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Chevron creates Amazonian "Chernobyl" environmental crisis then cruises.
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On September 9th, an important documentary film called "CRUDE" opens in New York, then plays in select theaters across the country including Los Angeles and San Francisco.
"CRUDE" follows the legal battle to hold San Ramon based Chevron accountable for its systematic contamination of the Ecuadorian Amazon. Called the "Amazon Chernobyl," it is believed by environmental experts to be the worstbcase of oil-related contamination on Earth.
Texaco, now Chevron, drilled in the Ecuadorian Amazon from 1964 to 1990 and consistently dumped over 18 billion gallons of toxic wastewater, spilled nearly 17 million gallons of crude oil and left hazardous waste in hundreds of open pits dug out of the forest floor.
Acccording to the film's maker Joe Berlinger, Chevron operated using obsolete practices in order to increase its profit margin by $3.00 per barrel of crude oil.
"CRUDE" focuses on the landmark lawsuit filed by 30,0000 indigenous Ecuadorian rainforest dwellers who have suffered with severe health crisis due to the contamination caused by Chevron. Former oil worker Pablo Fajardo, who completed his law degree by correspondence course, is the lead attorney for the indigenous people. In one moving scene, a Cofán indigenous leader travelled from the Amazon jungle byfoot, canoe, bus, train, and finally, plane to speak at a Chevron shareholder meeting in Houston about how the contamination affected his people. The Chevron lawyers present at the meeting maintain the attitude of corporate Goliaths to this Amazonian rainforest David.
Amazon Watch's Clean Up Ecuador Campaign is leading grassroots efforts to promote the theatrical release through human rights and environmental groups across the U.S. Several organizations have committed to building momentum around "CRUDE" including Sting and Trudie Styler's Rainforest Action Network, Oxfam USA, WITNESS, EarthRights International, Human Rights Watch, and Global Green.
Watch for "CRUDE" in theatres mid-September. For more information, go to www.crudethemovie.com.
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