Earth Day 2008, Live from San Francisco
At the GO office here in downtown SF, we see a lot of interesting stuff. After coming back from lunch to see a protest going on right outside our building, I went down to investigate. Turns out, Chevron’s only SF office (ironically, their “green solutions” office) is in the building next to ours. Who woulda thunk.
The gathered crowd, led by local members of the nonprofit watchdog AmazonWatch, was primarily protesting Chevron’s escapades in Ecuador. When the company bought Texaco, they inherited a $15 Billion toxic waste problem in the country that they’ve been fighting a legal and PR battle to keep from cleaning up. This, on $30 Billion in profits over the same period.
According to Paul, one of the lead AmazonWatch protesters, Chevron knew it would lose in US courts, and pushed to move to Ecuadorian courts, which they thought would be easier to strongarm. Now that they’re losing in the Ecuadorian courts as well, Chevron has decided not to honor their previous commitment to the decision by local authorities.
To learn more, visit ChevronToxico.com… After all, even if you don’t have time for activism on a daily basis, you can make Earth Day be the day you make time.
See also:
Green Options: Ecuador to Leave Oil — and Revenue — in the Ground
Gas 2.0: Chevron Backs Solazyme’s Algae Biodiesel Production Process
The execs at Chevron are doing exactly what they are commissioned to do legally in cases like this: they are protecting the stockholders’ money, mainly well-heeled Americans.
What needs changing are the legal rights of the corporation. If an environmental clause was part of incorporation the problem would be diminished.
Americans revere their ‘corporate’ right to commit social, economic and environmental havoc the world over. Change the rules of incorporation, change the face of America.
@UncleB: Ultimately, you’re right. Unfortunately, most people don’t understand the strands of history that made corporations the unholy kings of all over the last 150 years. Toxic sludge pools are a little easier to wrap our heads around.