Protesters Stage Mock Cleanup At Chevron Station

[Judi Lynn]

Protesters Stage Mock Cleanup At Chevron Station
Posted: 3:01 pm PDT October 10, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO -- Protesters on Sunday staged a mock clean up at a Chevron service station to increase awareness of the oil company's alleged intentional dumping of toxic waste in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Rainforest Action Network coordinated protests at 10 Chevron stations in the city as part of a global action day for climate solutions, Change Chevron Campaign director Maria Ramos said. About 20 protesters converged at noon at the gas station located at 1298 Howard St.

Texaco, which is now owned by Chevron, across several decades intentionally dumped 18 billion gallons of oil sludge into the Amazon rainforest in northern Ecuador, Ramos said. The sludge contaminated rivers and streams used by indigenous people for drinking water and fishing, Ramos said.

About 30,000 indigenous people have been affected, Ramos said, adding that thousands of people in the area have reported contracting cancer. A $27 billion lawsuit against Chevron for the alleged dumping in Ecuador has been in litigation for 17 years, Ramos added. "They're doing everything they can to avoid taking responsibility for that," Ramos said.

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