A $16 Billion Problem

According to Chevron Corportation:
"In Ecuador, where the International Bar Association has concluded that ???there is a serious politicization of the judiciary??? and ???that in many cases no effective independence exists,??? such pronouncements have a profound effect on a trial."

They are not impartial in Ecuardor? Wow, that's a surprise, because we know our justice system, specially the Supreme Court is not ruled by politics. Our Federal Appeals Courts judges don't decide one way or another based on who got them there.

Chevron, just SHUT UP and take it like a big boy. 8 Billion dollars is nothing for you guys anyway when I look at your earnings. You guys had probably considered the risk of destroying the Amazon and added the cost of the fine to operating expenses that you pass on to the consumer.

Let me shed a tear for Chevron... . Sorry, I just can't.

This article contains important errors in fact and omits key points highly relevant to Chevron???s case in Ecuador.

Chevron has disclosed the case to shareholders in five consecutive proxy statements, discussed it at five annual stockholder meetings, developed a corporate website specific to the case (http://www.texaco.com/ecuador) and issued numerous news releases on the matter. The writer???s statement that this year???s court report ???forced the company for the first time to disclose the issue to shareholders??? is wrong.

Significantly, the article does not state that Petroecuador ??? the government owned oil company ??? has exclusively operated the oil fields in the Amazon for the last 18 years (readers may note that the photo accompanying this article is of a Petroecuador facility, as evidenced by the Petroecuador sign on the right side of the image). The company???s operations are publicly admitted to be mismanaged, with millions of gallons of oil spilled and no money for either upgrading its facilities or thorough remediation.

Nor did it state that in 15 years of litigation, the lawyers have never substantiated their clients??? health claims. Tellingly, in a related case brought in San Francisco by one of the lawyers behind the Ecuador case, the federal judge found that health claims had been fabricated and, in addition to dismissing the claims, fined the lawyers involved.

Fact is Texaco Petroleum, which Chevron acquired in 2001, performed a $40 million environmental remediation and public works program upon the conclusion of its role in Ecuador. The remediation work was certified and approved by the Republic of Ecuador and scientifically validated by Ecuadorian university laboratories.

The state has since sought to renege on its agreements with Texaco Petroleum and openly collaborated with the plaintiffs. The current administration has gone so far as to pledge the full support of the government in making the plaintiffs??? case.

In Ecuador, where the International Bar Association has concluded that ???there is a serious politicization of the judiciary??? and ???that in many cases no effective independence exists,??? such pronouncements have a profound effect on a trial.

The Republic of Ecuador???s failure to honor its contractual and legal obligations related to Texaco Petroleum???s past activities in Ecuador is contrary to the spirit and letter of the trade preferences granted to Ecuador under U.S. law.

Additional information on the lawsuit can be found at http://www.texaco.com/ecuador.

This is just unbelieveable.... Chevron says "a loss could set a dangerous precedent for other U.S. multinationals. "... what - that companies should be RESPONSIBLE?! As stated here by others: this is NOT for the US to decide. Chevron made the decision to move operations to Ecuador knowing fair-well what legal system they had and have, what laws they had... if they took advantage of the lack of regulation - then they should be responsible for cleaning up any mess they made - period. But let THEIR court decide. It would not surprise me one bit to see the Bush Admin weigh in here - in Chevron's favor... it would be par for the course for them. I am writing to whomever I can to ask that this be dealt with in the Ecuadorian courts without US pressure.

What is most disturbing about this (though the quotes from the Chevron lobbyist alone are enough) is that Chevron argued for over a decade to have the case removed from US courts to Ecuador claiming that the courts there were fair and this was a matter that was predominantly foreign for the country to decide. Now that they realize that they cannot buy off the judges there and that they may be held accountable for the utter destruction of one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, they are seeking interference from our government. This should not be a political matter but should be handled by the court that Chevron fought to hear the case and to whom they agreed had jurisdiction. Country's cannot be penalized for their citizens exercising their legal rights to protect their people from horrific human rights abuses at the hands of multinational corporations. The mere fact that there is no shame in this type of action is exactly why we need a change in this country's government.

one more: I wouldn't be surprised if Ecuador's democratically elected president, Rafael Correa, would suddenly die in a "aircraft accident" as the CIA has done with some other democratically elected presidents in the region when they did not cooperate and took the bribes from US corporations - that is clear communism and deserves instant death.

This is just another page in the history of US behavior in South America. Full details of our shady past in that region are given in the autobiographical book "The Secret History of the American Empire" by the courageous John Perkins. Must read thriller for summer reading - unfortunately it is true and standard operating procedure for many large US companies with US embassy and CIA support.

This is just another page in the history of US behavior in South America. Full details of our shady past in that region are given in the autobiographical book "The Secret History of the American Empire" by the courageous John Perkins. Must read thriller for summer reading - unfortunately it is true.

Chevron's attempt to bribe US officials to illegally influence foreign policy is grounds for all Chevron's assets to be seized regardless of their guilt in the original Ecuadoran pollution case. If they are indeed guilty of illegal activities in Ecuador then any payments to victims should be made from their seized assets. Company officials who authorized any illegal activities should be prosecuted. None of this will happen of course.

Re: "We can't let little countries screw around with big companies like this???companies that have made big investments around the world." a Chevron lobbyist.

It is the big company that is screwing the little country, not the other way around.

Chevron's arrogance is stunning -- and a warning to all those who support more oil drilling (off shore and in the ANWR). Big Oil's attitude doesn't just stop with "little countries" like Ecuador. It extends to all the "little people" who get poisoned by it's reckless disregard for humans and the environment. Look at how Exxon has strung out Alaska's citizens seeking compensation for the Valdez oil spill.

Chevron's arrogance is stunning -- and a warning to all those who support more oil drilling (off shore and in the ANWR). Big Oil's attitude doesn't just stop with "little countries" like Ecuador. It extends to all the "little people" who get poisoned by it's reckless disregard for humans and the environment. Look at how Exxon has strung out Alaska's citizens seeking compensation for the Valdez oil spill.

oh man it'd jump for joy if chevron has to answer for this

This is why I have regretted voting for Bush, not the Iraq war. It's because he always sides with corporations and he always bails them out when they get in trouble. Watch, he'll support Chevron, probably say something like "he's saving American jobs." Screw those Americans............they should have never worked for such a mega-corporation, a corporation that will always put profit ahead of anything else.