James Cameron on a Mission: Will He Support Real-life Ecuador Struggle Against Chevron?

[Judi Lynn]

Posted: February 24, 2010 02:24 PM
Avatar Director James Cameron on a Mission: Will He Support Real-life Ecuador Struggle Against Chevron?

~snip~
A number of organizations who work to advance indigenous rights and defend against corporate pillage of indigenous resources are trying to get the director's attention, and hoping he'll put his money where his mouth is. Or at least stand on the stage at the Oscars and say what he's been saying lately in smaller rooms.

The latest push is from our friends at Rainforest Action Network (RAN), who are reaching out through online social media like twitter and facebook to encourage people to ask Cameron to speak up for the indigenous people and peasant farmers in the Ecuadorian Amazon whose rainforest home was ravaged and poisoned by American oil giant Chevron.

RAN's new Acting Executive Director Becky Tarbotton published an article on San Francisco Chronicle's City Brights blog. The title of the piece is the same as the tweets I've been seeing going around: 'I want Avatar Oscar speech to mention real-life Ecuador struggle against Chevron.'

Everyone agrees that the film broke new ground visually and technologically. There's less consensus on the merits of the storytelling and character development. But despite the boilerplate narrative - and some argue racism - Avatar has brought to the masses a popular film about awakening to the ills of rapacious capitalism, recognizing the inherent interdependence of the natural world, and defending the rights of its indigenous inhabitants. And of course, Avatar has multiple Oscar nominations and Cameron will likely take to the stage at least a handful of times on Oscar night.

As Becky writes, "What if in his acceptance speech James Cameron mentioned the real-life Indigenous Ecuadorean heroes who are battling the real-life Chevron bad guys?" It would be a big boost to the campaign to hold the company accountable and demand justice for the people of Ecuador.

More:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/han-shan/avatar-director-james-cam_b_474203.html

[flamingdem]

1. Cameron is A-OK

Glad to hear he is aware of that situation and I hope he mentions it when he gets the awards on Sunday.

[protocol rv]

2. I liked Avatar

But I'll lose respect for the guy if he lets a Twitter campaign convince him to support those Ecuadorians...their case is likely to be baseless.