giving up oil production for the greater good

[bcbm]

But there also is an international notion of good living, and we think that extends to protecting the environment upon which humanity depends and finding ways to power our modern society without crushing those people who choose a different paradigm of good living.

In the case of the Yasuni rain forest, not only does it house oil, but it is one of the most biodiverse regions of the world, with more tree species than in all of North America, more documented insect species than any forest in the world and a critical habitat for threatened mammals, birds, bats and amphibians. UNESCO declared it a World Biosphere Reserve in 1989.

The land that makes up Yasuni's Ishpingo, Tambococha and Tiputini fields (ITT) also is home to several indigenous communities whose well-being is guaranteed by our constitution and whose idea of Buen Vivir is as valued as it is different from that of other Andean populations. There are about 3,000 people in these communities, incluiding the Tagaeri and Taromenane, the last two indigenous groups still living in voluntary isolation in Ecuador.




http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/09/29/1847460/giving-up-oil-production-for-the.html

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

Of course, as oil prices skyrocket, it remains to be seen whether the Ecuadorean elites can avoid the future temptation of oodles of petrodollars.

This is a step in the right direction, but it's only a half-measure. I wonder what Ecuador's current primary method of electricity generation is? It's all very well going on about the greater good, but if people are suffering due to a lack of power I would consider that a downside.

As well as conservation efforts such as this, there needs to be serious movement towards a post-carbon energy economy to ensure that such measures are not ultimately in vain.

[bcbm]

obviously this is just a step but i think it is a positive step, especially if it puts them in a position to start seriously developing an alternative to oil based society.

[DWI]

Oil production also serves the greater good, so it's more a question of what serves it more.