Earth Island Journal | "When I heard about the court's decision, I cried," said Cristina Gualinga. "I thought, 'After fighting for so long, after 30 years of invasions, the companies are finally going to leave us alone'."
Kichwa
The Importance of the Sarayaku Case for Indigenous Rights in the Americas
Mario Melo, lawyer of the Kichwa people of Sarayaku shares some initial reflections
After almost a decade of litigation, the international justice system has ruled in favor of an indigenous nation whose territory, life and culture were threatened by an oil project imposed on them by the state.
Cowboys and Indians
A ruling on an oil project reasserts the indigenous' right to consultation
The Economist | The Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled that Ecuador's government had ignored the rights of Sarayaku's residents when granting permission for an energy project – putting governments in the Americas on notice that big physical investments are not legal until the indigenous people they affect have had their say.
Inter-American Court Ruling Marks Key Victory for Indigenous Peoples
Amnesty International | A regional human rights court has come down in favour of the Sarayaku Indigenous community in the Ecuadorian Amazon in what Amnesty International has called a key victory for Indigenous Peoples.
Human Rights Court Sets New Standard on Consultation of Indigenous Peoples
Continent-wide Implications as Inter-American Court Finds Ecuador Government Guilty of Rights Violations in the Sarayaku Case
Quito, Ecuador – The Inter-American Court has issued an unequivocal sentence in favor of the Kichwa indigenous community of Sarayaku, culminating an 8-year process that establishes new guidelines on the right to consultation of indigenous peoples.
Amazon Watch is building on more than 25 years of radical and effective solidarity with Indigenous peoples across the Amazon Basin.
Sarayaku Press Statement on Inter-American Court Sentence
Today the Inter-American Court of Human Rights declared that the Ecuadorian state is responsible under international law for the violation of the Sarayaku people's rights to prior consultation, communal property, life, judicial protection, and other important rights.
Jungle Justice: Ecuador Recognizes Rights Violations in Sarayaku Case
An unprecedented site visit by the IAHCR sheds light on testimony of abuses and a surprising admission from the state
Sarayaku in Ecuador is one of the more unique places in the Amazon. The community has beaten back oil drilling plans on their lands for over a decade, and their plan de vida for future development and land management is visionary.
Indigenous Group Rejects Ivanhoe's Rainforest Oil Project in Calgary
Ecuadorian tribal leader delivers opposition statement to company headquarters
Calgary, Canada – A surprise guest met representatives of Canadian-based Ivanhoe Energy this morning at its Calgary headquarters to denounce the company's oil operations in Ecuador.
Investor's Eye on the Amazon
In this Spring edition of Investor's Eye on the Amazon, we would like to draw your attention to several investor resolutions at Chevron, news that Talisman Energy may pull out of Peru altogether, and protests by Vale shareholders over its huge investments in disastrous projects like Brazil's Belo Monte dam.
An Amazon Precedent
The Sarayaku case may significantly increase indigenous rights over resources
Analytica | Sarayaku today is a postcard-pretty rain forest village strung along the banks of the Bobonaza River, with a sandy main square on a bluff high above the waters. A decade ago, the 1,200-resident village nearly became a battleground as Ecuadorian troops sought to impose the rights of an Argentine-US consortium to explore the area for crude oil.
Human Rights Court In Unprecedented Visit to Sarayaku
Top judges of the Inter-American Human Rights Court visited the Kichwa indigenous community of Sarayaku to investigate their long-running case against the Ecuadorian government over rights abuses.
Ecuador's President Admits Errors in Handling of Sarayaku Oil Exploration
Platts | Ecuador improperly handled relations with the indigenous community of Sarayaku a decade ago in a dispute over oil exploration, president Rafael Correa said Tuesday in a meeting with the head of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which is hearing a case against the country about the issue.
Native Indian Tribes Facing "Extinction"?
As demand for natural resources impacts Latin America's indigenous groups we ask if their interests will ever be on top
Al Jazeera | A discussion with Peter Hakim, the former president of the Inter-American Dialogue; Kevin Koenig, the Ecuador program coordinator for Amazon Watch; and Greg Palast, an investigative reporter and author.
Ecuador's Sarayaku See an Existential Threat
Al Jazeera | The Sarayaku are a native people who live in several villages along a stretch of the Bobonaza river in the province of Pastaza in the southern part of the Ecuadorean Amazon. They number about one to two thousand and lead a frugal, self-contained life that has changed little in the last 100 years. But all that is now being threatened. The threat is...
Indigenous Leaders Call for Ecuador Government to Stop Oil Leasing Plans
Indian Country Today | Indigenous leaders from Ecuador's Amazonian lowlands are calling for the government to drop plans to auction 21 leases near the Peruvian border for oil drilling.
Investor's Eye on the Amazon - December 2011
In this winter edition of Investor's Eye on the Amazon, we would like to draw your attention to a co-filing opportunity at Chevron, urgent on-the-ground testimony about Canadian company Talisman Energy's divisive oil operations in the ancestral territory of the Achuar people, and an update from the frontlines in Ecuador where Rukullacta Kichwa...
Indigenous Group Again Rejects Ivanhoe's Drilling Plans
From the streets of Quito to Ecuador's Congressional chamber, Rukullacta goes public in rejecting Ivanhoe’s project, finding inspiration in an ancient Amazonian leader.
Investor's Eye on the Amazon - October 2011
This third edition of our Investor's Eye on the Amazon quarterly email newsletter is jam-packed with important updates from a number of our campaigns.
Bad Oil: The Amazon's Toxic Mess
Sunday Night Show | When I first visited the area contaminated by Chevron in the Ecuadorian Amazon in my role as Amazon Watch Ambassador, I was not prepared to witness such destruction and contamination of the entire forest ecosystem.
Risk Assessment: Ivanhoe Energy and the Pungarayacu Project in Ecuador
An Amazon Watch Risk Assessment
This report explores risks faced by Ivanhoe Energy investors from the Pungarayacu project, as well as those stemming from the company's history and questionable fiduciary management.
Ecuador Charges Indigenous Activists with Terrorism
DW-World | Defending sacred sites and the environment can land you in jail for being a terrorist, according to indigenous activists in Ecuador. "There are about 200 cases against indigenous activists, campesinos, mextizos and other leaders," according to Pepe Acacho, Vice President of CONAIE, the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities in Ecuador.
Ecuador on Trial for Violating Rights of Kichwa People of Sarayaku
Indian Country Today | Justice will begin to be heard today for the Kichwa people of Sarayaku, indigenous inhabitants of the gateway to Ecuador's Amazon. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights will hear the case filed against Ecuador by the Association of the Kichwa People of Sarayaku, attorney Mario Melo and leading Washington based human rights NGO, the Center for...
Sarayaku vs. the Republic of Ecuador
Intercontinental Cry | This week, eighteen Kichwa people of the Sarayaku are in Costa Rica bringing the government of Ecuador before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. We honor and salute their remarkable sacrifices and enduring strength.
Bringing the Amazon to Central America
Sarayaku at the Inter-American Court in Costa Rica
Last decade, the Ecuadorian government made the mistake of trying to force oil exploration on the Kichwa, without any prior consultation. In this case, however, they didn't anticipate the community's fierce and dogged resistance.
Taking Ecuador to Human Rights Court
The Kichwa of Sarayaku explain their trip to the Inter-American Human Rights Court in Costa Rica in their own words.
Sarayaku: An Emblematic Case of Territorial Defense
Servindi | At the beginning of 2003, Sarayaku came before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights soliciting its urgent intervention in the safeguarding of their violated rights during CGC's seismic campaign. In May of this year, the Commission dictated precautionary measures in favor of the life and integrity of the community members and of their...
Sarayaku Delegation in Costa Rica
Long-time Amazon Watch counterparts from Sarayaku were in Costa Rica over the week of July 4th, bringing their own government before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
Courting Justice: Sarayaku v. Republic of Ecuador
In a packed press room in Ecuador's National Congress building yesterday, leaders of Sarayaku brought their calls for justice to the country's capital en route to the Inter-American Court on Human Rights.
Ambush in Sarayaku territory leaves three persons seriously injured
In spite of the attack, Sarayaku evicts invaders
Sarayaku, Ecuador- Ambush in Sarayaku territory leaves three persons seriously injured: In spite of the attack, Sarayaku evicts invaders On Friday 29th of April at 7.30 pm, a group of men from Sarayaku were attacked with dynamite and firearms. Our comrades managed to see that some of the attackers were of African race.
