Yasuní, is the deadline running out? was another of several activities that are being carried out in the city of Guayaquil with the aim of showing the real situation that is experienced today in Yasuní and surrounding areas. This time, several representatives of environmental groups and economic analysts gathered together, who for nearly 3 hours shared with the attendees a series of informative data regarding the people who live there and the biodiversity that are in danger due to the announced Plan B for Yasuní (oil exploitation, which has been carried out in parallel with Plan A) and the current oil round that is active for the southeast of Ecuador, both promoted by the Ecuadorian government. Socio-economic aspects regarding the topic were also analyzed.
The debate forum included Martha Roldós (former Constituent Assembly member), Delfín Tenesaca (President of Ecuarunari) and Esperanza Martínez (Amazon Campaign for Life). Some of the most relevant points analyzed were:
- Delfín Tenesaca explained the concept that indigenous people have regarding the environment (land, water, air, and living beings) and the resistance of several indigenous groups to extractive projects that are currently being carried out without consultation in our country.
Martha Roldós analyzed some aspects that are linked to the country's economic needs and other interesting data, among which she cited:
- The Tax on Foreign Exchange Outflows (5%), which covers all but multinationals, he said. He cited the case of companies that should pay only 0.5%.
- The drastic growth that the following items will have in the 2012 Budget: Security, Advertising and the National Intelligence Secretariat.
- The fact of active exploitation in the Yasuní Park of blocks 31 and 16 (currently operational).
- One point that caught the attention of the attendees was the review of the links of those who appear on the official page of Yasunize yourself as “developer and powered by”, whose links lead to pages without any information (recommended for review).
Meanwhile, Esperanza Martínez stressed the fact that every time a supposed "development pole" appears that will serve to reduce poverty in the country, the truth is that this point becomes a "pole of poverty", as has been demonstrated on several occasions when the same pretext has been used, so that a new "development pole" will be needed later on to continue with the same system, which becomes a wormhole.
He also highlighted everything that has been associated with oil exploitation and the fact that the Ecuadorian Constitution itself prohibits exploitation in national parks (such as Yasuní).
BUT, IS THE DEADLINE RUNNING OUT OR NOT?
The panelists emphasized the fact that Yasuní has become a "hot potato" for the government; the issue has grown to such an extent that it is in the voice and debate of citizens (read voters) and due to the proximity of the new electoral campaign it would not be prudent for those thinking of reelection to openly announce its exploitation. The scenario that could occur is that the current authorities "properly extend" the deadline to obtain funds for the ITT project for another year.
However, if this does not happen, other mechanisms that have worked in the past and would be valid alternatives on this occasion are already being considered, they concluded.
During the question period, it was important to highlight that the ITT proposal must respect, since these are areas with similar ecological characteristics, what it says: "It will include the territories of indigenous peoples that have not been intervened." This last point, according to several criteria, is not being respected, since at the moment new tenders are still open to expand Ecuador's oil frontier towards the southeastern Amazon.
FACT:
70% of Ecuadorians support the Yasuní-ITT initiative and of that percentage, approximately half would agree to leave the crude oil from the ITT fields in the ground even if there is no international compensation, according to surveys by Informe Confidencial and Perfiles de Opinión. (Source: Tegantai)Yasuní, is the deadline running out? It was organized by TEGANTAI Environmental Information Agency .
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