Chevron protest in Sacramento

Join Amnesty International and AmazonWatch's protest against Chevron/Texaco's destruction of the rainforests of Ecuador. For three decades Texaco (now owned by Chevron) drilled oil in the pristine rainforests but failed to properly dispose of their toxic waste in order to save $3 a barrel. Instead of re-injecting their waste deep underground (a standard oil drilling procedure) they simply dumped their waste into unlined waste pits throughout the rainforest. When they discontinued operating in this region during the 90s, they sold off their assets to Ecuador's state-run oil company. Under the sale of agreement Texaco was obligated to clean up their mess: this simply entailed pushing dirt over it. There are ample amounts of evidence to support these claims.

This environmental destruction has altered the lives of tens of thousands of indigenous people; cancer rates are sky high, birth defects are of the norm, and skin infections plague the region. All water sources have been contaminated and the local people can no longer rely upon the forest as a resource to sustain their traditional lifestyles. This environmental disaster has had a ripple effect of repercussions that sees no end. In response, 30,000 indigenous people have filed a class action lawsuit against Chevron, demanding that they clean the mess that they are liable for.

Please join our protest at the corporate-owned Chevron station on Folsom Blvd. and Howe Ave. in Sacramento in order to inform the public on this issue. This protest will be one of dozens across the nation; and will occur on the same day as their annual shareholder meeting in Houston, TX.

Please contact Claire Hildebrand, Outreach Coordinator for Amnesty International for more details.

email: claireamnestysf@gmail.com
916-549-9538