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Ecuador ‘forced’ to drill for oil in pristine Amazon rainforest; ‘rich countries have failed us’

Friday, August 16th 2013 - 17:46 UTC
Full article 30 comments

Ecuador has abandoned a conservation plan that would have paid the country not to drill for oil in previously untouched parts of Yasuni National Park in the Amazon rainforest. President Rafael Correa said rich nations had failed to back the initiative, leaving Ecuador with no choice but go ahead with drilling. Read full article

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  • Porto Margaret

    “Give me the money or the cat gets it!”

    The fellas a common blackmailer. Will he be returning the already pledged monies?

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 06:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Brasileiro

    Good country. I like Equador. Correa, i am with you. The principles is not negociables. “Mejor vivir un dia como el león, que la eternidad como el cordero” = Better to live one day as a lion, that eternity as a sheep.
    LOve to all friends from Ecuador.

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 07:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Ernie4001

    Cheap excuse for an enviromental crime like that. What else can be expected of an Unasur country?

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 08:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Condorito

    Drill for oil by all means, but don't blame everyone else for your decision.

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 09:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Anglotino

    Forced?

    Sever lack of taking responsiblity by some countries.

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 09:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    Is ANYONE in South American ever accountable and responsible for anything?

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 10:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • The Truth PaTroll

    It's his own country for fks sakes, what is he supposed to do, not be able to develop his own land?

    So that then you people call them ”lazy south americans' for not developing their resources?

    The freaking lordliness slash soft racism displayed by you all is rebarbative.

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 11:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Anglotino

    Nostrils get a life. You're just plain pathetic these days. There are few on here that are more racist than you have become.

    Ecuador can do what it wants but what it can't do is blame us for doing it.

    You can't have it both ways.

    Drill away Correa. I don't give a flying feck.

    Aug 17th, 2013 - 12:46 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • reality check

    It's his country and he can do what the hell he likes with it.

    Does not stop the knob head from sticking his nose into the business of other countries though does it? that includes trying to subvert their judicial processes.

    How is Julian getting on? Must be fluent in Spanish by now, that will be his third, along with English and Bullshit!

    Aug 17th, 2013 - 05:51 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ElaineB

    @9 Speaking of Julian..... did you see that even Snowden is regretting trusting Wikileaks? Like everyone else coming into contact with Assange, he feels somewhat used and abused.

    Ecuador has every right to exploit their own resources and to live with the consequences, good and bad. Correa just needs to man-up and accept full responsibility.

    Aug 17th, 2013 - 06:02 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    Elaine you know a lot, fill me on on this. Am I correct.....Ecuador decided to protect this national park but asked the world for money. The donations did not come in so now Correa is blaming to world for forcing Ecuador to drill for oil in “pristine and bio-diverse” national park lands in Ecuador?
    The rest of the world assumes the cost of protecting their on lands, Ecuador wants the world to foot their bills? Such humanitarians they are.

    Aug 17th, 2013 - 08:36 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ElaineB

    @11 LOL! The more I know, the more I realise how much I don't know; or want to know, in some cases.

    You kinda have the gist of it. Ecuador were approached to try to preserve certain areas of environmental importance and not allow the destruction that has happened in other countries. I think it is a noble idea for conservation but ultimately it has to be down to individual countries to decide how they manage their country's resources. Look at countries like Peru where something like 70% of land is foreign owned.

    There is the conundrum of looking at a world view on conservation vs. an individual developing country wanting to use their resources to develop. Who are we in the developed world to lecture developing countries? I liken it to a parent having made mistakes, enjoyed a wild youth and reached a successful and sober point in life, trying to tell their own children not to do the very things they did at their age. Using that analogy South America is the teenager of the world. However we should not stop acting in loco parentis as some advice takes hold.

    I need to do a bit of digging on this story but from the language used I think Correa has put avarice first and wants to blame someone else for the long-term environmental consequences of his short-term greed. JMO

    Isn't is strange how these Bolivarian countries scream about hating the capitalist system and that they don't need anyone's help but then complain when 'rich' countries don't want to support them. It's that teenage mentality again. “We don't need parents but can you lend us a fiver, Dad?”.

    Aug 17th, 2013 - 09:03 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    Anglolatino
    Blame you?
    I'm quite positive Correa blamed the “rich countries”...

    Aug 17th, 2013 - 09:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Anglotino

    Stevie

    It doesn't matter how you try and twist facts, my country is rich.

    Aug 17th, 2013 - 10:35 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    13 Stevie

    Well as I no longer live in a rich country but YOU do, it must be YOUR fault.

    :o)

    Aug 17th, 2013 - 10:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Anglotino

    LOL

    Aug 17th, 2013 - 11:02 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    @1 Seems doubtful. Let's see, he started out by reneging on US$3 billion of debt. That's theft. One count of criminality. Then, his father was caught smuggling cocaine. Saying that drug smugglers are not criminals, Correa condones the crime. Second count of criminality. Ecuador provided Julian Assange with “diplomatic asylum”, a status not recognised outside of latam. “Political asylum”, a status recognised throughout the world, was not offered because it is not available to criminals. Assange is a criminal. A fugitive from UK justice. After exploiting every avenue in the finest judicial system in the world, Assange ran. It's not difficult to recognise reality. Where would a normal, innocent person go for help in a foreign land? Their country's embassy. For Australia, in the UK, that's the Australian High Commission. Why didn't he go there? Because he was a known criminal. And Australia, like the UK, respects the rule of law. Meanwhile, Ecuador relies, not on “diplomatic asylum” but on the inviolability of embassy premises. Correa's third count of criminality.
    @2 Another criminal.
    @7 It's not a problem. Why can't Correa just step up and say that the environment is not as important as money? And that was his decision. It's called a sense of responsibility. Something Correa is short of.
    @13 He should blame his own greed. Most latam “countries” are greedy. And have no principles. Everyone knows that only a tiny minority of latinos have principles.

    Aug 17th, 2013 - 11:43 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    Anglolatino
    Are you a country now?
    Or “merely” the highest representant of Australia...?

    When Correa spoke, it was for other ears, my belly-buttoned friend :)

    Aug 17th, 2013 - 03:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Anglotino

    Oh Stevie

    That's a piss-weak argument.

    Forum chasing and nitpicking now? You're welcome to that club mate. Enjoy!

    Aug 17th, 2013 - 07:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    No, really, Anglolatino, nobody is blaming you.
    I promise you.
    Nobody really cares...

    Aug 17th, 2013 - 08:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Anglotino

    And yet you came and commented on this article solely to speak to me.

    Supposedly you speak for 'everybody' now? Is this an official position you have acquired? Are you now the 'high representative'?

    I obviously get right up your nose if your pathetic and vain attempts to attack me on multiple articles is anything to go by. Cling tightly to that chip on your shoulder mate. I ain't going anywhere. The real world is always a better argument than your ideology.

    Aug 17th, 2013 - 09:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Mr Ed

    http://www.samizdata.net/2013/08/blackmail-plot-fails-by-reason-of-sucker-shortage/

    A fair summary of the reality.

    Aug 18th, 2013 - 03:28 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    Anglolatino
    I'm merely here to help you out with your persecusion issues..

    Aug 18th, 2013 - 10:19 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Anglotino

    Persecusion issues?

    You mean my percussion issues? No! All my musical instruments are fine thank you for asking. I just tried my triangle out and it worked like a charm.

    However, yoi forum chasing me in a vain attempt to show me up is indicative of a persecution complex.

    Sorry mate but you will continue to fail. Consider me Teflon Anglolatino!

    You put your ideology first and not only are blinkered but are restricted by this no matter what happens. My beliefs are flexible and will change, alter and evolve as facts change. You also hide who you are which holds you back. I am unencumbered.

    But please don't stop what you're doing.

    Aug 18th, 2013 - 05:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    You got that one, how unexpected...

    Catching the rhythm?

    ;)

    Aug 19th, 2013 - 09:12 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • GeoffWard2

    Well, heaven help them if they drill for their own oil and the local indians claim 'state pollution'!
    The government might have to pay the indians BILLIONS of dollars!
    Oh ... not so?
    Why not?
    The President will instruct the legal bods to declare him and the government Innocent Of All Charges.
    Oh, well. What would indians do with billions of dollars anyway .. plant more trees?
    That sounds like a sound decision, Mr President.
    ¡Viva el Presidente.
    Hurrah! God is great, but el Presidente is greater!

    Aug 19th, 2013 - 10:19 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    @25 Want to amend your name? “Stupid_Stevie”? “Sucker_Stevie”? “Senile_Stevie”? “Shit_Stevie”?, “Spastic_Stevie”?

    Aug 19th, 2013 - 10:46 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Room101

    It's Ecuador's decision; but once the rainforest is intruded upon to the expected extent in this case, it can't be put back no matter what may be attempted afterwards

    Aug 19th, 2013 - 12:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Anglotino

    Stevie

    “You got that one, how unexpected...”

    Unlike you.

    Aug 19th, 2013 - 04:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Gordo1

    Rafael Correa is a despot! He is clearly learning from la Kretina de Kirchner that every failure should be be blamed elsewhere - what an idiot!

    Aug 20th, 2013 - 06:42 am - Link - Report abuse 0

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