Occidental Set to Drill in Andean Cloudforest, Sacred Site for U'wa Indians

by Lynda McClure

Occidental Petroleum expects to harvest 1.5 billion barrels of oil by drilling in eastern Colombia on land that is sacred to the U'wa people. The area includes intact, endangered Andean cloudforests. For eight years, the U'wa have been waging a peaceful campaign against Occidental's project, which they fear bring the same environmental destruction and violence that have devastated other oil regions in Columbia. They have pledged to commit mass suicide if their ancestral land is destroyed by the drilling.

"With oil operations comes destruction," said Roberto Afanador Coobaria, National and International Coordinator of the U'wa people. "Each area of the forest that has been developed for oil has paved the way for civil war battles, causing great violence against people and our Mother Earth".

The Colombia military evicted the U'wa from their traditional, legalized land on January 25, 2000, to clear the way for Occidental to begin a major oil drilling operation. The project is being funded by Fidelity Investments, which is an owner in Occidental Petroleum. Vice President and Presidential candidate, Al Gore, owns one-half million dollars worth of shares in Occidental Petroleum.

What You Can Do

* Call Occidental Petroleum and ask them to cancel this project (310) 208-8800

* Call the Colombian Ambassador, Belize Moreno, and state your opinion on this project (202) 387-8338

* Call Al Gore's campaign with your thoughts on his stock investment (615) 340-2000

* Keep informed by internet at www.amazonwatch.org

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Last Update: 3/19/00