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October 19, 2021

Indigenous Amazonians Sue Ecuador to Halt Oil Drilling and Mining Plans 
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Indigenous communities from Ecuador's Amazon rainforest have filed a
lawsuit against the government of right-wing President Guillermo Lasso
to halt his plans for a massive expansion of oil and mining extraction
in the region - endangering millions of acres of pristine and sacred
land and the livelihood of Indigenous nations. Hundreds of Indigenous
elders and youth arrived in the capital Quito on Monday to file the
lawsuit with Ecuador's highest court. This is a Waorani leader speaking
yesterday.

Nemonte Nenquimo: "As Waorani de Pastaza, our territory is life. We live
there, cultivate, fish, hunt. We grow yucca and plantains to feed our
children. We rely on the rainforest, on the land, on the river. If oil
companies enter the Waorani of Pastaza territory, all the 22 communities
that live there and others will be affected."



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