NUEVOS TELEFONOS:
3211-103 / 3210-436 / 3211-246
Demanda por los derechos del mar bajo el principio de Jurisdicción Universal
| Beth Burrows, Edmonds Institute, EEUU |
 |
 |
 |
|
".... I therefore find that the decision taken by your administration is in total contradiction with the aims stated in the new Constitution and
can only think that it is a mistake made by some ill-informed person within your administration...."
To: The Honorable Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador Date: March 10, 2009 Dear President Correa, I write as the head of a public interest, non-profit organization in the US, committed to the protection of biodiversity and the rights of all communities. Mr. President, I write to share my dismay upon hearing of the decision taken by your Administration to close down Acción Ecológica by withdrawing its legal certification (personería juridica). Such a decision, coming from your Administration, was a complete shock. While such an action might have been expected from previous anti-people, anti-nature governments, it was an action entirely unexpected from your Administration. Your Administration is well-known for its recognition of the rights of nature and the right to “well-being” (buen vivir) as promoted and approved in the new Ecuadorian Constitution. Within Ecuador, there is no doubt that for years Acción Ecológica has been one of the few organizations that staunchly defended nature and local peoples’ well-being. Everyone around the world knows of Acción's dedication to defending the Amazon and its peoples from oil companies such as Texaco. Everyone that has been in contact with Acción knows about their courage, intelligence and commitment to protecting the country’s social and ecological wealth against the economic interests of national and transnational corporations eager to exploit them in a socially unjust and environmentally unsustainable manner. Everyone who has had the privilege of working with Acción can only express admiration. Protecting the country’s natural resources and peoples against industrial logging, commercial shrimp farming, oil exploration and extraction, monoculture tree plantations, biopiracy, water privatization and so on – as Acción Ecológica has been doing over many years - is clearly in line with the new Ecuadorian Constitution. Even more so: it is an obligation for any person, organization and institution in Ecuador. I therefore find that the decision taken by your administration is in total contradiction with the aims stated in the new Constitution and can only think that it is a mistake made by some ill-informed person within your administration. Your government is seen by many as one of the most progressive within the region and as an example to many other governments that do not respect nature or people’s well-being. Your government is also a sign of hope for those of us who are fighting for a socially just and environmentally sustainable world. Unfortunately, the credibility of your government is put at stake by this attack against one of the most respected civil society organizations in your country: Acción Ecológica. I hope that I may trust that you will intervene on this issue and ensure that Acción Ecológica’s legal standing is restored immediately so that they can continue doing what they do best: protecting people’s and nature’s rights. I hope I may look forward to news of your decision. With gratitude in advance for your kind attention to this important matter, I am . . . Yours sincerely, Beth Burrows President/Director Edmonds Institute 20319-92nd Avenue West Edmonds, Washington 98020 USA phone: (001) 425-775-5383 website: <http://www.edmonds-institute.org> |