Effects of Oil on Human Health
As oil production becomes increasingly more important, and seemingly detrimental over the years, more recognition comes to the small developing countries in which the most damage is typically caused. In places like Ecuador, whom have seen great oil spills poison their land, it is no surprise that large-scale oil companies want to sign deals to drill into their overly abundant rain forests. Rarely considered, however, are the effects on the health of the indigenous people of the rain forest, and all the people, in this case Ecuadorians, that inhabit such a small, biodiverse country. Based on extensive research, which can be looked over at the complied database (https://sites.google.com/site/oilcontaminationhealtheffects), the relationship between oil contamination and health effects such as cancer incidence, pulmonary ailments, and psychological, reproductive, and dermatological health problems have been determined. The types of heath effects the derive from a particular spill depend on a few factors, some of the most important being how long it took to clean up, and the geographic location of the spill. How close in proximity these wells are from the homes and resources of the people; in many cases in Ecuador, right in the backyards of indigenous tribes.
Ecuadorian Court Fines Chevron $17B for Oil Pollution
Since the 70’s, Texaco, later bought by Chevron, has dumped billions of gallons of toxic oil waste into the Ecuadorian rain forest and Amazon River. Amazonian residents and indigenous peoples sued Texaco for what they were doing, and an Ecuadorian Judge ordered Chevron to pay a compensation fine for systematically destroying and polluting their rain forest. Chevron had vowed to issue a public apology, however, suggested it would not pay up under any circumstance, calling the ruling "illegitimate and unenforceable” in that not enough damage was done. Based on tests and facts, however, Ecuadorian people were up in arms over this, knowing the true damage and harm to the land and to the people that this oil giant had caused, and Chevron’s lack of respect to pay these fines only made them want to continue the fight. What was happening would, in the end, bring recognition to the matter and bring it closer to finalization. Unfortunately, the fight against Texaco/Chevron lasted nearly two decades, while Amazonian people continued to live in the over-polluted rain forest, bearing the health and environmental infringements upon them.
Chevron Oil Pollution in Ecuador and Effects on Indigenous People
When drilling for oil, steps are typically taken in order to protect the land, the groundwater, and of course, the health of the people who live from the land. In Ecuador, there are many indigenous tribes who live off the land today, drinking from the Amazon River, and using the water to bathe and cook. These people have been left sick, and with dwindling or polluted natural resources. Chevron’s utter disaster in the Ecuadorian rain forest was greatly due to the fact that they used absolutely no precaution, from the very beginning of drilling their wells. Inside the well, a sort of tarp is supposed to line the pit, which in turn could protect the soil and groundwater from seeping toxic oil wastes. Chevron simply did not abide by this. When drilling in America, the rules were always followed in fear of what could come from pollution issues. In Ecuador, however, Chevron simply did not care and assumed they would get away with such a mess. It is very unfortunate and upsetting that a biodiversity hotspot like Ecuador, is seen in such a way by Big Oil, simply because it is plentiful there but “developing” or “third-world” and with no regard for the environment, or the biodiversity that lies within. In Ecuador, Chevron not only did not line their pits, instead letting toxic sludge seep directly into the ground, poisoning aquifers, but also set up pipelines that would redirect toxic wastewater and sludge from drilling directly into the streams and rivers. This is utter malpractice, in that toxic wastewater was always supposed to be reinserted back below the surface, underneath the water table. Additionally, rather than disposing of leftover sludge and toxic waste from the pits, waste was left across the Amazon, to settle and continue polluting the soil, the plants, the wildlife, and the indigenous groups of people surrounding them. The damage done by Chevron in the Ecuadorian rain forest is evident and widespread. Indigenous peoples of the area have been harmed, and their land tainted. Chevron owes Ecuador even more than monetary funds, as this becomes a human rights issue in addition to what is already an ongoing environmental issue. Big Oil should be repaying this biodiverse place in any way that they can; the same goes for every other place like Ecuador they have systematically worked to pollute and damage.
As oil production becomes increasingly more important, and seemingly detrimental over the years, more recognition comes to the small developing countries in which the most damage is typically caused. In places like Ecuador, whom have seen great oil spills poison their land, it is no surprise that large-scale oil companies want to sign deals to drill into their overly abundant rain forests. Rarely considered, however, are the effects on the health of the indigenous people of the rain forest, and all the people, in this case Ecuadorians, that inhabit such a small, biodiverse country. Based on extensive research, which can be looked over at the complied database (https://sites.google.com/site/oilcontaminationhealtheffects), the relationship between oil contamination and health effects such as cancer incidence, pulmonary ailments, and psychological, reproductive, and dermatological health problems have been determined. The types of heath effects the derive from a particular spill depend on a few factors, some of the most important being how long it took to clean up, and the geographic location of the spill. How close in proximity these wells are from the homes and resources of the people; in many cases in Ecuador, right in the backyards of indigenous tribes.
Ecuadorian Court Fines Chevron $17B for Oil Pollution
Since the 70’s, Texaco, later bought by Chevron, has dumped billions of gallons of toxic oil waste into the Ecuadorian rain forest and Amazon River. Amazonian residents and indigenous peoples sued Texaco for what they were doing, and an Ecuadorian Judge ordered Chevron to pay a compensation fine for systematically destroying and polluting their rain forest. Chevron had vowed to issue a public apology, however, suggested it would not pay up under any circumstance, calling the ruling "illegitimate and unenforceable” in that not enough damage was done. Based on tests and facts, however, Ecuadorian people were up in arms over this, knowing the true damage and harm to the land and to the people that this oil giant had caused, and Chevron’s lack of respect to pay these fines only made them want to continue the fight. What was happening would, in the end, bring recognition to the matter and bring it closer to finalization. Unfortunately, the fight against Texaco/Chevron lasted nearly two decades, while Amazonian people continued to live in the over-polluted rain forest, bearing the health and environmental infringements upon them.
Chevron Oil Pollution in Ecuador and Effects on Indigenous People
When drilling for oil, steps are typically taken in order to protect the land, the groundwater, and of course, the health of the people who live from the land. In Ecuador, there are many indigenous tribes who live off the land today, drinking from the Amazon River, and using the water to bathe and cook. These people have been left sick, and with dwindling or polluted natural resources. Chevron’s utter disaster in the Ecuadorian rain forest was greatly due to the fact that they used absolutely no precaution, from the very beginning of drilling their wells. Inside the well, a sort of tarp is supposed to line the pit, which in turn could protect the soil and groundwater from seeping toxic oil wastes. Chevron simply did not abide by this. When drilling in America, the rules were always followed in fear of what could come from pollution issues. In Ecuador, however, Chevron simply did not care and assumed they would get away with such a mess. It is very unfortunate and upsetting that a biodiversity hotspot like Ecuador, is seen in such a way by Big Oil, simply because it is plentiful there but “developing” or “third-world” and with no regard for the environment, or the biodiversity that lies within. In Ecuador, Chevron not only did not line their pits, instead letting toxic sludge seep directly into the ground, poisoning aquifers, but also set up pipelines that would redirect toxic wastewater and sludge from drilling directly into the streams and rivers. This is utter malpractice, in that toxic wastewater was always supposed to be reinserted back below the surface, underneath the water table. Additionally, rather than disposing of leftover sludge and toxic waste from the pits, waste was left across the Amazon, to settle and continue polluting the soil, the plants, the wildlife, and the indigenous groups of people surrounding them. The damage done by Chevron in the Ecuadorian rain forest is evident and widespread. Indigenous peoples of the area have been harmed, and their land tainted. Chevron owes Ecuador even more than monetary funds, as this becomes a human rights issue in addition to what is already an ongoing environmental issue. Big Oil should be repaying this biodiverse place in any way that they can; the same goes for every other place like Ecuador they have systematically worked to pollute and damage.