When one of our corporations behaves badly it really affects us all.
Chevron Using Unethical Tactics to Avoid Judgment In $10 Billion Rainforest Trial, Coalition to Defend the Amazon Says
Series of Legal Setbacks In Ecuador Haunt Oil Giant; Charges of Fabricating Scientific Evidence
QUITO, Ecuador, Aug. 28 /PRNewswire/
-- Coalition to Defend the Amazon issued the following statement: Amazon leaders are accusing Chevron of fabricating evidence and engaging in a "campaign of intimidation" in Ecuador to derail a class action rainforest pollution trial as it nears completion, said a spokesman for the Coalition to Defend the Amazon, the non-profit group bringing the case.
Plaintiffs maintain a final judgment in the case - considered one of the largest environmental litigations in history -- could surpass $10 billion. Three indigenous groups report they are near extinction in areas of the rainforest where Chevron operated.
The evidentiary portion of the trial is expected to end in months, with
a decision in 2008.
"As judgment day nears, Chevron has resorted to these unethical tactics because it knows the weight of the evidence is stacked against it," said Pablo Fajardo, the Ecuadorian lawyer for the 30,000 plaintiffs and a spokesman for the Coalition.
Chevron is accused of intentionally dumping 18 billion gallons of toxic waste into the Amazon rainforest during the 28 years (1964 to 1992) it operated an oil concession in Ecuador, or 30 times more pure crude that was spilled in Exxon Valdez disaster.
Among Chevron's growing legal problems over Ecuador, according to Fajardo:
-- Soil and water sampling at Chevron's former production sites in Ecuador show levels of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPHs) and other toxic chemicals at thousands of times higher than maximum amounts tolerated in the U.S. - yet Chevron misleads its shareholders, claiming the results pose no risk to human health. For an analysis of Chevron's fraudulent science, see materials at http://www.texacotoxico.com or http://www.chevrontoxico.com.
-- Chevron recently was dealt a setback by U.S. federal judge Leonard Sand, who ruled the company had no right to force Ecuador's government into arbitration to determine who should pay for the damages.
-- In Ecuador, Judge German Yanez recently denied Chevron motions to delay the trial. Instead, Yanez imposed a strict 120-day deadline for the damages assessment to be completed.
-- The trial judge also ordered police tape to be put around contaminated well sites to prevent Chevron lawyers and technical personnel from interfering with the scientific work of the court-appointed expert. A roving band of roughly 25 Chevron lawyers and technical personnel had been "stalking" the expert, said Fajardo.
-- Chevron is fabricating evidence in two ways. First, its scientists lift soil samples away from a contaminated production site (such as the top of a nearby hill) and then claim they came from the site itself. Second, Chevron refuses to test for certain toxins and then uses their purported "absence" to claim there is no danger.
"Chevron's trial strategy is to use junk science for public relations purposes," said Steven Donziger, an America legal advisor to the plaintiffs. "It is the same type of fake science that denies global warming. Eventually, that approach catches up with you."If you have read this far you might as well DO SOMETHING about it. Here are the members of the Public Policy Committee:
Sam Nunn, Chairman
Robert J. Eaton
Sam Ginn
Donald B. Rice
Ronald D. Sugar
Rhonda I. Zygocki, Secretary
Chevron's
Business Conduct and Ethics leads me to believe that the members of the public policy Committee would be interested in hearing your opinion on this matter.
Here is some contact information:
Office of the Corporate Secretary
Chevron Corporation
6001 Bollinger Canyon Road
San Ramon, CA 94583
Telephone
+1-925-842-1000
Chevron Europe - London
2 Portman Street
London
W1H 0AN
England
Telephone
+44 (0)20 7487 8100
Fax
+44 (0)20 7487 8905
Chevron Europe - Aberdeen
Seafield House
Hill of Rubislaw
Aberdeen AB15 6XL
Scotland
Telephone
+44 (0)1224 334000
Fax
+44 (0)1224 717455
Labels: Corporate Tactics