[Marxism] Ecuador shuts down Accion Ecologia

[Duroyan Fertl <dfertl@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Via UpsideDownWorld: http://upsidedownworld.org/main/content/view/1758/68/

The Ecuador Solidarity Network stands with AcciÃn EcolÃgica!                  
                                                
                                                                
                                        
                                                
                                
                                                        
                                
                                        
                        
                                                
                        
                        
                
                                        
                                
                                        
                                                 Written by The Ecuador 
Solidarity Network                                      
                                        ÂÂ
                                
                        
                                                
                                
                                        Tuesday, 10 March 2009                  
        
                        
                                        
                        
                                

PLEASE CIRCULATE

Dear Friends,

We
need your help! In a clear act of censorship, the Ecuadorian government
has closed AcciÃn EcolÃgica (Environmental Action), the countryâs
leading environmental organization. We believe that this action is a
retaliation against AcciÃn EcolÃgicaâs opposition to mining, an
activity eagerly promoted by President Rafael Correaâs government.

AcciÃn
EcolÃgica has over the past twenty years worked closely with Ecuadorâs
indigenous movement and the communities directly affected by mining and
oil exploitation. They are a critical voice for social and
environmental justice in Ecuador.

We ask that you send an e-mail to President Rafael Correa (see the sample 
below) at the following address.

rafael.correadelgado@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

With copies to:
alexis.mera@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ffalconi@xxxxxxxxxxx
info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ecuadorsolidaritynetwork@xxxxxxxxx

Please
send the Spanish-language version below and adapt it if you choose to
do so. This English version is provided so that you know what you are
sending. Please email any questions to ecuadorsolidaritynetwork@xxxxxxxxx

Dear President Correa,

I
am writing to express my opposition to your governmentâs decision to
close AcciÃn EcolÃgica by withdrawing their legal status. One could
have expected such an action from earlier governments known for being
against the people and the environment, but not from yours. I am among
many who have applauded the recognition of the rights of nature and the
right to good living (buen vivir) in the new Ecuadorian Constitution,
proposed and approved under your presidential administration.

In
Ecuador, there is no doubt that AcciÃn EcolÃgica is one of the few
organizations that has worked for years to defend natureâs rights and
the rights of the people to good living. This organizationâs work in
defending the Amazon and its peoples against oil companies such as
Texaco is recognized throughout the world. Everyone who knows of them
recognize their courage, intelligence and dedication to the protection
of the countryâs social and ecological wealth, fighting against the
economic interests of national and transnational corporations anxious
to extract resources in a social unjust and environmentally
unsustainable manner. Everyone who has had the privilege of working
with AcciÃn EcolÃgica can express their admiration.

The
protection of natural resources and of the people against industrial
logging, industrial shrimp farming, oil exploration and production,
monoculture tree plantations, biopiracy, the privatization of water,
etcâwhich AcciÃn EcolÃgica has done for many yearsâis clearly mandated
by the new Ecuadorian Constitution. In fact, such action is an
obligation for whatever person, organization or institution in Ecuador.

For
these reasons I find the decision made by your administration to
totally contradict the objectives established in the new Constitution.
I can only hope that this is an error committed by some poorly informed
person inside your administration.

Your
government is perceived by many to be one of the most progressive in
the region and to be setting an example for many other governments that
do not respect nature or the peopleâs right to good living. Your
government is a symbol of hope for many of us that fight for a world
that is socially just and environmentally sustainable.

Regardless,
your governmentâs credibility is now in question due to this attack on
one of Ecuadorâs most respected civil society organizations: AcciÃn
EcolÃgica.

As
a result, I hope that your government will intervene in this matter and
ensure the immediate restitution of AcciÃn EcolÃgicaâs legal status, so
that they can continue doing what they do best: protecting the rights
of the people and of nature.

Sincerely,
[your name]

PLEASE HELP AND CIRCULATE THIS URGENT MESSAGE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SOLIDARITY!
--------------------------------------------------

URGENT

The
National Government through the Ministry of Health has ordered the
closure of AcciÃn EcolÃgica. AcciÃn EcolÃgica was registered under the
Ministry of Health because 20 years ago the Ministry of the Environment
did not exist.

They argue that we have not been doing the work for which we were created.

To remind everyone of our objectives, in accord with our statutes:

- Promote the defense of nature with the aim of preserving a clean environment.
- Publicize problems associated with the use and contamination of rivers, 
oceans, air, land, etc.
- Promote programs to train and educate the most marginalized rural and urban 
groups in environmental education and protection.
-
Promote research and the diffusion of technologies appropriate to the
environmental, social and economic reality of each locality; promote
eco-development programs with marginalized people;
- Collaborate with private or public institutions, domestic or international, 
in the defense and protection of the environment.

AcciÃn
EcolÃgica has complied with all of legal and fiscal requirements, as
well as with our own statutes. As a result, we are perplexed by the
decision. This action is blatantly unconstitutional.

What
is important to us is to âdefend natural resources, preserve a clean
environment, defend the rights of natureâ precisely as ordered by the
new Constitution (article 83).

Alejandro de Valdez N24 33 y La Gasca.

AcciÃn EcolÃgica

**

Estimado Presidente Correa:

Por
la presente deseo expresarle mi consternaciÃn ante la decisiÃn adoptada
por su administraciÃn de cerrar a AcciÃn EcolÃgica mediante el retiro
de su personerÃa jurÃdica. Se podrÃa haber esperado una decisiÃn de
este tipo de parte de anterior gobiernos caracterizados por ser anti
pueblo y anti naturaleza, pero no por parte del suyo. Yo me cuento
entre las muchas personas que han aplaudido el reconocimiento de los
derechos de la naturaleza y el derecho al buen vivir en la nueva
ConstituciÃn del Ecuador, promovida y aprobada durante su mandato como
Presidente.

A
nivel de Ecuador, no existe duda alguna de que AcciÃn EcolÃgica es una
de las pocas organizaciones que a lo largo del tiempo ha defendido los
derechos de la naturaleza y de la gente al buen vivir. En el mundo
entero es bien conocido el trabajo de esta organizaciÃn en la defensa
de la AmazonÃa y de sus pueblos contra empresas petroleras tales como
Texaco. Todos quienes han estado en contacto con ellos saben de su
coraje, inteligencia y dedicaciÃn para la protecciÃn de la riqueza
social y ecolÃgica del paÃs contra los intereses econÃmicos de empresas
nacional y transnacionales ansiosas de explotarla de una manera
socialmente injusta y ambientalmente insustentable. Todos quienes han
tenido el privilegio de trabajar con ellos solo pueden expresar su
admiraciÃn.

La
protecciÃn de los recursos naturales y de las personas contra el
madereo industrial, la producciÃn camaronera industrial, la exploraciÃn
y explotaciÃn petrolera, las plantaciones de monocultivos de Ãrboles,
la biopiraterÃa, la privatizaciÃn del agua, etc. âtal como lo ha hecho
AcciÃn EcolÃgica a los largo de muchos aÃos- es claramente un mandato
de la nueva ConstituciÃn del Ecuador. MÃs aÃn: es una obligaciÃn para
cualquier persona, organizaciÃn e instituciÃn en Ecuador.

Por
consiguiente encuentro que esta decisiÃn tomada por su administraciÃn
està en total contradicciÃn con los objetivos establecidos en la nueva
ConstituciÃn y solo puedo pensar que se trata de un error cometido por
alguna persona mal informada dentro de su administraciÃn.

Su
gobierno es percibido por muchos como uno de los mÃs progresistas
dentro de la regiÃn y como un ejemplo para muchos otros gobiernos que
no respetan ni la naturaleza ni el derecho de las personas al buen
vivir. Su gobierno es tambiÃn un sÃmbolo de esperanza para muchos de
nosotros que luchamos por un mundo socialmente justo y ambientalmente
sustentable.

Sin
embargo, la credibilidad de su gobierno està ahora en cuestiÃn a raÃz
de este ataque contra una de las mÃs respetadas organizaciones de la
sociedad civil de su paÃs: AcciÃn EcolÃgica.

ConfÃo
entonces que usted intervendrà en este tema y que asegurarà que se le
restituya inmediatamente la personerÃa jurÃdica a AcciÃn EcolÃgica, a
fin de que puedan continuar haciendo lo que mejor hacen: la protecciÃn
de los derechos de la gente y de la naturaleza.

Le saluda muy atentamente,
FIRMA

---------------

POR FAVOR AYUDAR A DIFUNDIR ESTA NOTICIA EMERGENTE

GRACIAS POR SU SOLIDARIDAD!!

El
Gobierno Nacional, a travÃs de la Ministerio Salud, ordenà el cierre de
AcciÃn EcolÃgica. AcciÃn EcolÃgica estaba registrada en el Ministerio
de Salud, puesto que hace 20 aÃos no habÃa Ministerio del Ambiente.

El argumento es que hemos incumplido los fines para los que fue creada nuestra 
agrupaciÃn.

Solo para recuerdo de quienes nos conocen nuestros objetivos, de acuerdo a los 
estatutos son:

-Promover la defensa de la naturaleza con el fin de asegurar la preservaciÃn 
del un medio ambiente sano;
-
Difundir la problemÃtica que tenga que ver con el uso, y especialmente,
con la contaminaciÃn de los rÃos, mares, aire y tierra, etc
-Impulsar
programas de capacitaciÃn y educaciÃn en los sectores rurales y urbano
marginales del paÃs, en las Ãreas de educaciÃn ambiental y preservaciÃn
del medio ambiente.
- Impulsar investigaciones y de difusiÃn de
tecnologÃas apropiadas a la realidad ambiental, social y econÃmica de
cada localidad; e impulsar programas de ecodesarrollo con sectores
marginales y;
-colaborar con las instituciones pÃblicas o privadas, nacionales o extranjeras 
en la defensa y protecciÃn del medio ambiente.

AcciÃn
EcolÃgica ha cumplido todos los procedimientos legales, fiscales, asÃ
como nuestros estatutos. Por lo cual nos encontramos perplejos.
Esta medida es abiertamente inconstitucional.

Lo
importante, para nosotros y nosotras es: âdefender los recursos
naturales, preservar un ambiente sano, defender los derechos de la
naturalezaâ tal y como lo ordena la ConstituciÃn (art. 83)
Alejandro de Valdez N24 33 y La Gasca.
AcciÃn EcolÃgica                      
                
                                Â

                


"Dejerme decirle, a reisgo de parecer ridiculo, que el revolucionario verdadero 
esta guiado por grandes sentimientos de amor!!!"


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