During a recent
pipeline rupture in Ecuador, an untold number of barrels
spilled out, polluting multiple acres of a protected
Amazonian rainforest area. All we do know so far
is that countless wildlife species, as well as the
Indigenous communities of Ecuador, are paying the
horrible daily costs. After a few days,
oil is already reaching the Coca River, one of the
Ecuadorian Amazon's largest. This means the water is
undrinkable and unusable. Fish are inedible. Meanwhile, the
precious animals of the rainforest are also suffering as
their environment is rendered inhabitable and full of
poisons.
It all started
when a pipeline owned by the private company OCP Ecuador
became damaged during a mudslide late last month. While
this might seem like a freak accident, it's far
from the first time such a thing has happened
to OCP's pipelines — yet the company has clearly not
taken sufficient action to ensure their pipelines are
safe and fully protected from such events. Yet
again, their equipment has broken, resulting in
horror for animals and humans alike. Both OCP and the
Ecuadorian government owe it to the Indigenous
communities and animals to come up with a plan
to provide food and water to those who rely on the Coca
River, and to implement a comprehensive cleanup plan to
contain and remove the deadly pollution. Sign the petition to
stand with Indigenous communities and wildlife in the
Ecuadorian Amazon and demand accountability after this
oil
spill!
