ECUADOR: Support Grows for Letting Sleeping Amazon Oil Lie

QUITO, Aug 23 (IPS) – The innovative offer by the government of Ecuador to refrain from exploiting its largest oil reserve, in exchange for international compensation for nature conservation, is attracting increasing support.

While oil prices are soaring, Quito is adopting the civil society initiative calling for the Ishpingo-Tiputini-Tambococha (ITT) oil reserve, the country


The slogans “Yasuni Belongs to Everyone” and “Yes to Life, No to ITT”, painted on the walls in Quito and other Ecuadorean cities in the last few days, are a sign that something new is happening in this country.

The idea was set forth by local environmental organisations like Accion Ecologica, has been promoted by former minister of mines and energy Alberto Acosta, and was taken up by left-wing President Rafael Correa.

Quito has suspended oil drilling at ITT for one year, and has approached several foreign governments, international bodies and non-governmental organisations with the proposal that Ecuador be paid an indemnity in return for leaving the oil undisturbed, on the grounds that this would prevent environmental damages that would affect humanity as a whole.

IPS