Iwith

The Yasuní national park in Ecuador is a pristine area of Amazon rainforest. It is a place of unparalleled beauty, biodiversity, ecological and cultural importance, and is home to many groups of indigenous people, some of whom have chosen to live in isolation from the rest of the world.

It, and the lives of the people who live there, are currently threatened with destruction in order to extract half a billion barrels of oil. This must not happen. For the sake of Yasuní's people, and the global climate that we all rely on, the oil must stay in the ground.

The President of Ecuador has appealed to the international community to help save Yasuní but his proposal - that rich countries pay Ecuador $350m per annum over ten years not to exploit the oil - has failed to take off. This is due to both the lack of clarity from the Ecuadorian government and the lack of support from rich countries.

Although the proposal is visionary in recognizing that northern countries have an obligation to help southern countries mitigate climate change, it has significant flaws: it does not protect the rights of the forest's indigenous inhabitants, leaves Yasuní vulnerable to future oil exploitation, and risks turning it into a giant carbon offset, sold to the highest paying polluter.

If this proposal is improved, Yasuní could set a new precedent for climate justice. It could provide a model for how the rich world can fulfil its existing obligations to help countries in the global South preserve their environmental and cultural treasures and make the transition to a low carbon economy, in partnership with local communities.

Action to save Yasuní is needed now!

This means:

1. An unconditional, non-reversible commitment from the Ecuadorian government to preserve Yasuní and protect the human rights of its people.


2. An unlimited extension of the time given to reach agreement on how to do this.


3. An international process led by the Ecuadorian Government, with full participation from local and indigenous groups in the region, to create a clear, coherent and fully representative proposal for securing a long-term sustainable future for Yasuní. This process should seek to work in partnership with supportive NGOs and governments.


4. An assurance that any financial support from governments will come through an open, democratic and accountable process, and will not involve carbon trading, World Bank funding or debt cancellation schemes, which have proved ineffective in reducing CO2 emissions and damaging to local peoples' rights around the world.


5. An assurance that any other projects which may have a negative impact on the area will not be allowed to go ahead.

www.iwith.org

Transnational Institute

The Yasuní national park in Ecuador is a pristine area of Amazon rainforest. It is a place of unparalleled beauty, biodiversity, ecological and cultural importance, and is home to many groups of indigenous people, some of whom have chosen to live in isolation from the rest of the world.

It, and the lives of the people who live there, are currently threatened with destruction in order to extract half a billion barrels of oil. This must not happen. For the sake of Yasuní's people, and the global climate that we all rely on, the oil must stay in the ground.

The President of Ecuador has appealed to the international community to help save Yasuní but his proposal - that rich countries pay Ecuador $350m per annum over ten years not to exploit the oil - has failed to take off. This is due to both the lack of clarity from the Ecuadorian government and the lack of support from rich countries.

Although the proposal is visionary in recognizing that northern countries have an obligation to help southern countries mitigate climate change, it has significant flaws: it does not protect the rights of the forest's indigenous inhabitants, leaves Yasuní vulnerable to future oil exploitation, and risks turning it into a giant carbon offset, sold to the highest paying polluter.

If this proposal is improved, Yasuní could set a new precedent for climate justice. It could provide a model for how the rich world can fulfil its existing obligations to help countries in the global South preserve their environmental and cultural treasures and make the transition to a low carbon economy, in partnership with local communities.

Action to save Yasuní is needed now!

This means:

1. An unconditional, non-reversible commitment from the Ecuadorian government to preserve Yasuní and protect the human rights of its people.


2. An unlimited extension of the time given to reach agreement on how to do this.


3. An international process led by the Ecuadorian Government, with full participation from local and indigenous groups in the region, to create a clear, coherent and fully representative proposal for securing a long-term sustainable future for Yasuní. This process should seek to work in partnership with supportive NGOs and governments.


4. An assurance that any financial support from governments will come through an open, democratic and accountable process, and will not involve carbon trading, World Bank funding or debt cancellation schemes, which have proved ineffective in reducing CO2 emissions and damaging to local peoples' rights around the world.


5. An assurance that any other projects which may have a negative impact on the area will not be allowed to go ahead.

http://www.tni.org

Platform

The Yasuní national park in Ecuador is a pristine area of Amazon rainforest. It is a place of unparalleled beauty, biodiversity, ecological and cultural importance, and is home to many groups of indigenous people, some of whom have chosen to live in isolation from the rest of the world.

It, and the lives of the people who live there, are currently threatened with destruction in order to extract half a billion barrels of oil. This must not happen. For the sake of Yasuní's people, and the global climate that we all rely on, the oil must stay in the ground.

The President of Ecuador has appealed to the international community to help save Yasuní but his proposal - that rich countries pay Ecuador $350m per annum over ten years not to exploit the oil - has failed to take off. This is due to both the lack of clarity from the Ecuadorian government and the lack of support from rich countries.

Although the proposal is visionary in recognizing that northern countries have an obligation to help southern countries mitigate climate change, it has significant flaws: it does not protect the rights of the forest's indigenous inhabitants, leaves Yasuní vulnerable to future oil exploitation, and risks turning it into a giant carbon offset, sold to the highest paying polluter.

If this proposal is improved, Yasuní could set a new precedent for climate justice. It could provide a model for how the rich world can fulfil its existing obligations to help countries in the global South preserve their environmental and cultural treasures and make the transition to a low carbon economy, in partnership with local communities.

Action to save Yasuní is needed now!

This means:

1. An unconditional, non-reversible commitment from the Ecuadorian government to preserve Yasuní and protect the human rights of its people.


2. An unlimited extension of the time given to reach agreement on how to do this.


3. An international process led by the Ecuadorian Government, with full participation from local and indigenous groups in the region, to create a clear, coherent and fully representative proposal for securing a long-term sustainable future for Yasuní. This process should seek to work in partnership with supportive NGOs and governments.


4. An assurance that any financial support from governments will come through an open, democratic and accountable process, and will not involve carbon trading, World Bank funding or debt cancellation schemes, which have proved ineffective in reducing CO2 emissions and damaging to local peoples' rights around the world.


5. An assurance that any other projects which may have a negative impact on the area will not be allowed to go ahead.

World Rainforest Movement

The Yasuní national park in Ecuador is a pristine area of Amazon rainforest. It is a place of unparalleled beauty, biodiversity, ecological and cultural importance, and is home to many groups of indigenous people, some of whom have chosen to live in isolation from the rest of the world.

It, and the lives of the people who live there, are currently threatened with destruction in order to extract half a billion barrels of oil. This must not happen. For the sake of Yasuní's people, and the global climate that we all rely on, the oil must stay in the ground.

The President of Ecuador has appealed to the international community to help save Yasuní but his proposal - that rich countries pay Ecuador $350m per annum over ten years not to exploit the oil - has failed to take off. This is due to both the lack of clarity from the Ecuadorian government and the lack of support from rich countries.

Although the proposal is visionary in recognizing that northern countries have an obligation to help southern countries mitigate climate change, it has significant flaws: it does not protect the rights of the forest's indigenous inhabitants, leaves Yasuní vulnerable to future oil exploitation, and risks turning it into a giant carbon offset, sold to the highest paying polluter.

If this proposal is improved, Yasuní could set a new precedent for climate justice. It could provide a model for how the rich world can fulfil its existing obligations to help countries in the global South preserve their environmental and cultural treasures and make the transition to a low carbon economy, in partnership with local communities.

Action to save Yasuní is needed now!

This means:

1. An unconditional, non-reversible commitment from the Ecuadorian government to preserve Yasuní and protect the human rights of its people.


2. An unlimited extension of the time given to reach agreement on how to do this.


3. An international process led by the Ecuadorian Government, with full participation from local and indigenous groups in the region, to create a clear, coherent and fully representative proposal for securing a long-term sustainable future for Yasuní. This process should seek to work in partnership with supportive NGOs and governments.


4. An assurance that any financial support from governments will come through an open, democratic and accountable process, and will not involve carbon trading, World Bank funding or debt cancellation schemes, which have proved ineffective in reducing CO2 emissions and damaging to local peoples' rights around the world.


5. An assurance that any other projects which may have a negative impact on the area will not be allowed to go ahead.

Biofuelwatch

The Yasuní national park in Ecuador is a pristine area of Amazon rainforest. It is a place of unparalleled beauty, biodiversity, ecological and cultural importance, and is home to many groups of indigenous people, some of whom have chosen to live in isolation from the rest of the world.

It, and the lives of the people who live there, are currently threatened with destruction in order to extract half a billion barrels of oil. This must not happen. For the sake of Yasuní's people, and the global climate that we all rely on, the oil must stay in the ground.

The President of Ecuador has appealed to the international community to help save Yasuní but his proposal - that rich countries pay Ecuador $350m per annum over ten years not to exploit the oil - has failed to take off. This is due to both the lack of clarity from the Ecuadorian government and the lack of support from rich countries.

Although the proposal is visionary in recognizing that northern countries have an obligation to help southern countries mitigate climate change, it has significant flaws: it does not protect the rights of the forest's indigenous inhabitants, leaves Yasuní vulnerable to future oil exploitation, and risks turning it into a giant carbon offset, sold to the highest paying polluter.

If this proposal is improved, Yasuní could set a new precedent for climate justice. It could provide a model for how the rich world can fulfil its existing obligations to help countries in the global South preserve their environmental and cultural treasures and make the transition to a low carbon economy, in partnership with local communities.

Action to save Yasuní is needed now!

This means:

1. An unconditional, non-reversible commitment from the Ecuadorian government to preserve Yasuní and protect the human rights of its people.


2. An unlimited extension of the time given to reach agreement on how to do this.


3. An international process led by the Ecuadorian Government, with full participation from local and indigenous groups in the region, to create a clear, coherent and fully representative proposal for securing a long-term sustainable future for Yasuní. This process should seek to work in partnership with supportive NGOs and governments.


4. An assurance that any financial support from governments will come through an open, democratic and accountable process, and will not involve carbon trading, World Bank funding or debt cancellation schemes, which have proved ineffective in reducing CO2 emissions and damaging to local peoples' rights around the world.


5. An assurance that any other projects which may have a negative impact on the area will not be allowed to go ahead.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We have been fortunate to be able to be connected with people and organizations from all over the world who have contribuited ideas, skills and resources to the campaign; without them it would have been impossible.
The Local Government of Francisco de Orellana:specially the mayor Anita Carolina Rivas for giving us the opportunity to live and work with them for a while and for trusting us with theses beautiful photographs and with the Campaign. Juan Antonio Córdoba: sorry for giving you so much extra work, Ximena Narvaez, Alfoso Martínez, Francisco Dutichela and the resto of the local government family. Thanks for everything!
Special thanks to Jane Goodall, Ricardo Carrere, Laura Rival and Carlos Larrea;also to Clair Jones and Mary Lewis, of the Jane Goodall Foundation.
To Oscar Francino and the NGO Ali Supay, for their social commitment,m their kindness and their quick response when we contacted them about the images.
The FORMIA project, fro taking us to the doors of Ecuador, for their kindness and for allowing us to meet the ¨alternative local indigenous governments¨. Luis Robles, thanks for all ¨pirate¨, Cesar Vizarrea, Julio Yuquilema, Juan José Sanzberro and Isabel Farinango.
To Ramón Bartomeus, from Iwith, for his trust and help with our idea even before we knew we had one.
Consultores sin Fronteras:Vanessa Ruiz, Salvador García, Lorena Rienzi, Ileana Morales for helping us from the beginning, for their huge contribuition and for continuing to suppor us.
Manuel Acevedo and Ivan Ortiz for their frienship and for sharing our social challenges.¡egoglobal!.
To Guillermo Corral, all of this started with that coffee in the faculty...
To Ana María Pastor, Germán Haro, Jorge Haro and to Toni, Sally and Nicolas Donati, for so many things...
The whole of the New Internationalist family: Troth Wells, Daniel Raymond-Barker, Andrew Kokotka, Vanessa Baird, Sam Martingel and others, for believing in us, for thir kindness and for helping us in so many more ways than simply the editorial. It has been a plesuar to work with and know you all.
Keyla Greciano, Maryem Torres, Emily Bridges and Troth Wells for putting a roof over Ginés´ head for a large part of the months we have spent creating Yasuní Green Gold.
Other who have contribuited:
Joaquín Aviles, Rosa López, Caitlin Ketchen, Lydia Caistor Arendar, Nick Caistor, Jeremy Rayner, Oliver Yeates, George MacDonald, Ricardo Vinent, Jose Luis Martí, Concha Jambrina, Daniel Cibati, Iona Orengo, Héctor Disseny, Gustavo Ruiz Llavero, Ferrán Guallar, Josetxo, Bárbara Janssens, Dennis Gruber, Edward Beardsnore, Melanie Gill, Mª Dolores Lupiañez, Mª Jose Bell, Asociación Madre Coraje, Movimiento Idun....

And to all the organizations, scientist, researches and other people who have trusted in us on nothing more than our word and our hopes.

And to everyone that we have forgotten, thank you and please forgive us!
Good work guys!

Jordi Llopart. United Nations Millennium Campaign. New York. US

"On September 8, 2000, 189 United Nations member states signed the Millennium Declaration. In that inspiring declaration, nations of the world stated, among other things:


“…We must spare no effort to free all of humanity, and above all our children and grandchildren, from the threat of living on a planet irredeemably spoilt by human activities, and whose resources would no longer be sufficient for their needs […]We resolve therefore to adopt in all our environmental actions a new ethic of conservation and stewardship and, as first steps, we resolve […]To intensify our collective efforts for the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests…”.

(55/2. United Nations Millennium Declaration Paras. 21 and 23)


The government of Ecuador signed the Millennium Declaration and has endorsed the 8 Millennium Development Goals that came out of this international agreement. The Millennium Goals clearly show that reducing poverty and achieving sustained development must be done in conjunction with a healthy planet. The Millennium Development Goals recognize that environmental sustainability is part of global economic and social well-being".


Exploitation of natural resources such as the Yasuní National Park can cause alarming changes in our environment and can harm the most vulnerable people in the world who depend on natural resources for their livelihood. Outreach efforts such as the one promoted by the Movimiento Idun to protect the Yasuní are necessary to bring the issue to the public attention, and I support such efforts.


Jordi Llopart

United Nations Millennium Campaign. New York. USA.