Chevron in Ecuador

The archive of the Clean Up Ecuador campaign website


Victims of Chevron's Contamination React to Being Sued by Company

7 February 2011

Victims of Chevron's contamination from the region around oil boom-town Coca learn the news that the oil giant is suing them, accusing them of racketeering and extortion for their efforts to hold the company accountable for its abuses.

On February 2nd, Chevron filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York against the 47 "named plaintiffs" in the monumental environmental lawsuit against the company demanding cleanup of its contamination of their land in Ecuador's Amazon region. Pictured are campesinos and members of the indigenous Kichwa tribe, including Maria Aguinda, the lead plaintiff in the Aguinda vs. Texaco case. California-based Chevron absorbed Texaco in 2001, along with all of its assets and liabilities.

Email han [at] amazonwatch [dot] org for high-resolution photos.

  • Maria Aguinda - the lead plaintiff in 'Aguinda vs. Texaco' - and a little girl in Rumipamba -> Click to enlarge

    Maria Aguinda - the lead plaintiff in 'Aguinda vs. Texaco' - and a little girl in Rumipamba

  • Member of Kichwa indigenous community listen to their names being read from Chevron legal complaint -> Click to enlarge

    Member of Kichwa indigenous community listen to their names being read from Chevron legal complaint

  • Member of Kichwa indigenous community listen to their names being read from Chevron legal complaint -> Click to enlarge

    Member of Kichwa indigenous community listen to their names being read from Chevron legal complaint

  • Members of the indigenous Kichwa community of Rumipamba with Chevron's oil pollution -> Click to enlarge

    Members of the indigenous Kichwa community of Rumipamba with Chevron's oil pollution

  • Oil contamination in the indigenous Kichwa village of Rumipamba -> Click to enlarge

    Oil contamination in the indigenous Kichwa village of Rumipamba

  • Oil contamination in the indigenous Kichwa village of Rumipamba -> Click to enlarge

    Oil contamination in the indigenous Kichwa village of Rumipamba

  • Oil slick on water in indigenous Kichwa village of Rumipamba -> Click to enlarge

    Oil slick on water in indigenous Kichwa village of Rumipamba

  • Maria Reascos of Pirampiro looks through Chevron's legal complaint -> Click to enlarge

    Maria Reascos of Pirampiro looks through Chevron's legal complaint

  • Maria Reascos with her daughter and granddaughter in front of their home in Pirampiro -> Click to enlarge

    Maria Reascos with her daughter and granddaughter in front of their home in Pirampiro

  • Hugo Camacho of the community of Pirampiro looks through the legal complaint filed by Chevron -> Click to enlarge

    Hugo Camacho of the community of Pirampiro looks through the legal complaint filed by Chevron

  • Hugo Camacho and his wife Maria look through the legal complaint filed by Chevron -> Click to enlarge

    Hugo Camacho and his wife Maria look through the legal complaint filed by Chevron