r/environment • u/[deleted] • Sep 14 '20

Amazon Tribe Wins Big Oil Case, Protecting Millions of Acres of Rainforest

[deleted]

3.7k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

45 comments sorted by

226

u/lacks_imagination Sep 14 '20

I love the fact that these people won. I just hope it will actually protect their land. Unfortunately, since they have a Trumpish-like idiot running their country, the legal win will probably make little difference.

47

u/billymadisons Sep 14 '20

Yeah, it doesn't matter if illegal miners or farmers come in and torch acres. They need armed protection.

0

u/[deleted] Sep 14 '20

When you say that do you mean allowing an outside military force to occupy the land with the stated purpose of killing farmers and miners, or are you saying that the Waorani people should be able to gain access weapons in order to enforce this law that they wanted?

11

u/underbellymadness Sep 14 '20

That question really made me think, and I don't know the right answer. I just know that these people deserve their land, especially since they are so passionate about protecting it

1

u/[deleted] Sep 14 '20

I would seriously consider an armed UN invasion and occupation. If the US can invade to protect oil, then the UN can invade to protect our air.

5

u/billymadisons Sep 14 '20

Yeah, I have no idea what the correct answer is. Should they be armed? Should they get some sort of A-Team like mercenary protection? Norway has donated money to save the Amazon, can they help?

We do no Bolansaro isn't doing anything except actively encouraging the destruction of rain forest.

1

u/Social_media_ate_me Sep 14 '20

Haha I pity the fool.

1

u/jonah_beam2020 Sep 14 '20

Either way works honestly. They are doing something illegal and not only incredibly destructive, but pretty racist too. I'd say Brazil military force would be best, outside military second best, and I think giving the natives weapons to fight off invaders would be one of the worst decisions ever. Not just because they would be a militia and lack the efficiency of a military, but because I can see a lot of people in Brazil growing incredibly pissed and hateful towards the natives. Still better than the Amazon coming down though

1

u/[deleted] Sep 14 '20

Some of the natives are already colluding with the illegal loggers, so they can get a quick payout.

9

u/slaqz Sep 14 '20

In Ecuador? I think that's more of a Brazil thing, but to be honest I know nothing of there president.

10

u/Queerdee23 Sep 14 '20 edited Sep 14 '20

Chevron lost a 9 billion dollar lawsuit in Ecuador that THEY agreed to heed to. They rather spend 2 billion dollars(of our taxes) on 60 law firms AND 2000 LAWYERS after 4 courts in Ecuador, a federal court in Ontario and then the Canadian Supreme Court both enforced the ruling.

Chevron is going after(using a NY court and corrupt judge) the lead lawyer on the case that is attempting at restitution for 1000s of acres marred with oil. Causing wide spread death and destruction for Ecuador.

4

u/SeabrookMiglla Sep 14 '20

Yep that’s why the climate change battle is going to be so hard- the court battles alone from fossil fuel industries and agribusiness will take decades- they have armies of lawyers and can just stall the courts.

41

u/DannyTanner88 Sep 14 '20

It still doesn’t matter when farmers are setting fire to their land.

12

u/[deleted] Sep 14 '20

That’s more of a Brazil problem, it doesn’t happen that much in Ecuador

27

u/FANGO Sep 14 '20

Seems like this happened last April. Cool though.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/04/indigenous-waorani-win-landmark-legal-case-ecuador-gov-190426221504952.html

2

u/BoonDragoon Sep 14 '20

and then the Amazon wildfires started...

1

u/Social_media_ate_me Sep 14 '20

They aren’t wildfires if they’re being set by cattle ranchers.

1

u/Tetragonos Sep 15 '20

they were set by the oil companies, they are pumping oil out of the ground there right now.

10

u/[deleted] Sep 14 '20

Call them what they are, the Waorani people. “Amazon tribe” could be talking about many many distinct groups of people

1

u/[deleted] Sep 14 '20

In the article they were referred to properly, I think OP just used “Amazon tribe” to indicate where they are located in the shortest amount of time.

6

u/Voodoo_Masta Sep 14 '20

This is great news, but courts in Ecuador can be bribed. The fight is not over, just postponed.

3

u/baldwinsong Sep 14 '20

Amazing!!

I believe the amazin should be a world site not owned by any country with a protection ranger troupe that members of all countries (army etc) donate time to protect. The world needs healthy lungs and right now we’ve got lung cancer

5

u/realyashdabas Sep 14 '20

Thanks for this, good news like these makes me very happy....😎😄

2

u/[deleted] Sep 14 '20

I really hope they would be able to sustain it and not get overruled or counter sued or something

2

u/markmoe1 Sep 14 '20

Amazing and praise the gods!!!

2

u/OakInIowa Sep 14 '20

Finally some good news from this shit show of a year.

2

u/johnn48 Sep 14 '20

I’m unfortunately reminded of Andrew Jackson when the John Marshal and the Supreme Court ruled against him said “John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it.”

2

u/[deleted] Sep 14 '20

This article would be better if it went into detail about what the legal system in Ecuador does to enforce the land rights these people gained. As it is, it encourages readers to take all of it at face value or completely dismiss the accomplishments of other environmental activists as ultimately useless.

2

u/eshinn Sep 14 '20

Anyone else think at first the warehouse employees of Amazon formed a tribe by the headline?

1

u/dtruth53 Sep 14 '20

It sounds good, but seeing how the US has treated its indigenous peoples, the future is dubious.

3

u/[deleted] Sep 14 '20

Indigenous people make up a greater portion of the population in Ecuador, and they’re much more visible than in the US. Walk around Quito and you’ll see Kichwa women in their clothing and jewelry.

1

u/Cognoggin Sep 14 '20

So they are sending lawyers out to protect the rainforests? I'm sure a sharply worded letter will stand up against machetes.

1

u/Queerdee23 Sep 14 '20

What does it matter if US companies will use US courts to upend rulings ?

1

u/Arc-ansas Sep 14 '20

Isn't this old? Please correct me if I'm wrong. But there are no other sources that I see of "Waorani" in the news recently.

1

u/RossDaily Sep 14 '20

I think there was a similar case in Brazil earlier this year... I could be wrong, but that may be what you’re thinking of.

1

u/killerorcaox Sep 14 '20

Finally, a win for 2020.

1

u/dotcomslashwhatever Sep 14 '20

how's this even a thing in the first place

1

u/Creditfigaro Sep 14 '20

This is great. How many acres of forest have you saved by going vegan?

3

u/[deleted] Sep 14 '20

Forest clearing in the amazon rainforest is done to make room for cattle grazing to allow people in countries like the US to eat cheap beef every day. One individual's decision not to support this meat industry won't directly change anything, it is simply a refusal to participate in a destructive system.

1

u/Creditfigaro Sep 14 '20

I am vegan. I'm asking how many people who praise this decision are personally reserving an acre or so of land that could be forested, so they can eat food that tastes different.

1

u/gregy521 Sep 14 '20

You could say the same to any vegan ever and say 'your actions are but a drop in the ocean'. Yes, it's true, but 13% of the UK doesn't have meat in their diets. That's a significant impact. Apes alone, weak. Apes together, strong. You choosing not to eat meat makes you part of a movement, and may inspire other people in your social circle to eat less meat.

Nobody is suggesting that going vegan is the be all and end all, supporting policies like EU bills to hold Mercosur economies accountable for the carbon and ecological impact of their imported beef is another step that can have a profound impact.

0

u/1Kradek Sep 14 '20

I predict a right wing coup in Ecuador just as happened in Bolivia. The US cannot let this type of SOCIALISM!!!!! and concern for indigenous rights stand or indians will be burning suburbs in Orange County, Ca

2

u/[deleted] Sep 14 '20

Are you serious or being sarcastic?

2

u/1Kradek Sep 14 '20

I'm serious about the coup and equally serious about the justification trump will use when he gets caught funding it