Oriente (Ecuador) - Economy

Economy

Timber and petroleum are the major exploited economic resources. In the Oriente,the land itself has become toxic and the entire water system contaminated. Almost any kind of food from this region — whether it’s farmed, domesticated, caught in the wild or in water — is unsafe to eat. While Chevron has refused to accept responsibility and clean up the pollution, more than 1,400 people have died of attributed cancers. Children under 14 have been most vulnerable, suffering high rates of birth defects and leukemia. Parents cannot adequately feed their families. Local economies and communities have collapsed. And for those who remain, their way of life, their culture and traditions, have been radically altered. For its part, Chevron has actually denied that 18.5 billion gallons of toxic waste can harm people.

Read more: Chevron's Toxic Legacy in Ecuador | Rainforest Action Network http://ran.org/chevrons-toxic-legacy-ecuador#ixzz2S9VJZzhz

Read more about this topic:  Oriente (Ecuador)

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