ChevronTexaco’s Crimes in Ecuador: The Amazon Chernobyl

Cocktails & Capitalism

Have you heard of the Amazon Chernobyl? To save money, ChevronTexaco deliberately caused the largest oil disaster in history. They dumped over 16 billion gallons of toxic oil waste into open pits in the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador. They poisoned rivers, streams, peasant farmers, and Indigenous communities living in the rainforest. Their cost cutting measures were fatal to hundreds if not thousands of people.

Despite the fact that this is the most massive oil spill in history, completely dwarfing the BP spill of 2010, very few people are even aware of this catastrophe. Big oil has funneled so much money into our corporate media that this story is barely being shared.

Chevron’s victims refuse to remain silent. Their coalition of 30,000 Indigenous community members and peasant farmers have been battling the oil giant for decades. Lawyer Steven Donziger joins the fight. They win a landmark victory in the “environmental trail of the century,” but Chevron refuses to accept defeat. As you’ll learn in this episode, Chevron uses every tool at their disposal to skirt accountability and retaliate for their loss.
Next week we’ll share the second part of this story: Chevron’s corporate prosecution of lawyer Steven Donziger.
May 21st is ANTI-CHEVRON DAY – an international day of action!
More here: The True Cost of Chevron
For more information and ways to help, check out Amazon Watch
Donate to the Donziger defense fund here!
More on the history here: ChevronToxico
The Class Action Cocktail

45 ml Aguardiente or light rum

105 ml Horchata Lojana tea, brewed and filtered

15 ml Panela or other raw sugar

15 ml Lemon juice

Build this drink in a clear heat proof mug if drinking hot, or your favorite clear glass if drinking cold. Ice isn’t necessary if your batch everything ahead of time and refrigerate. Add all ingredients to your glass and stir to incorporate. Garnish with an edible flower and enjoy!

Adjust the proportions if you’d like your drink less or more sweet or boozy.

Glassware: Clear heat proof mug

Garnish: Edible flower

ABV: 12%

Thank you to Jesse Torres for another

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