Ecuador: Indigenous group calls for halt to Amazon oil extraction - Video
Indigenous communities in Ecuador, guardians of one of the world's most biodiverse regions have raised their voices against oil extraction in Yasuní National Park.
These communities and environmental groups on Tuesday, August 20 stormed the Ministry of Energy in Quito to demand the government to respect and fulfil the vote to end oil drilling in the Yasuni National Park.
They argue that continued oil extraction threatens their way of life, the environment, and the global climate.
"We are not just fighting for our land; we are fighting for the future of our planet," says Nemonte Nenquimo, a prominent indigenous leader. "The government must respect the will of the people and protect Yasuní."
On August 20, 2023, Ecuadorians voted to halt future oil drilling in Yasuní National Park. This decision was a significant victory for environmentalists and indigenous groups who have long fought to protect their land from the impacts of oil extraction.
However, a year later, the government has made little progress in implementing the closure of the 43-ITT oil block, a major oil extraction site within the park.
Despite the creation of a commission to oversee the process, indigenous populations were notably excluded from this body.
Furthermore, the government has suggested a moratorium on the referendum's implementation, citing a national crisis as the reason for the delay.
In response to this, Zenaida Yasacama, Vice President of CONAIE (Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador) said "The State cannot initiate new contractual relationships to continue the expropriation of Block 43, in which the Ecuadorian State has not complied with this ruling" in a video captured by AFP.
Oil extraction in the Amazon has led to deforestation, pollution, and the displacement of indigenous communities.
The process involves clearing large areas of forest, constructing roads, and drilling wells, all of which disrupt the delicate balance of the ecosystem. Oil spills and waste disposal further contaminate water sources, affecting both wildlife and human populations.
The Yasuní National Park is home to numerous species found nowhere else on Earth, including jaguars and giant otters.
