The Yasuní blog

Yasuní Green Gold Campaign and Book Launch Event

Posted by Adam Ma'anit on Friday, October 3, 2008 1 comment

Come to the Yasuni Green Gold UK Campaign and Book Launch

We are gathering an audience of experts, including government representatives, and members from the academic, Ecuadorian and NGO communities, and supporters of the campaign to discuss the role the UK can play in saving Yasuní. We are delighted that Anita Rivas, the indigenous mayor of Orellana Province where Yasuní is located, will be attending and using the opportunity to deliver a heartfelt appeal to the international community to support the Ecuadorian Government in its attempts to save Yasuní.

Where:

Amnesty Human Rights Action Centre, 17-25 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA


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When:

Monday, 6th October, 7pm

There are still a few spaces available. Please email yasuni@newint.org if you would like to attend.


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Comments

Thanks for a wonderful evening at Amnesty
I have just returned from the Yasuni Green Gold book launch at Amnesty international in London. The evening was highly informative and well co-ordinated.

I was especially moved by Anita Rivas', (mayor of Orellana Province), heartfelt speech. It must take some courage to take on big oil and corruption. In addition, she stood up in front of the international community and officials of Ecuador and spoke intelligently about their plight.

The other speech from one of the indigenous living in the Yasuni area. This was delivered by a lady and her daughter who did a magnificent job of conveying the passion and intelligence of the message. My apologies for not remembering the names.

The other speakers added further background and dimension to the whole debate, as did audience members.

Despite the will and enthusiasm of all attending, it really feels like there will need to be a lot of work done if Yasuni is to be guaranteed a lasting form of protection. Governments are good at making promises, but big oil continues to destroy the environment. They have all the money and power.

Nelson Torres, First Secretary, Ecuadorian Embassy announced that they wish to embrace a scheme where they would be compensated $250 million dollars for ten years, in exchange for doing nothing to the land in the way of exploitation. The downside is that there is 10 weeks left until that deadline expires and the scheme hasn't even been seen by the UK government yet.

Some audience members expressed caution getting into bed with the markets and government as history has taught us to be wary.

The chair, David Ransom, eloquently reminded all that we have a lot of lessons to learn from South America and its' native people. Any solution won't be satisfactory unless it has the full participation of the peoples in Yasuni.

My heartfelt thanks to everyone that made this evening possible including New Internationalist Magazine and Amnesty International.

Simon on 10/06/2008 | view this user's profile
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