The DAMAGE done to South American is yet to be measured. The focus is on the 'immediate' damage of the people and land of Ecuador. The DUMPING of the American Oil Companies at the HEADWATERS of the Amazon go beyond the borders of Ecuador.
The people of Ecuador and the Amazon Basin need the support of the International Community and the benefit of the United Nations and their Human Rights Organizations to stop this hideous exploitation of both the people and the Legal system of all countries involved.
...The Amazon basin of Ecuador, known as the ‘Oriente’ (click here), consists of more than 40 million hectares of tropical rainforest lying at the headwaters of the Amazon river network. The region contains one of the most diverse collections of plant and animal life in the world.1...
Results
(The table below is explicit in the higher cancer rates in Ecuador at ALL oil sites). The table and this epidemological study shows conclusively the people of Ecuador have suffered horribly from the American Oil Company exploitation of the naivity of the Ecaudor government. The litigation cothat es for ONE reason and that is to put more and more distance and doubt between the 'acts' of all the American oil companies that are guilty of exploiting the nation of Ecuador and killing their people. They are guilty of human rights violations while the Ecuador government cannot afford the kind of 'state of the art' technology needed for their people and THEIR LAND.)
In all, 473 cancer cases (39.1% in males) were identified in exposed counties and 512 (40.2% in males) in non-exposed counties. An increased incidence for all sites combined by age was observed in both men and women (Figure 2). The RR of all cancer sites combined was significantly elevated in both men (RR = 1.40; 95% CI: 1.15–1.71) and women (RR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.39–1.91) in exposed counties (Table 1). Significantly elevated RR were observed for cancers of the stomach (RR = 2.51; 95% CI: 1.60–2.94), rectum (RR = 10.40; 95% CI: 1.16–12.98), skin melanoma (RR = 10.15; 95% CI: 2.91–46.97), soft tissue (RR = 15.59; 95% CI: 1.74–139.30) and kidney (RR = 9.2; 95% CI: 1.03–82.20) in men and for cancers of the cervix (RR = 4.01; 95% CI: 2.97–5.41) and lymph nodes (RR = 4.74; 95% CI: 1.89–11.88) in women. Four cases of larynx cancer were found in males in exposed counties but none in the non-exposed countries (Table 1).
...Although several studies have focused on residents exposed to major oil spillages,13–15 epidemiological studies of communities exposed to oil pollutants near oil fields are scarce.10 Few studies have been conducted in petroleum exploration and producing workers. In one of two case-control studies, an excess risk for testicular cancer was observed among petroleum and natural gas extraction workers.16 No such excess was found in the other study.17 In a case-control study of cancer at many sites, an association was observed between exposure to crude oil and rectal and lung cancer, however the association was based on small numbers.18 A study carried out in producing and pipeline workers in the US did not find significant differences for any major cause of death.19 Sathiakumar et al.20 conducted an epidemiological study in oil and gas field workers in the US which showed a positive association between work and acute myelogenous leukaemia. A study from China has also reported increased incidences of leukaemia in oil-field workers.21 A recent update of a study of crude oil production workers showed a lower mortality risk for these employees compared with the general US population (perhaps a reflection of the ‘healthy worker effect’). An increased mortality from acute myelogenous leukaemia was found in those people who were first employed before 1940 and who were employed in the production of crude oil for more than 30 years.22 ...
'
Fifteen years of getting away with murder ! The longer they can postpone 'the truth' the more people die and the more the reputuation of the USA suffers. They ADMIT they worked in a consortium of oil companies that are GUILTY of polluting the lands of Ecuador, destroying the forests and killing people. They participated in "W"rongful practices and reeped profits that cost people of Ecuador their lives.
It has been 15 years since a group of Ecuadorian indigenous people filed a lawsuit against Texaco for oil contamination, resulting from 26 years of substandard oil extraction efforts. In those years, Texaco —acquired by Chevron in 2001—consistently has denied responsibility, delayed justice, and defamed the Ecuadorian people who need help the most. In other words, the oil giant has acted like most people expect Big Oil companies to act — like bullies — instead of the good corporate citizens that Chevron’s advertising campaigns like to portray.
Meanwhile, the Ecuadorians living in Texaco’s former dumping ground suffer every day. Texaco released over 18 billion gallons of oil and toxic water into the rainforest from 1964 to 1990. Experts indicate that over 1,000 people have died from cancer. Spontaneous abortions are two to three times more likely to occur in the concession area than in other parts of Ecuador. It’s almost impossible to find a family not touched by the illnesses.
Until you see the extent of the contamination, it is hard to believe. Almost 1,000 pits the size of large swimming pools scar an area the size of Rhode Island. Texaco built the pits to dump the remaining oil and toxic water after drilling. To reduce costs, Texaco violated standard industry practice and never lined the pits. As a result, the toxins have flowed directly into the streams and underground water supply. Texaco eventually covered the pits with dirt—as if hiding the pollution would make it go away — but never took any real steps to clean up the area. Some people even built their houses on top of the covered pits, thinking that the pits were safe.
Chevron has done almost nothing to help people or restore clean drinking water. The company has never conducted a single health impact study, probably because the corporation doesn’t want to create any evidence of its wrongdoing. You can view photos of some of the families here and more photos of the contamination here.
--Chevron has denied responsibility with misleading statements and arguments that insult the intelligence. For example:
--The soil in Ecuador is naturally toxic. (This claim despite the incredibly rich ecological diversity native to the rainforest.)
--The people in Ecuador are sick because they have poor personal hygiene. (This argument, replete with imperialist and racist undertones, is simply factually incorrect.)
--Fecal coliform bacteria in the water gave the Ecuadorians cancer. (This argument ignores the absolute fact that coliforms do not cause cancer.)
--Oil is good for you, so don’t worry about it being in the water. (This claim despite the numerous chemicals in oil that are known to cause human health problems, including benzyne, a known carcinogen.)
Each of these statements can be sourced directly to Texaco or Chevron....
The well established and knowledgable American companies NEVER 'bothered' to bring 'state of the art' CONCERN and Technology to Ecuador. They would rather 'blame' a government of Ecuador that exhibited weak laws in demanding the type of technology from these companies. The Ecuadorian government allowed the companies the right to take the oil, they never bargained for HUMAN RIGHTS abuses by American Oil Companies. That is, however, exactly what they got ! The American companies are guilty and they have admitted it, but, try to displace their guilt on the Ecuadorian government. The United Nations Human Rights Commission needs to chime in the violations of these lucrative companies.
The people of Ecuador and the Amazon Basin need the support of the International Community and the benefit of the United Nations and their Human Rights Organizations to stop this hideous exploitation of both the people and the Legal system of all countries involved.
...The Amazon basin of Ecuador, known as the ‘Oriente’ (click here), consists of more than 40 million hectares of tropical rainforest lying at the headwaters of the Amazon river network. The region contains one of the most diverse collections of plant and animal life in the world.1...
Results
(The table below is explicit in the higher cancer rates in Ecuador at ALL oil sites). The table and this epidemological study shows conclusively the people of Ecuador have suffered horribly from the American Oil Company exploitation of the naivity of the Ecaudor government. The litigation cothat es for ONE reason and that is to put more and more distance and doubt between the 'acts' of all the American oil companies that are guilty of exploiting the nation of Ecuador and killing their people. They are guilty of human rights violations while the Ecuador government cannot afford the kind of 'state of the art' technology needed for their people and THEIR LAND.)
In all, 473 cancer cases (39.1% in males) were identified in exposed counties and 512 (40.2% in males) in non-exposed counties. An increased incidence for all sites combined by age was observed in both men and women (Figure 2). The RR of all cancer sites combined was significantly elevated in both men (RR = 1.40; 95% CI: 1.15–1.71) and women (RR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.39–1.91) in exposed counties (Table 1). Significantly elevated RR were observed for cancers of the stomach (RR = 2.51; 95% CI: 1.60–2.94), rectum (RR = 10.40; 95% CI: 1.16–12.98), skin melanoma (RR = 10.15; 95% CI: 2.91–46.97), soft tissue (RR = 15.59; 95% CI: 1.74–139.30) and kidney (RR = 9.2; 95% CI: 1.03–82.20) in men and for cancers of the cervix (RR = 4.01; 95% CI: 2.97–5.41) and lymph nodes (RR = 4.74; 95% CI: 1.89–11.88) in women. Four cases of larynx cancer were found in males in exposed counties but none in the non-exposed countries (Table 1).
...Although several studies have focused on residents exposed to major oil spillages,13–15 epidemiological studies of communities exposed to oil pollutants near oil fields are scarce.10 Few studies have been conducted in petroleum exploration and producing workers. In one of two case-control studies, an excess risk for testicular cancer was observed among petroleum and natural gas extraction workers.16 No such excess was found in the other study.17 In a case-control study of cancer at many sites, an association was observed between exposure to crude oil and rectal and lung cancer, however the association was based on small numbers.18 A study carried out in producing and pipeline workers in the US did not find significant differences for any major cause of death.19 Sathiakumar et al.20 conducted an epidemiological study in oil and gas field workers in the US which showed a positive association between work and acute myelogenous leukaemia. A study from China has also reported increased incidences of leukaemia in oil-field workers.21 A recent update of a study of crude oil production workers showed a lower mortality risk for these employees compared with the general US population (perhaps a reflection of the ‘healthy worker effect’). An increased mortality from acute myelogenous leukaemia was found in those people who were first employed before 1940 and who were employed in the production of crude oil for more than 30 years.22 ...
'
Fifteen years of getting away with murder ! The longer they can postpone 'the truth' the more people die and the more the reputuation of the USA suffers. They ADMIT they worked in a consortium of oil companies that are GUILTY of polluting the lands of Ecuador, destroying the forests and killing people. They participated in "W"rongful practices and reeped profits that cost people of Ecuador their lives.
It has been 15 years since a group of Ecuadorian indigenous people filed a lawsuit against Texaco for oil contamination, resulting from 26 years of substandard oil extraction efforts. In those years, Texaco —acquired by Chevron in 2001—consistently has denied responsibility, delayed justice, and defamed the Ecuadorian people who need help the most. In other words, the oil giant has acted like most people expect Big Oil companies to act — like bullies — instead of the good corporate citizens that Chevron’s advertising campaigns like to portray.
Meanwhile, the Ecuadorians living in Texaco’s former dumping ground suffer every day. Texaco released over 18 billion gallons of oil and toxic water into the rainforest from 1964 to 1990. Experts indicate that over 1,000 people have died from cancer. Spontaneous abortions are two to three times more likely to occur in the concession area than in other parts of Ecuador. It’s almost impossible to find a family not touched by the illnesses.
Until you see the extent of the contamination, it is hard to believe. Almost 1,000 pits the size of large swimming pools scar an area the size of Rhode Island. Texaco built the pits to dump the remaining oil and toxic water after drilling. To reduce costs, Texaco violated standard industry practice and never lined the pits. As a result, the toxins have flowed directly into the streams and underground water supply. Texaco eventually covered the pits with dirt—as if hiding the pollution would make it go away — but never took any real steps to clean up the area. Some people even built their houses on top of the covered pits, thinking that the pits were safe.
Chevron has done almost nothing to help people or restore clean drinking water. The company has never conducted a single health impact study, probably because the corporation doesn’t want to create any evidence of its wrongdoing. You can view photos of some of the families here and more photos of the contamination here.
--Chevron has denied responsibility with misleading statements and arguments that insult the intelligence. For example:
--The soil in Ecuador is naturally toxic. (This claim despite the incredibly rich ecological diversity native to the rainforest.)
--The people in Ecuador are sick because they have poor personal hygiene. (This argument, replete with imperialist and racist undertones, is simply factually incorrect.)
--Fecal coliform bacteria in the water gave the Ecuadorians cancer. (This argument ignores the absolute fact that coliforms do not cause cancer.)
--Oil is good for you, so don’t worry about it being in the water. (This claim despite the numerous chemicals in oil that are known to cause human health problems, including benzyne, a known carcinogen.)
Each of these statements can be sourced directly to Texaco or Chevron....
The well established and knowledgable American companies NEVER 'bothered' to bring 'state of the art' CONCERN and Technology to Ecuador. They would rather 'blame' a government of Ecuador that exhibited weak laws in demanding the type of technology from these companies. The Ecuadorian government allowed the companies the right to take the oil, they never bargained for HUMAN RIGHTS abuses by American Oil Companies. That is, however, exactly what they got ! The American companies are guilty and they have admitted it, but, try to displace their guilt on the Ecuadorian government. The United Nations Human Rights Commission needs to chime in the violations of these lucrative companies.
