Ecuadorian Government Ambivalent About Oil Use

By Anne-Cécile Lautridou

In 2007, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa made a revolutionary proposition to the UNO, known as the Yasuni ITT (Ishpingo-Tiputini-Tambococha) Project. This proposition’s aim was to forego oil extraction and to renounce to the 20 % of oil reserves in the country. In order to reach this goal, Correa asked to other nations to assist in financing the preservation of the environment, which includes the reduction of carbone emissions and the greenhouse effect.

At the national level, this project would help to protect the population living in Yasuni National Park, which is registered by the UNESCO as one of the most bio-divers in the world. Moreover, the money paid by the other countries will benefit the Ecuadorian social security system and contribute to reduction of poverty in the country. At international level, if the project succeeded, it would represent a huge achievement for environmental protection.

José Gualinga, Sarayaku President is blowing Horn
Photo by Andrew Miller/Amazon Watch

Unfortunately, in Ecuador’s Amazonian forests, aboriginal communities do not have the same advantage of receiving governmental protection. The Kichwa community of Sarayaku fight peacefully against oil companies for the settlement of their land for more than 25 years. In 2002, 400 workers and 600 soldiers illegally invaded and began exploiting their land. Some workers were kidnapped by Sarayaku’s women and these women took the weapons of the soldiers. Thanks to the determination of The Sarayaku people, oil companies gave up and went from their land. In 2005, the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights required that Ecuadorian government removed explosives that workers leaved from the Sarayaku’s territory. However in October 2011, a new exploitative proposition emerged from the government. This proposition includes Sarayaku’s territory as well as aboriginal territories in the Amazon forest, which comprises a landmass of between 4 and 5 million hectares. This exploitation would lead to environmental and socio-economical disasters. Sarayaku’s inhabitants know it will be a long way until oil companies and Ecuadorian government renounce to oil prospection. But they have trust in the future, because, they know this fight is fair. As explained by José Gualinga, the president of the community, “we have already won, because what we do is fair”.

We must question the reasoning behind this level of ambivalence from Correa’s government and demand that projects like Yasuni ITT be available for all communities. Sarayku’s people peace resistance is an exemplary fight. Maybe it should be also a way for us to think about our way of living and to question our unrestrained consumption.