Ecuador, a country with extraordinary natural and cultural diversity, is one of the smallest countries in South America.  Of the country's twelve million people, approximately 60% are indigenous.  Despite the richness of their natural resources, the Ecuadorian people are facing an environmental tragedy brought on by the overexploitation of oil, mining, and natural gas resources.   

This tragedy has recently been brought to light by the case brought against ChevronTexaco.   Because contamination from extractive efforts has already created adverse health effects and drastically reduced the amount of clean water, National Confederation of Indigenous Peoples of Ecuador (CONAIE) argues that a continuation of historically aggressive mining practices is not only a threat to fundamental human and environmental rights, it is also economically questionable.   The amount of profit to be gained by each new extractive effort is unknown but the amount of irreparable damage done to the environment and the peoples of Ecuador is greater. Specifically, CONIAE and other participants are protesting against aggressive mining because of its excessive use of water and land for extractive purposes and the resulting contamination which compromises the use, production, and conservation of their ancestral lands.  This destruction destroys a way of life central to the indigenous communities and the resources to sustain future generations.  Because the recently ratified constitution includes the rights of nature, the people are asking that the government honor this promise.   Part of the promise of preservation in the new constitution should include a consistent governmental approach regarding the conservation of Yasuní national park by refraining from oil extraction in the ITT fields.  In this regard, Rafael Correa's government has been remiss.   Their approach has demonstrated that they are not serious about protecting the rights of uncontacted peoples living inside the park and about preserving the park's biodiversity, one of the most unique ecosystems on earth.  In total, CONAIE has identified eight arguments that demonstrate that the new mining law is unconstitutional.

On Tuesday January 20^th, indigenous Ecuadorians, social, and environmental organizations will take to the streets of Ecuador in a peaceful but forceful protest in support of CONAIE's position. It is hoped that a nation-wide protest will force the Government into a dialogue with the people to consider changes to the mining laws. Ecuadorians believe that influencing the government to make a more progressive mining law will be an example for the rest of the world to responsibly use their natural resources for future generations. For more information please contact:

Marcelo Orellana and Janeth Cuji

Representatives of CONAIE

www.conaie.org

www.movilizacionantiminera.blogspot.com

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