Political_Chucky
15th February 2011, 08:21
Wasn't sure whether to put in science and enviroment or politics, but this is more of a political issue. Move as neccessary
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110215/ap_on_bi_ge/lt_ecuador_chevron
QUITO, Ecuador – An Ecuadorean judge ruled Monday in an epic environmental case that Chevron Corp (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110215/ap_on_bi_ge/lt_ecuador_chevron#). was responsible for oil drilling contamination in a wide swath of Ecuador's northern jungle and ordered the oil giant to pay $9.5 billion in damages and cleanup (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110215/ap_on_bi_ge/lt_ecuador_chevron#).
The amount — $8.6 billion plus a legally mandated 10 percent reparations fee — was far below the $27.3 billion award recommended by a court-appointed expert but appeared to be the highest damage award ever issued in an environmental lawsuit.
But whether the plaintiffs — including indigenous groups who say their hunting and fishing (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110215/ap_on_bi_ge/lt_ecuador_chevron#) in Amazon River headwaters were decimated by toxic wastewater that also raised the cancer rate — can collect remains to be seen.
In a statement, Chevron (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110215/ap_on_bi_ge/lt_ecuador_chevron#) called the decision "illegitimate and unenforceable" and said it would appeal. It has long contended it could never get a fair trial in Ecuador and has removed all assets from this politically volatile Andean country, whose leftist president, Rafael Correa, had voiced support for the plaintiffs.
Chevron, which earned $19.1 billion last year, said it did not believe the judgment "enforceable in any court that observes the rule of law."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110215/ap_on_bi_ge/lt_ecuador_chevron
QUITO, Ecuador – An Ecuadorean judge ruled Monday in an epic environmental case that Chevron Corp (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110215/ap_on_bi_ge/lt_ecuador_chevron#). was responsible for oil drilling contamination in a wide swath of Ecuador's northern jungle and ordered the oil giant to pay $9.5 billion in damages and cleanup (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110215/ap_on_bi_ge/lt_ecuador_chevron#).
The amount — $8.6 billion plus a legally mandated 10 percent reparations fee — was far below the $27.3 billion award recommended by a court-appointed expert but appeared to be the highest damage award ever issued in an environmental lawsuit.
But whether the plaintiffs — including indigenous groups who say their hunting and fishing (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110215/ap_on_bi_ge/lt_ecuador_chevron#) in Amazon River headwaters were decimated by toxic wastewater that also raised the cancer rate — can collect remains to be seen.
In a statement, Chevron (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110215/ap_on_bi_ge/lt_ecuador_chevron#) called the decision "illegitimate and unenforceable" and said it would appeal. It has long contended it could never get a fair trial in Ecuador and has removed all assets from this politically volatile Andean country, whose leftist president, Rafael Correa, had voiced support for the plaintiffs.
Chevron, which earned $19.1 billion last year, said it did not believe the judgment "enforceable in any court that observes the rule of law."