals that bank officials manipulated a technical investigation of a rupture-prone pipeline, producing a fraudulent report that cleared the way for a controversial $400 million loan.

Pronunciamiento del Grupo de Trabajo de Seguimiento al BID

Bajo la presión de la sociedad global de enfrentar el cambio climático, el BID ha declarado que también quiere convertirse en un "banco verde". Sin embargo, la cartera de energía del 2009 muestra un enorme aumento de préstamos a proyectos de energía no renovable con limitados beneficios para los pobres y con enormes impactos para las comunidades...

Chevron Botched Remediation In Ecuador, According To Video

Well Site Tested At Ten Times Above Legal Limit, But Chevron Says It is Clean

Washington, DC – A video making its way around the internet presents definitive proof that Chevron is engaging in fraud in Ecuador by leaving behind toxic waste pits that it claims to have remediated, say representatives of the indigenous communities suing the oil giant for billions of dollars in clean-up costs.

Belo Monte: It's Not Too Late!

The Brazilian government is on the eve of granting permission begin construction on the Belo Monte Dam, which would carve the world's third largest hydroelectric dam into the heart of the Amazon. We need to take action now before it's too late.

Three Chevron Lawyers Sanctioned For Obstructing Ecuador Trial

Facing $113 Billion in Potential Damages, Chevron Lawyers Seek Any Opportunity to Delay

Lago Agrio, Ecuador – A trial court has sanctioned and fined three Chevron lawyers for obstructing the trial where Chevron faces a multi-billion dollar judgment for the deliberate dumping of 18 billion gallons of toxic waste, according to court papers made available today.

Peru's Amazonian Tribes at Risk

In late October of 2010, Amazon Watch had the pleasure of helping to facilitate the visit of our long-time colleague Henderson Rengifo, currently a leader with AIDESEP and previous treasurer of FECONACO in northern Peru.

Chevron Sting Operative Faces Deposition Under Federal Court Order

Judge Orders Wayne Hansen Deposed, Documents Turned Over as Scandal Tainting Oil Giant Widens

Fresno, CA – A federal court in California has ordered the deposition of Chevron sting operative Wayne Hansen, the convicted drug trafficker who in 2009 engaged in a "dirty tricks" operation for the oil giant in Ecuador that tried to undermine a trial judge, according to court papers.