Yasuni Green Gold : Human Rights, environmental conservation & oil exploitation

Yasuni National Park Ecuador Yasuni National Park Ecuador

www.yasunigreengold.org

Yasuni is one of the most bio-diverse places in the Yasuni is one of the most bio-diverse places in the whole world.whole world.

Virgin rainforest at its most resplendent, boasting Virgin rainforest at its most resplendent, boasting around 1 million hectares of incredible genetic around 1 million hectares of incredible genetic diversity & beauty. diversity & beauty.

During the last Ice age, it was a haven for animals & During the last Ice age, it was a haven for animals & plants. It then played a crucial part in repopulating the plants. It then played a crucial part in repopulating the Amazon area .Amazon area .


Yasuni is a Yasuni is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and heritage siteand heritage site due to its exceptional diversity and due to its exceptional diversity and the presence of the Taromenane and Tagaeri people the presence of the Taromenane and Tagaeri people

The World Wildlife Fund for Nature The World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF)(WWF) has has called Yasuni one of the called Yasuni one of the world's most important world's most important protection areasprotection areas and scientists from all around the and scientists from all around the world have written calling for its preservation. world have written calling for its preservation.


Yasuni was declared anYasuni was declared an 'Untouchable Zone' 'Untouchable Zone'. .

This designation implies that the zone is to be This designation implies that the zone is to be protected from any mining, oil activity, protected from any mining, oil activity, logging, colonization or anything that might logging, colonization or anything that might tamper with the biodiversity and ethno-cultural tamper with the biodiversity and ethno-cultural nature of the area. nature of the area.

wwwyasunigreengold.org

Up to Up to 920 million barrels of crude oil920 million barrels of crude oil have been have been located underneath this piece of paradise!located underneath this piece of paradise!

Black GoldBlack Gold


However, despite the extraordinary biological and However, despite the extraordinary biological and cultural importance,cultural importance, Yasuní's conservation is by Yasuní's conservation is by no means assured…no means assured…

Yasuni poses one of the most important questions of our Yasuni poses one of the most important questions of our time…time…

Life Life (f)or (f)or

Oil…?Oil…?

Life in YasuniLife in Yasuni

The true wealth of the Yasuni does not lie below the The true wealth of the Yasuni does not lie below the ground or in gold or minerals. ground or in gold or minerals.

Yasuni’s wealth lies with its extraordinary and Yasuni’s wealth lies with its extraordinary and unique bio-diversity and the indigenous people that unique bio-diversity and the indigenous people that choose to live, un-contacted, under it's canopy.choose to live, un-contacted, under it's canopy.

It is a cherished home to a host of trees, plants, It is a cherished home to a host of trees, plants, animals, birds, insects, and people.animals, birds, insects, and people.


The forest

Yasuni is a haven for at least 73 mammal species, representing 40% of all mammal species in the Amazonian’s forests.


The park harbors a total of 25 mammal species protected under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) and / or listed as endangered, vulnerable or near threatened as well as many other “species of concern” in groups such as amphibians, reptiles birds and plants.

http://www.yasunioroverde.orgwww.yasunigreengold.org

True ColoursTrue Colours

The Park contains 44 The Park contains 44 % of the species of the % of the species of the Amazon Basin’s birds, Amazon Basin’s birds, making it one of the making it one of the world’s richest avian world’s richest avian sites. sites.

http://www.yasunioroverde.org

Yasuni has more then 100,000 species of insects per hectare & 6 trillion individuals per hectare. Most are new to science and many new genera are being discovered.


Trees of YasuniTrees of Yasuni

There are more There are more species of trees species of trees in 2.5 hectares in 2.5 hectares of the reserve of the reserve than in the entire than in the entire United States United States and Canada and Canada combined.combined.


A climatic refuge A climatic refuge


Yasuni National Park is likely to be one of the regions least effected by climate change

Protecting it is crucial on the global scale because it may serve as a refuge of the Amazonian species that cannot continue to thrive in other parts of the Amazon basin.

The PeopleThe People

Also living inside and around the Yasuni Also living inside and around the Yasuni National Park are the people of Yasuni National Park are the people of Yasuni including three different indigenous groups – including three different indigenous groups – Waorani, Kichwa and Shuar. Waorani, Kichwa and Shuar.

For centuries indigenous people have lived in For centuries indigenous people have lived in harmony with the Yasuni. Now many have lost harmony with the Yasuni. Now many have lost their heritage due to the loss of the forest, their their heritage due to the loss of the forest, their home. home.


Past…Past…The region is protected The region is protected by indigenous people by indigenous people descended from ancient descended from ancient warriors: The Tagaeri warriors: The Tagaeri and the Taromenani. and the Taromenani.

These are two of the last These are two of the last communities to live in communities to live in isolation from the rest of isolation from the rest of the world.the world.


Present…Present…


Future…?Future…?


Effects of oil Effects of oil on Yasuni National Park and its on Yasuni National Park and its

inhabitants. inhabitants.


The impacts of oil exploration in the areas surrounding The impacts of oil exploration in the areas surrounding the Yasuni have been well documented.the Yasuni have been well documented.

Effects of oil Effects of oil on Yasuni National Parkon Yasuni National Park

Drilling for the oil will have devastating and Drilling for the oil will have devastating and irreversible irreversible ENVIRONMENTAL and SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTAL and SOCIAL IMPACTSIMPACTS destroying the home of the destroying the home of the non-contact non-contact indigenous peopleindigenous people most likely causing their death. most likely causing their death.

Exploitation of the Yasuní will cause Exploitation of the Yasuní will cause mass mass

deforestationdeforestation and the further production and and the further production and burning of fossil fuelsburning of fossil fuels – the two main causes of – the two main causes of CLIMATE CHANGE.CLIMATE CHANGE.


The Impact of petroleum extraction.

Environmental impactsEnvironmental impacts : : The extinction of known and The extinction of known and unknown species and an unknown species and an aalteration in the relations of ecosystems.

Birds, plants, insects and other animals will have to move or die out, as will the social fabric of ancient human cultures.


ImpactsImpacts Cultural impactsCultural impacts: the final extermination of ancestral non-: the final extermination of ancestral non-

contact indigenous tribes through disease and violence. contact indigenous tribes through disease and violence.

Political impactsPolitical impacts: repression, violence and conflict. : repression, violence and conflict.

Social impactsSocial impacts: high levels of disease particularly cancers and : high levels of disease particularly cancers and children born with deformities, alcoholism, prostitution and children born with deformities, alcoholism, prostitution and sexually transmitted diseases.sexually transmitted diseases.

Economic impactsEconomic impacts: loss of livelihoods due to environmental : loss of livelihoods due to environmental impacts, i.e. crops and cattle destroyed by contamination. impacts, i.e. crops and cattle destroyed by contamination.


The proposalThe proposal

The president of Ecuador has made a proposal:The president of Ecuador has made a proposal:

If the International community create a trust fund to If the International community create a trust fund to the amount of the amount of $350 million dollars a year for the $350 million dollars a year for the next 10 yearsnext 10 years ( half the ‘worth’ of the oil), they will ( half the ‘worth’ of the oil), they will leave the oil in the ground.leave the oil in the ground.

This trust fund money could then be spent on the This trust fund money could then be spent on the regeneration of the country and work towards regeneration of the country and work towards a a sustainable future.sustainable future.


The possibilitiesThe possibilities In December ‘08 the In December ‘08 the National GovernmentNational Government of of

Ecuador will make a decision to drill or not to drill Ecuador will make a decision to drill or not to drill the oil below the Yasuní. the oil below the Yasuní.

This is the first time a national government had This is the first time a national government had sought international support to keep its oil sought international support to keep its oil underground. underground.

The idea that rich nations would help a developing The idea that rich nations would help a developing country withstand immense pressure from the oil country withstand immense pressure from the oil industry, enabling a country to stand firm in the fight industry, enabling a country to stand firm in the fight against climate change has the potential to be against climate change has the potential to be revolutionary.revolutionary.


The potentialThe potential This is a pinnacle moment in history…This is a pinnacle moment in history…

A viable option in A viable option in the transition away from the the transition away from the dependence and effects of crude oildependence and effects of crude oil extraction & extraction & use on this planet and its inhabitants. use on this planet and its inhabitants.

If successful, it could become a model for other If successful, it could become a model for other developing nations across the world.developing nations across the world.

Giving them the opportunity to save their own Giving them the opportunity to save their own environmental and cultural treasures without having environmental and cultural treasures without having to sacrifice their economic development. to sacrifice their economic development.


Yasuní Green Yasuní Green GoldGold is an is an active active international international campaign campaign co-ordinated by co-ordinated by Movimiento Movimiento Idun.Idun. www.movimientoidun.org


The campaignThe campaignYasuní Green Gold campaign

calls for the

unlimited extension of the deadline

and for

international support

for the government of Ecuador to improve the proposal by

committing to unconditionally

conserving Yasuní. www.yasunigreengold.org

The deadline has been

extended to

December 2008!

Yasuni Green Gold was created with the support of Yasuni Green Gold was created with the support of the national government of Ecuador and the province the national government of Ecuador and the province of Francisco de Orellana as well as local & of Francisco de Orellana as well as local & indigenous people, in the Yasuní region. indigenous people, in the Yasuní region.

Yasuní Green Gold aims to raise awareness of the Yasuní Green Gold aims to raise awareness of the region and create a network of support for the region and create a network of support for the conservation of the park and protection of the local conservation of the park and protection of the local

people of the Yasuní.people of the Yasuní.


AAllowing the local and llowing the local and indigenous people of the indigenous people of the Yasuní to Yasuní to participate in participate in the decision-makingthe decision-making which effects their lives which effects their lives and and making sure no making sure no parallel agreements are parallel agreements are made which conflict with made which conflict with the preservation of the the preservation of the Yasuní. Yasuní.


Get involvedGet involved Check out the website :Check out the website :

English : English : www.yasunigreengold.orgwww.yasunigreengold.orgSpanish : Spanish : www.yasunioroverde.orgwww.yasunioroverde.org

Get involved with your local /national campaignGet involved with your local /national campaign Contact : Contact : [email protected]@yasunigreengold.org Buy/donate a book – Yasuni Green Gold. Buy/donate a book – Yasuni Green Gold. Become a Yasuni Ambassador / Cyber AmbassadorBecome a Yasuni Ambassador / Cyber Ambassador Donate money. Donate money. Sign the petition.Sign the petition. Spread the word; contact friends, family, colleagues, Spread the word; contact friends, family, colleagues, Write letters to politicians, organisations, press and celebrities.Write letters to politicians, organisations, press and celebrities. Any form of help would be very much appreciated.Any form of help would be very much appreciated.

Buy a bookBuy a book Yasuní Green GoldYasuní Green Gold, the , the

Campaign book, celebrates the Campaign book, celebrates the unique beauty and diversity of unique beauty and diversity of the indigenous groups and the the indigenous groups and the flora and fauna which are flora and fauna which are home to the Yasuní.home to the Yasuní.

The book contains a simple The book contains a simple message in photographs from message in photographs from the people of the region: leave the people of the region: leave the oil in the ground and the oil in the ground and protect the Yasuní rainforest protect the Yasuní rainforest forever!forever!


New Internationalist New Internationalist join the campaign.join the campaign.

The New Internationalist The New Internationalist dropped everything to help dropped everything to help publish the campaign book publish the campaign book in under half the normal in under half the normal time in order to help the time in order to help the campaign onto its feet. campaign onto its feet.

They are collaborating on They are collaborating on the UK part of the campaign the UK part of the campaign and their support has been and their support has been invaluable. invaluable.


SupportSupport

YasuníYasuní Green Gold is a network of diverse people Green Gold is a network of diverse people throughout Europe and internationally who are throughout Europe and internationally who are working together with the support of local people, working together with the support of local people, to try and help save Yasuní.to try and help save Yasuní. www.yasunigreengold.org

Join togetherJoin together

The campaign is calling for attention, support and help from all areas and in all forms.

Their activities are diverse and dynamic. www.yasunigreengold.org

We have a voiceWe have a voice

JOIN US NOW to make sure that

this cannot happen! www.yasunigreengold.org

982,000,000 Hectares UNTOUCHED

PRIMARY RAINFOREST

5 DAYS OF OIL

SOMETIMES CHOOSING IS EASY

Yasuni Green Gold : Human Rights, environmental conservation & oil exploitation

Education

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