Oil companies have in recent months threatened the Achuar people of the Southern Ecuadorian Amazon. The indigenous group of approximately four thousand three hundred people has the title to roughly two million acres of primary forest. The Achuar are one of an increasing number of Amazonian indigenous groups who are organizing against oil activities on their territory. The Achuar, backed by FINAE, the indigenous federation which represents them, insist that all communities affected by proposed development must play a part in deciding how traditional land is used.
The Achuar are putting pressure on ARCO and the Ecuadorian government to recognize there right to self-determination. Although the Achuar have demanded that no oil development occur on their land, ARCO has the exploration rights to two oil areas in their territory referred to as blocks twenty four and twenty five. Together the areas include nearly two point five million acres. The Achuar are fighting to protect their environment, but ending all new oil exploration is a critical issue for everyone on this planet.
