Pollution, Sickness, and Death: Interview with Indigenous Leader Emergildo Criollo from the Ecuadorian Amazon

Online news magazine Alternet has a powerful interview with Cofan indigenous leader Emergildo Criollo, who was in the San Francisco Bay Area last week to pay a visit to Chevron and its new CEO John Watson. Though Watson refused to accept Emergildo's letter appealing to him to clean up Chevron's toxic contamination of his rainforest home, Emergildo spoke forcefully to Chevron executives, lawmakers in the State Capitol, allies, and news media. In his powerful interview with Cameron Scott, Emergildo says:

We've gotten exactly three things from the company: pollution, sickness and death; that's it.

In the interview, Emergildo describes the impacts of Chevron on his community and culture beyond the pollution, gives an overview of the history of the lawsuit against the oil company, and punches holes in Chevron's shift-the-blame talking points. Read the full interview here.

Amazon Watch and Rainforest Action Network Respond to Chevron's Statements About Meeting With Emergildo

Amazon Watch and Rainforest Action Network Response to Chevron's Statements About Meeting with Emergildo Criollo, Indigenous Leader from Ecuador:

On Tuesday, March 2nd, Emergildo Criollo, an indigenous leader from the Ecuadorian Amazon met with Chevron executives at the company's headquarters in San Ramon, CA, accompanied by campaign staff from Rainforest Action Network (RAN) and Amazon Watch. On Thursday, March 4th Chevron wrote publicly about the meeting. The following is a response from RAN and Amazon Watch.

Amazon Watch and Rainforest Action Network requested to meet personally with new Chevron CEO, John Watson, in order to allow Emergildo the opportunity to deliver a direct appeal, and tell the story of how Chevron's contamination has affected him and his family. Emergildo was also delivering 325,000 petitions from more than 150 countries in support of his appeal to Chevron to clean up Ecuador.

John Watson did not receive Emergildo and he was met instead by Chevron public relations executives; Rhonda I. Zygocki, Vice President for Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Silvia M. Garrigo, Manager for Global Issues and Policy, Gary Fisher, General Manager for Corporate Public Policy, and Don Campbell, Manager of External Communications.

Emergildo was accompanied by supporters from RAN and Amazon Watch, two organizations that work in support of the communities in Ecuador who are demanding remediation of Chevron's oil pollution, and compensation for the horrific health and environmental impacts. Maria Ramos, director of RAN's Change Chevron campaign, and Mitchell Anderson, Director of Corporate Accountability campaigns for Amazon Watch accompanied Emergildo into the meeting with the Chevron executives.

Today, Chevron wrote about the meeting on the company's official blog with the misleading title, "Important First Steps – Chevron and Rainforest Action Meet, Share Common Ground."

The blog post shares a comment that Silvia Garrigo, Chevron's Manager of Global Issues and Public Policy, posted on a RAN blog update about the petition delivery. Garrigo writes, "We can all agree that [Emergildo's] story is moving and heartfelt. And we can all agree that there are unacceptable environmental conditions in Ecuador's Amazon." The comment concludes: "We look forward to continuing a constructive dialogue." Chevron also posted a link to the blog on its Twitter account.

After delivering his letter and the 325,000 petitions to the Chevron executives, Emergildo told supporters, "I traveled from my home in the rainforest in Ecuador to Chevron's headquarters to ask the company to clean up the toxic contamination that killed two of my sons, and has caused suffering for my people and thousands of others. I went to Chevron CEO John Watson's home to ask him personally to clean up the toxic mess in Ecuador, but they sent only company spokespeople to hear my story."

"We have always been open to communication with the company but it is hard to understand what Chevron means by 'common ground' while the company continues to evade responsibility and blame others for the devastation in the Ecuadorian Amazon," said Mitchell Anderson of Amazon Watch. "Chevron appears to be cynically trying to score public relations points from the brief meeting with Emergildo Criollo. The meeting was an opportunity for Emergildo to tell his devastating story and ask Chevron to stop the lies and clean up its toxic mess once and for all."

"We will consider our dialogue with Chevron 'constructive' only when they agree to fulfill the communities' consistent demands that the company fully remediate its contamination, compensate them for the health and environmental impacts, and provide access to potable water and health care," said Maria Ramos of Rainforest Action Network.

Emergildo's letter was addressed to Chevron CEO John Watson, who was also the target of the 325,000 supporting petitions. The affected communities and their supporters are asking that Mr. Watson lead the company in a new direction by ending the attempts at evading responsibility and satisfying the affected people's demands for a clean-up.

After delivering his letter, Emergildo expressed disappointment that Mr. Watson failed to show up, as well as hope that a solution is possible. "I am glad that I was able to come here and share my story," said Criollo. "But Mr. Watson must understand that people are still dying. Chevron, clean up Ecuador now."

30,000 residents of Ecuador's rainforest region are plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit that was first filed in 1993 against Chevron-owned Texaco, which dumped more than 18 billion gallons of toxic wastewater into Amazon waterways and the forest, and abandoned more than 900 unlined waste pits filled with crude oil and toxic waste amidst the communities. Abundant scientific evidence shows massive contamination throughout the area where Texaco was the sole operator of the oil fields from 1964 until the company left in 1992. The indigenous and campesino communities continue to suffer an epidemic of illness, cancer, birth defects, and premature deaths due to the contamination.

Emergildo Criollo Delivers Letter and Petition to Chevron Headquarters

Versatile activist Nick Magel – who has worked closely with both Amazon Watch and our friends at Rainforest Action Network – wrote a great update for the Change Chevron blog, giving a nice overview of today's activities, along with a photo diary with powerful pictures from RAN's Jonathan Mcintosh:

Today Emergildo Criollo, an Indigenous leader from who traveled from his community in Ecuador, attempted to deliver an appeal letter to Chevron CEO James Watson from the Cofan, Siona, Secoya Indigenous Nations, and the Frente de Defensa de la Amazonia. In addition Emergildo carried with him the names of over 325,000 people who have signed the petition calling for Chevron to clean up their toxic mess in the Ecuadorean rainforest that has impacted over 30,000 community members.

Emergildo Criollo attempted to deliver the letters to John Watson’s home in Lafayette, the oil giant’s headquarters in San Ramon, and its San Francisco office. Additionally, Chevron board members around the country received personalized deliveries of the message, accompanied by photographs of some of the 30,000 Ecuadorean people affected by the 18 billion gallons of toxic oil waste Chevron refuses to clean up. On top of all that RAN and Amazon Watch supporters flooded the Chevron phone lines with messages of solidarity with the Ecuadorean communities. If you’d like to give them a call please do- (925) 842-1000.

Below are some of Emergildo’s words on the day and a photo journal of the events.

Emergildo Criollo, Mitch Anderson of Amazon Watch, and Maria Lya Ramos of RAN, walk up Happy Valley Rd to Chevron CEO John Watson’s house in Lafayette CA.

Emergildo Criollo traveled from the Ecuador rainforest. John Watson would not answer at his house.

Emergildo, Mitch, and Maria outside Chevron CEO John Watson’s house. (I doubt there are any unlined crude pits in his backyard)

We filled a huge bus with folks supporting Emergildo and the 30,000 Ecuadoreans impacted by Chevron’s mess. Here we are on our way from John Watson’s house to Chevron world headquarters in San Ramon, CA. Most people on the phones were calling Chevron switchboards demanding for justice in Ecuador.

Arriving at the gates of the Chevron complex. Emergildo is prepared to deliver an appeal letter on behalf of the Cofan, Siona, Secoya Indigenous Nations, and the Frente de Defensa de la Amazonia in addition to a 325,000 person petition to CEO John Watson.

Walking into the Chevron World Headquarters.

Emergildo Criollo and Maria Lya Ramos are met by Gary Fisher, General Manager, Corporate Public Policy and Don Campbell manager of external communications for Chevron.

Supporters gathered outside Chevron’s Headquarters in solidarity with the 30,000 community members in Ecuador living with Chevron’s toxic legacy.

Supporters gathering outside Chevron World Headquarters

Emergildo and everyone from today’s delivery, after leaving Chevron World Headquarters. “We’ll be back until you clean up your mess in Ecuador”

“I have come to the home of Chevron to tell our story – how our women and children are sick and dying from Chevron’s contamination. We want what anyone would — to be healthy and happy, to have clean water and good food to eat, shelter and dignity,” said Emergildo Criollo.  “Chevron robbed us of our livelihoods many years ago, and I am here on behalf of thousands of brothers and sisters to demand that Chevron take responsibility for their actions and clean up our rivers and forests – our homes.”

Call Chevron Today to Demand Clean-Up of Ecuador

In the two months since John Watson took over as the new CEO of Chevron, over 325,000 people from 150 countries have signed a petition with a clear message to Mr. Watson and Chevron: Clean up Ecuador now!

Emergildo Criollo, indigenous leader of the Cofan people, has traveled all the way from his home in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador to personally deliver an appeal from the affected communities along with the petition to CEO John Watson and Chevron at their headquarters in California. Today, in San Ramon, CA, home of Chevron's headquarters, Emergildo is delivering his letter, along with your 325,000 signatures of support.

Speak up in support of Emergildo by calling Chevron now: (925) 842-1000

Ask to speak with Chevron CEO John Watson. You'll be directed to his voicemail. Leave a message: "I support Emergildo (pronounced "Em-err-HILL-doe"). Please clean up Ecuador."

It's that simple. And collectively, our voices will be heard as a global chorus that gets louder by the day. More tips for making the call are at the bottom of this message.

As we've recently told you, Emergildo lost two young sons to sickness caused by Chevron's contamination. His wife contracted uterine cancer and had to undergo a hysterectomy. Emergildo's devastating story is the story of thousands of people in Ecuador suffering and dying from Chevron's toxic legacy.

Along with our allies at Rainforest Action Network, Amazon Watch's Clean Up Ecuador Campaign is supporting Emergildo to deliver his message to Chevron, and helping him meet reporters and lawmakers in Sacramento. We know it's our job to amplify his voice and the voices of the people in the Amazon who have been devastated by Chevron's malicious neglect.

You can help amplify Emergildo's voice by calling Chevron now: (925) 842-1000

Ask for Chevron CEO John Watson. When you get his voicemail, leave a message: "I support Emergildo. Please clean up Ecuador."

We are making an impact on Chevron. Last week, Chevron Vice President and chief legal counsel Charles James abruptly resigned. The company is being tight-lipped about the move but James has been guiding the oil giant's abusive and risky strategy to try to evade responsibility in Ecuador. It seems maybe the strategy – for which Chevron has taken a beating in the media, the courts, and the court of public opinion – has finally caught up to him.

Please, take action now and call Chevron to support Emergildo and the tens of thousands of people in Ecuador who are seeking justice and a healthy environment for their families and future generations.

For reference, below are demands adopted from the global petition that we are presenting to Chevron today. You may want to mention these points in your voicemail message to John Watson:

• Chevron needs to listen to Emergildo and clean up Ecuador
• Chevron needs to compensate the communities for health and environmental impacts
• Chevron needs to develop meaningful environmental and human rights policies that will prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.

– Han

Born and raised in Baltimore, Han Shan is a human rights and environmental justice campaigner living in New York City. He is a coordinator with the Clean Up Ecuador campaign for Amazon Watch.

Chevron Evades Responsibility in Ecuador... And Helps Fugitive Employees Evade Justice

The Chevron Pit posted a new article that looks at the shady ways in which Chevron not only works to evade responsibility for its contamination in the Ecuadorian Amazon, but helps its employees to evade justice. There is a good explanation of the fraudulent testing methods Chevron has employed in a vain attempt to convince the courts that no contamination exists where in fact it is pervasive, toxic, and all-too-apparent to the communities living amidst the poison.

The article goes on to connect the dots from Chevron's fraudulent testing methods and "clean-up" in Ecuador to the bigger pattern of fraud and deceit employed by the company, including coaching former contractors and felons in sting operations against a judge in order to disrupt the trial of a case in which they face a $27 billion liability. Read the entire piece here.

– Han

Born and raised in Baltimore, Han Shan is a human rights and environmental justice campaigner living in New York City. He is an organizer with the Clean Up Ecuador campaign for Amazon Watch.