3. Outside Occidental Petroleum Annual Shareholder Meeting (Thomas Cavanagh / Amazon Watch)
From regime change in the White House to the major shake up of the
global economy, 2008 marked the beginning of a new era. The meltdown
MESSAGE FROM on Wall Street awakened people to the perils of rampant corporate greed,
lack of accountability and the failures of unbridled capitalism.
THE EXECUTIVE While the oil industry reported record profits through most of 2008,
Amazon Watch worked hard to shine the spotlight on the industry’s abus-
DIRECTOR es in the Amazon.
Our dedicated staff organized delegations from affected communities to
the annual stockholder meetings of Occidental Petroleum, ConocoPhillips,
Talisman, and Chevron calling for corporate accountability and respect for
human rights.
We celebrated some strategic milestones throughout the year; among
them the following stand out.
n Ecuador’s Constitutional Assembly voted to grant inalienable rights to
nature in the country’s new constitution.
n Petrobras abandoned plans for the controversial oil block 31 in
Ecuador’s Yasuni National Park.
n The court appointed expert in the trial against Chevron released his
findings that the company is liable for an estimated $27 billion for
cleanup in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
4. n Nominated by Amazon Watch, Pablo Fajardo and Luis n In Calgary, Talisman’s CEO met with our delegation
Yanza won the 2008 Goldman Environmental Prize for and pledged to respect the Peruvian Achuar’s right to
leading the 16-year legal battle against Chevron. The consent.
company chose unwisely to attack them in the media
n Throughout the year, Amazon Watch campaigners trav-
with their efforts backfiring.
eled to remote regions of the Amazon to carry out fact-
n Amazon Watch and the Amazon Defense Coalition’s finding missions and advocacy training with local organi-
multifaceted Chevron campaign for clean up of the zations and communities.
Ecuadorian Amazon took first place at the Business
n Amazon Watch completed its strategic plan and vision
Ethics Network’s 2008 Benny Awards.
for the next 3 to 5 years. We identified strategies that
n With support from Amazon Watch, Peru’s indigenous are working and created a plan to scale up programs
movement effectively forced the Peruvian Congress to and campaigns in the face of daunting challenges fac-
modify several Presidential decrees that attempted to ing the Amazon region, namely the reality that the
roll back indigenous land rights. The problem however Amazon rainforest is approaching the tipping point of
Ecuadorian Amazon (Antoine Bonsorte / Amazon Watch)
did not get fully resolved in 2008 foretelling an uprising ecological collapse in our lifetime.
in 2009.
As 2008 came to a close, signs of hope appeared on the
n In Los Angeles, Tomas Maynas Carijano, the Peruvian horizon. We witnessed a growing public awareness for
Achuar elder and lead plaintiff in the oil pollution lawsuit addressing the global climate crisis and the role of tropical
against Occidental Petroleum, delivered his message to rainforests in stabilizing our global climate became more
the company’s doorstep. Favorable editorials by the LA widely recognized.
Times called for “corporations doing business around the
On behalf of everyone at Amazon Watch, I thank all of our
world to take their best practices with them.” The editorial
supporters and invite you to continue investing in Amazon
brilliantly framed the issue: “Call it a reverse incursion—
Watch in this critical time as we generate greater momen-
tribes following corporate giants into their native habitats
tum for defense of our planet and human rights.
. . . Maynas and other indigenous leaders are bearding
business lions in their own cultural dens: at shareholder
meetings, in boardrooms and, increasingly, in court.”
For Future Generations,
Atossa Soltani
Founder / Executive Director
5. Peruvian Achuar Territory (Nathalie Weemaels)
OUR MISSION Amazon Watch works to protect the rainforest and advance the rights of
indigenous peoples in the Amazon Basin. We partner with indigenous
AND VISION and environmental organizations in campaigns for human rights, corporate
accountability and the preservation of the Amazon’s ecological systems.
Our Vision We strive for a world in which gov-
ernments, corporations and civil
We envision a world that honors
society respect the collective rights
and values cultural and biological
of indigenous peoples to free, prior
diversity and the critical contribu-
and informed consent over any
tion of tropical rainforests to our
activity affecting their territories
planet’s life support systems.
and resources.
We believe that indigenous self-
We commit, in the spirit of partner-
determination is paramount, and
ship and mutual respect, to sup-
see that indigenous knowledge,
port our indigenous allies in their
cultures and traditional practices
efforts to protect life, land, and cul-
contribute greatly to sustainable
ture in accordance with their aspi-
and equitable stewardship of the
rations and needs.
Earth.
6. OUR STRATEGIES
Human Banner in Ecuador (Lou Dematteis / Spectral Q) Protest outside Oxy (Thomas Cavanagh / Amazon Watch) Kevin Koenig and Achuar Leader in Houston (Amazon Watch)
In the Amazon region of Brazil, legal action and shareholder cam- extraction-based economic develop-
Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, Amazon paigns to demand corporate social ment. At the same time we monitor
and environmental accountability. and publicize new threats in pristine or
Watch is working directly with indige-
vulnerable Amazon frontiers and seek
nous communities to build local
Strengthen capacity of indige- an end to public financing for destruc-
capacity and advance the long-term nous organizations in the Amazon to tive projects.
protection of their territories. In part- defend their rights in local, national
nership with indigenous peoples, non- and international fora. Through legal, Educate corporate executives,
advocacy, media and technology train- shareholders, public officials and the
governmental organizations, con-
ing and the donation of equipment, we
cerned shareholders and citizens, we general public using media coverage,
help our indigenous partners assert
websites, publications, documentary
utilize the following strategies: their collective and territorial rights and
films and dialogue. We strive to foster
advance an alternative vision for con-
widespread understanding of the
Campaign to persuade decision servation-based development of their
territories intrinsic value of indigenous peoples
makers in corporations, international
stewardship and the global signifi-
financial institutions and national gov-
Seek permanent protection cance of the Amazon rainforest. By
ernments to honor the rights of indige-
nous peoples to self-determination for threatened areas and vulnerable building awareness and promoting
and free, prior and informed consent indigenous populations in the Amazon green economic alternatives to the
over “development” decisions in their rainforest. In partnership with national current export-oriented fossil fuel
territories and to fund full cleanup of governments and ally organizations in based development model, we are
areas devastated by past and present South America, we promote new, sus- helping to bring about a paradigm shift
oil drilling. We use media exposure, tainable alternatives to resource within key institutions and society.
7. Pablo Fajardo and leaders of the Frente de Defensa marching in Lago Agrio, Ecuador (Courtesy of the Goldman Environmental Prize)
2008 was a landmark year for the campaign to hold Chevron
accountable for the environmental disaster caused by Texaco
(now Chevron) in the Ecuadorian Amazon. During three decades
of drilling, Texaco dumped over 18 billion gallons of toxic waste-
water into rivers and streams, and abandoned 916 open-air waste
THE CLEAN UP pits. In support of the class action lawsuit against Chevron, now in
its final stretch, Amazon Watch intensified a public pressure cam-
ECUADOR paign urging the company to clean up its toxic pollution and com-
pensate the roughly 30,000 residents of the area for the epidemic
CAMPAIGN of cancer and other health problems they continue to suffer.
Developments in the lawsuit against Chevron came to a head
when a court-appointed expert determined that Chevron was
liable for up to $27 billion in damages. Through media outreach
and direct communication, Amazon Watch alerted Chevron share-
holders to the company’s efforts to conceal this liability, which had
also been illegally omitted from its SEC filings. Throughout the
year, we worked with major institutional shareholders to bring
attention to Chevron’s tarnished record on environmental and
human rights abuses. The Clean Up Ecuador Campaign received
high-profile recognition winning first place in Business Ethics
Network’s annual BENNY awards.
8. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
January
Berkeley City Council votes to boy-
cott Chevron products and services.
The authority adopts a
resolution mandating that it "cease
all purchases from Chevron" as a
result of the corporation's record of
ecological destruction and involve-
ment in human rights abuses in
Angola, Burma, Ecuador and Nigeria,
as well as the San Francisco Bay
Area, where Chevron operates a
refinery widely suspected of causing
cancers and other health problems
among local residents.
April Luis Yanza and Emergildo Criollo at the Chevron Annual General Meeting (Thomas Cavanagh / Amazon Watch)
In Ecuador, court-appointed expert Nominated by Amazon Watch, Pablo New York City and New York State
Richard Cabrera recommends to the Fajardo, the lead Ecuadorian lawyer pension funds, two of the nation’s
judge that Chevron pay up to $16.3 for the communities suing Chevron, largest, calling on Chevron to assess
billion in damages, for environmental and Luis Yanza, founder of the Amazon the adequacy of compliance with host
remediation, compensation for cancer Defense Coalition in Ecuador, are hon-
deaths, and an “unjust enrichment” ored with the Goldman Environmental
penalty for the money Texaco saved by Prize, the world’s most prestigious
deliberately using inadequate environ- environmental award. Chevron
mental practices. The assessment is attempts to defame Luis and Pablo
based on three years of scientific data taking out full-page ads in the San
collection, which reveal massive levels Francisco Chronicle resulting in a
of soil and water contamination. mainstream media flurry that further
damages Chevron’s reputation.
May
Amazon Watch again has a powerful
presence at Chevron’s annual share-
holder meeting at its headquarters in
San Ramon, California. Three
(Mitch Anderson / Amazon Watch)
Ecuadorians from the affected commu-
nities travel to participate in con- country laws to protect human health
fronting CEO David O’Reilly face to and the environment. A “Clean Up
face about Chevron’s deadly legacy. Chevron” demonstration outside the
Amazon Watch helps promote a meeting, attended by over 100
Goldman Prize Winners, Attorney Pablo Fajardo and Lead Organizer Luis
Yanza (Mitch Anderson / Amazon Watch) shareholder resolution filed by the activists in hazmat suits, draws signifi-
9. cant media attention to growing public October hand the devastation caused by
outrage at the company’s actions. Texaco, writes a letter to President-
The Clean Up Ecuador Campaign
elect Barack Obama urging him to
wins first place in the Business Ethics
offer the support of the U.S. govern-
June Network’s annual BENNY awards, for
ment to improving conditions for those
“outstanding achievement in advanc-
The San Francisco Board of ing corporate ethics.” living in the polluted area.
Supervisors votes to condemn
Court-appointed expert Richard
Chevron for “a systemic pattern of November Cabrera increases his assessment of
socially irresponsible activities and
Amazon Watch participates in a dele- Chevron’s liability to $27 billion, in
complicity in human rights violations.” light of findings that he had dramati-
gation to the affected region in
Amazon Watch’s efforts to bring the cally underestimated the likely number
Ecuador, which includes U.S.
Ecuador controversy directly to Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA), of cancer deaths (now estimated at
Chevron’s doorstep has visible results chair of the House Human Rights 1401) attributable to oil contamina-
in the Bay Area. Caucus. McGovern, upon seeing first- tion. The New York Post runs a story.
Flares in Ecuadorian Amazon (Mitch Anderson / Amazon Watch)
Lou Dematteis
10. Achuar Leader in Ecuador (Antoine Bonsorte)
Amazon Watch continues to promote an alternative vision of
sustainable development in the well-conserved rainforests of
PROTECTING Ecuador, a country whose economy is highly dependent on oil
exports. Having supported local communities in halting
ECUADOR’S destructive drilling plans in the southern Ecuadorian Amazon
by Burlington Resources and ConocoPhillips, Amazon Watch
REMAINING
continued to work to ensure that ecologically and culturally
RAINFORESTS sensitive areas remain “no-go zones” to the oil industry in the
future.
In 2008, Amazon Watch continued to play an important role
supporting the Government of Ecuador in its pioneer proposal
to protect world-renowned Yasuni National Park by not allow-
ing extraction of Ecuador’s largest undeveloped oil reserved,
the Ishpingo-Tambococha-Tiputini (ITT) oil block. The 2.5 mil-
lion-acre Yasuni Park, one of the world’s greatest biodiversity
hotspots, is the home to the Huaorani people and two indige-
nous groups in voluntary isolation.
11. During the year, the Yasuni-ITT proposal acquired major companies, pushing for a diverse range of funding
political support within Ecuador and abroad, particularly sources beyond the sale of carbon credits, and seeking to
from the governments of Spain, Norway, Italy and obtain greater engagement and participation by
Germany. Amazon Watch was instrumental in safeguard- Ecuadorian civil society in the proposal, especially the
ing the proposal’s integrity from co-option by private oil national indigenous organizations.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
May July In essence, the constitution provides
explicit legal protection for the exis-
Amazon Watch joins forces with On July 22 in the coastal city of tence of nature and for all of its life
socially responsible investor col- Guayaquil, Amazon Watch, along with cycle functions, including regeneration
leagues Lily La Torre of Racimos de the national Ecuador campaign and evolution. Legal claims can be
Ungurahui and Navajo activists from Amazonía por la Vida and the brought by any individual to stop a
New Mexico. Together, they meet with damaging activity and restore an
ConocoPhillips senior management ecosystem to its original state. Article
during their annual meeting in 409 of the new constitution now theo-
Houston, demanding that the company retically bans resource extraction in
adopt a policy requiring free, prior and national parks and areas declared
informed consent—with a focus on “áreas intangibles,” or no-go zones.
operations in Peru and Ecuador. In
terms of its Ecuador holdings, the Also in September, Brazilian oil giant
company confirms that it has attempt- Petrobras announces its departure
ed to sell its Block 24 concession and from controversial oil Block 31 within
50 percent share in Block 23 without Yasuni National Park. This victory for
success—an indication that the compa- the campaign to protect Yasuni from
ny intends to leave Ecuador perma- oil drilling follows intense criticism of
nently. Petrobras’s drilling plans from Amazon
Watch and an international network of
June ally organizations. Amazon Watch pro-
(Antoine Bonsorte)
vides support for an indigenous mobi-
The German parliament unanimously lization of local Huaorani people who
approves a resolution backing the Fundación Pachamama, participates traveled to Quito in protest.
Yasuni-ITT initiative and commits the jointly with the Minister of Foreign
government and Chancellor Angela Affairs, the Ministry of Energy and
Merkel to financially and politically sup-
December
Mines, and other government officials
porting the proposal, as well as pro- in making the first financial contribu- Amazon Watch participates in a high
moting it among European Union tions to the Yasuni-ITT initiative. level strategy meeting with the
countries and the Club of Paris. At the Ecuadorian President’s team and lead-
request of Germany’s Parliament, ing environmental experts in
September
President Correa extends the deadline Washington, DC to develop and pro-
for securing funds until December, and Ecuadorian voters approve a ground- mote the Yasuni-ITT initiative.
all signs point to another extension if breaking new national constitution, the Following the meeting, the government
concrete financial advances can be first in the world to grant specific team begins a tour of the EU to seek
shown. recognition to the “Rights of Nature.” greater support for the proposal.
12. Northern Peruvian Amazon (Nathalie Weemaels)
With 74 percent of the Peruvian Amazon In Northern Peru, Amazon Watch contin-
now zoned for oil and gas extraction, ued support for the Achuar people as
NORTHERN Amazon Watch worked with our indige- they sought justice for past harm to their
nous partners to curtail industry’s expan- health and environment. During its 30
PERU sion and instead advance indigenous years operating in the Corrientes River
peoples’ vision for an alternative devel- basin, Occidental Petroleum (Oxy)
PROGRAM
opment path that does not destroy dumped over 9 billion barrels of toxic
nature or culture. Amazon Watch production waters directly into the rain-
worked with the Achuar and other forest. Oxy sold the operation to
indigenous groups to protect nearly 20 Argentine company Pluspetrol in 2000.
million acres of well-conserved primary In 2008, Amazon Watch joined as a
rainforest. We supported indigenous plaintiff in a U.S. lawsuit filed by
land claims and pressured and engaged EarthRights International against Oxy for
companies currently holding conces- its pollution of Achuar communities in oil
sions in the region, including Talisman, Block 1AB. Although the court ruled
Petrolifera, Amerada Hess, Ramshorn, that the U.S. is an “inconvenient forum”
Hunt Oil and ConocoPhillips, to respect for the lawsuit, the legal team appealed
the rights of indigenous peoples to free, the decision while preparing to file the
prior and informed consent over any lawsuit in Peru.
activities affecting their territories and
livelihood.
13. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
April their annual meeting in Houston product of oil drilling. However, an
demanding that the company adopt a analysis later conducted by Amazon
The campaign to hold Oxy responsible policy requiring free, prior and Watch partner E-Tech International
for polluting the Achuar territory is informed consent. We continue to concludes that remediation of toxic
dealt a setback when a federal judge monitor Conoco’s exploration and waste pits in the area was insufficient.
in Los Angeles rules that the case drilling plans in its 10 million acre
should be heard in Peru. The plaintiffs, “mega-block” of adjacent oil conces-
including Amazon Watch and the November
sions in northern Peru, an area which
Achuar, publicly vow to continue pur- overlaps ecological reserves, titled Amazon Watch calls on Talisman
suing all legal means of redress, indigenous lands, and the territory of Energy to suspend its operations in
including appealing the decision in the indigenous peoples living in voluntary the Pastaza River basin due to con-
U.S. and bringing the case to Peru isolation. cerns that that the company has not
The Los Angeles Times issues a favor-
able editorial.
Amazon Watch leads its first advocacy
mission to Calgary, the heart of
Canada’s oil industry, bringing two
Achuar representatives from Peru to
confront the latest companies active in
their territory: Talisman Energy and
Petrolífera. Following a meeting with
Talisman’s CEO John Manzoni and
other executives, Talisman publicly
commits in front of the company’s
shareholders to operate only where it
obtains community consent.
May
Amazon Watch attends Oxy’s annual
meeting at its Los Angeles headquar-
Henderson Rengifo, Achuar Leader, and Daryl Hannah speak at a rally outside the Oxy Annual Meeting in Los Angeles (Thomas Cavanagh / Amazon Watch)
ters, accompanied by Achuar leaders
from Peru. Several days before, a large August
obtained free, prior and informed con-
demonstration at Oxy headquarters,
Amazon Watch joins a fact-finding and sent for oil exploration from the com-
attended by Daryl Hannah and Stuart
partnership building delegation to visit munities in Peru’s oil Block 64. 34
Townsend, garners strong media
the remote Corrientes River region to communities in this Achuar, Shuar and
attention. At the shareholder meeting,
engage Achuar communities, evaluate Shapra territory declare their intent to
Achuar leaders confront senior man-
capacity-building needs and monitor
agement and call for Oxy to take prevent Talisman from starting work in
active oil concessions. Amazon Watch
responsibility for its legacy of contami- the area. Amazon Watch maintains a
verifies that Argentinian company
nation. This results in major press cov- dialogue with the company about the
PlusPetrol is abiding by the terms of
erage. adequacy of its consultation process.
an earlier agreement with the Achuar
and the Peruvian government to re- The controversy receives favorable
Amazon Watch meets with
inject the toxic waters that are a by- coverage in Canadian press.
ConocoPhillips senior management at
14. Achuar Leaders and Amazon Watch staff strategize during a workshop in the Peruvian Amazon (Amazon Watch)
On a national level, as part of our efforts versity hotspot described by scientists
to fight hydrocarbon expansion in the as “the last place on earth” to drill for
face of the Peruvian government’s disre- fossil fuels. Through extremely poor envi-
gard for indigenous rights, Amazon ronmental oversight, the project has
INDIGENOUS Watch stepped up our capacity building been plagued by repeated spills and has
work to provide tools and resources for harmed the local Machiguenga, Nanti,
CAPACITY our partners to leverage political pressure Nahua and Yine peoples while bringing
both in Peru and abroad. Specialized
BUILDING little economic benefits to the communi-
trainings, targeted funding and sharp- ties. Following the Inter-American
AND ened communications skills have enabled Development Bank’s unfortunate deci-
groups in Peru to more effectively com-
sion to approve funding for Camisea
SOUTHERN PERU municate directly with national and inter-
Phase II in January 2008, Amazon
national decision makers.
Watch supported local partners in moni-
In Southern Peru, Amazon Watch con- toring and documenting the project’s
tinued to monitor the Camisea natural impacts on local communities and bring-
gas project. Located in the remote ing their concerns to key international
Lower Urubamba Basin in the south- financial institutions. Moreover, we con-
eastern Peruvian Amazon, the project tinued to call for a halt to oil drilling in
includes two pipelines to the Peruvian territories of isolated indigenous peoples
coast, cutting through an Amazon biodi- within the Kugapakori Nahua Reserve.
15. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Inter-American Development Bank and deliver a video camera and train-
(IDB), one of the principal financiers ing to its communications team.
of destructive large-scale “develop-
ment” projects in the Amazon. We November
coordinate the publication of an “IDB
Watch” publication by civil society In November, we set in motion a
groups, which provides a critical look process to have DAR, a local partner
at IDB policy and investments, includ- organization, investigate the social and
ing the Camisea project. We also environmental impacts of Camisea and
facilitate a delegation of Peruvian to file a complaint through the
leaders from partner groups International Finance Corporation’s
Asociación Labor and Derechos, internal ombudsman’s office in 2009.
Ambiente y Recursos Naturales
(DAR) to attend meetings with senior December
management and board members of
Throughout the year, Amazon Watch
the Bank.
provides continued support to
AIDESEP, the National Organization of
June the Amazon Indigenous People of
Amazon Watch participates in the sec- Peru, in their efforts to protect the
Amazon Watch launches IDB WATCH
ond year of Escuela Senen Soi, a Kugapakori-Nahua Reserve for isolat-
January training program by and for indigenous ed indigenous peoples affected by the
leaders of the Peruvian Amazon to Camisea project. In December, after
Amazon Watch encounters a major
build leadership in defense of their traveling to Washington, D.C. to pres-
setback when the Inter-American
human rights and environment. Two ent arguments at a hearing of the
Development Bank (IDB) loan pack-
staff members travel to Pucallpa, Peru Inter-American Commission on Human
age for Camisea II is approved. This
to teach a curriculum focused on Rights, AIDESEP presents a formal
loan approval again clearly indicates
strategic communication including request for precautionary measures
the lack of accountability within the
spokesperson training and media out- with the Commission.
IDB and its lack of respect for its own
social and environmental safeguard reach. Some 35 indigenous partici-
policies. pants attend from across the Peruvian
Amazon.
Amazon Watch and Environmental
Defense jointly fund an Analysis of October
the Peru LNG Project by a Harvard
University professor. This economic In early October, our Environmental
analysis argues that exporting Peru’s and Human Rights Campaigner par-
natural gas reserves, as to be carried ticipates in a fact-finding and capaci-
out in Camisea II, would be economi- ty building mission with Oxfam
cally detrimental to Peru in the long America to visit the Machiguenga
term. communities of the lower Urubamba
River region including Timpia,
Camisea, Segakiato, Cashiriari and
April
Kirigueti. While in the region, we also
Amazon Watch brings its message to participate in the congress of the
Camisea fact-finding mission along the Urubamba River
Miami for the annual meeting of the Machiguenga federation, COMARU, in Peru (Andrew Miller / Amazon Watch)
16. U'wa Leader at River Crossing (Proyecto Mujer U’wa)
In 2008, Amazon Watch strengthened Amazon Watch continued to spearhead
our collaboration with the leadership of an international campaign to halt oil and
Colombia’s U’wa indigenous people as gas operations on U’wa land and pres-
we jointly responded to the renewed sured the Colombian government to
U’WA threat of hydrocarbons projects within demilitarize the area. In 2008, Amazon
their cloud forest homelands. Watch staff visited Colombia several
DEFENSE Ecopetrol, the Colombian state oil times to strategize with the U’wa lead-
company, moved quickly to construct a ership. We worked closely with the
PROJECT
gas production plant in Gibraltar, within U’wa to support their grassroots activi-
the U’wa’s ancestral territory and pre- ties, including a mobilization of hun-
sented its plans to explore for oil in the dreds of community members in oppo-
heart of the U’wa’s legal reserve. sition to Ecopetrol’s activities. We alert-
Ecopetrol’s activities have coincided ed the international financial community
with increased militarization and pres- to the human and environmental costs
ence of guerrilla groups in the U’wa of Ecopetrol’s projects as the company
region. During 2008, the number of looked to raise capital on Wall Street. In
incidents of human rights abuses addition, we helped connect the U’wa
increased, including several killings of to international supporters and political
innocent community members by leaders during a tour to New York City
armed groups. and Washington, D.C.
17. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Sirakubo Tegria, U'wa President (Atossa Soltani / Amazon Watch) Girl in the U'wa territory photographed by the late Terence Freitas, founder of
the U'wa Defense Project
February both Colombian military forces and which is located within their ancestral
illegal armed groups from U’wa territo- territory against firm and reiterated
Two Amazon Watch staff make an ry. 42 Colombian groups, 70 interna- U’wa opposition. Amazon Watch pro-
emergency field visit to Bogotá, meet- tional organizations from 27 countries, vides media support in the form of dis-
ing face-to-face with U’wa leaders and dozens of individuals sign onto tributing an English press release and
about their security situation, due to the letter. In conjunction, we launch an
facilitating connection between U’wa
reports of increased armed presence on-line action, urging the public to
leaders and Bogotá-based journalists.
starting in December of 2007. Amazon pressure the Colombian Ambassador
Watch facilitates a larger coordination to the U.S., Caroline Barco, in support
meeting between the U’wa and of the U’wa's call for de-militarization November
Bogotá-based organizations involved of their territories.
Amazon Watch brings U’wa indige-
in the campaign. nous leaders to the U.S. for a two-
September week delegation In New York, they
March/April meet with a dozen financial analysts
As Ecopetrol prepares to sell shares
Amazon Watch provides small grants on the New York Stock Exchange, and representatives of institutional
to support both visits by U’wa Amazon Watch targets JPMorgan investors, urging them not to buy
Association (ASOUWA) leaders to Chase, the underwriting bank. Amazon shares of Ecopetrol. In Washington,
U’wa communities and the mass U’wa Watch engages the bank in dialogues DC, the U’wa delegation raises its
presence at the Permanent Peoples about the human and environmental case with congressional leaders,
Tribunal’s regional hearing in costs of Ecopetrol’s projects on U’wa including Representative Jim
Saravena. land, as well as the financial and repu-
McGovern, and the Inter-American
tational risks for JPMorgan Chase.
Commission on Human Rights
June Amazon Watch launches an on-line
October urgent action, building public pressure
Amazon Watch coordinates an open
letter to Colombian President Alvaro Over 1,000 U’wa peacefully occupy for JPMorgan Chase to terminate its
Uribe, calling for the demilitarization of Ecopetrol’s Gibraltar oil platform, financial support for Ecopetrol.
18. CLIMATE CHANGE, IIRSA
Rapids on the Madeira river (Glenn Switkes) The Ecuadorian Amazon (Lou Dematteis)
Climate Change IIRSA
Deforestation, especially of tropical forest, accounts for The Initiative for Integration of Regional Infrastructure in
approximately 17 percent of total greenhouse gas emis- South America (IIRSA), a pan-regional development blue-
sions, contributing significantly to climate change and cre- print of over 500 infrastructure projects, will bring major
ating a positive feedback loop that threatens the survival ecological and social devastation to the Amazon through
of the Amazon rainforest and life on our increasingly frag- extensive alterations to landscapes and livelihoods in the
ile planet. region. IIRSA’s development framework views mountains,
forests, and wetlands as barriers to economic growth to
Given that indigenous peoples own three times more forest
conquer while rivers are seen as the means for extracting
than national governments, the emerging discussion on
natural resources and the generation of hydroelectricity.
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation
Amazonian indigenous peoples and traditional communities,
(REDD), as well as the inclusion of forest-based climate mit-
whose lands lay in the path of these “development” proj-
igation in the carbon markets, is of great concern to them.
ects, will be deeply and irreversibly affected, yet their per-
In the Amazon and elsewhere, many indigenous communi- spectives are rarely if ever considered relevant to project
ties lack official legal title to their ancestral territories. Thus, planning, approval, and financing. Among the most contro-
there is a great risk that their rights and access to forest versial of IIRSA’s projects is the Madeira River Complex,
territories could be adversely affected by REDD as a mar- the cornerstone of IIRSA’s Brazil-Bolivia-Peru development
ket based emissions reduction mechanism, with grave cul- hub, that seeks to turn the principal tributary to the Amazon
tural and social repercussions. river into a major corridor for energy production and raw
material export.
In 2008, Amazon Watch staff participated in various strate-
gy discussions on the topic of REDD with our indigenous Amazon Watch continued to expand its work on IIRSA in
and NGO allies. We focused on identifying strategies to 2008 confronting officials from the Inter-American
engage around REDD in the series of international climate Development Bank once again at its annual meeting in
meetings throughout 2009 leading up to the UN Framework Miami about their funding for IIRSA projects. We identified
on Climate Change COP-15 meeting in Copenhagen. additional financial leverage points, namely Brazil’s National
Amazon Watch is uniquely positioned to help indigenous Development Bank and the Andean Development
organizations in the Amazon Basin understand the implica- Corporation. Amazon Watch hired a dedicated Brazil IIRSA
tions of REDD and engage in the global climate debate. campaigner as we sought to build a stronger network with
allied civil society groups in Brazil and beyond.
19. AMAZON WATCH FINANCIAL REPORT
Statement of Financial Activity
January 1 to December 31 2008 2007
Investment and
INCOME
Foundation Grants 460,436 252,328
Other Income
>1% Foundation Grants
Foundation Grants Organizations 47%
Temporarily Restricted 195,676 201,352 & Businesses
Funds for Partner Groups 91,614 111,005 7%
Individual Donors 162,712 175,281
Organizations & Businesses 73,540 53,560
Investment & Other Income 709 27,165 Individual
Donors
17%
TOTAL INCOME 984,687 820,691
Funds for Partner Groups
EXPENSES 9% Foundation Grants
Programs and Campaigns 661,252 570,584
Temporarily Restricted
Grants to Amazonian Groups 97,501 136,097
20%
Total Program Services 758,753 706,681
Management 58,851 53,551
Fund Development 127,648 116,527
TOTAL EXPENSES 945,252 876,759
INCOME 2008
Net Income 39,435 (55,765)
Net Assets on January 1 418,644 474,409
Management Fund Development
Net Assets on December 31 458,079 418,644
6% 14%
Net Assets on Dec 31 Include
Grants to
Cash Assets 181,040 189,164
Amazonian
Short-term Investments 61,375 30,405 Groups
Prepaid Rent 7,452 7,452 10%
Grants Receivable 195,676 161,200
Net Equipment Assets 6,556 8,400
Other: Stock Donations 12,192 24,229
Less: Accounts Payable (6,212) (2,206)
TOTAL NET ASSETS 458,079 418,644
Programs and Campaigns
Note: This report is based on the 2007 and 2008 audited financial statements. 70%
EXPENSES 2008
20. Amazon Watch SPECIAL THANKS TO
Staff
Atossa Soltani Maria Lya Ramos*
Contract Staff and Consultants
Founder and Executive Southern Amazon
Director Program Coordinator
Melissa Adams Susan E. Joseph Mutti
Goranson, CPA
Paul Paz y Miño Celia Alario John Parnell,
Gregor MacLennan Daniel Herriges Wavebridge
Managing Director Southern Amazon Deborah Bassett Communications
Program Coordinator Marika Holmgren
Thomas Cavanagh Bart Beeson John Picone
Technical and Financial Zachary Hurwitz
Andrew Miller Greg Bernstein Radical Designs
Manager Environmental and Kristen Irving
Moira Birss Aliya Ryan
Cyndie Berg Human Rights Ariel Lopez
Campaigner Ouida Chichester Mark Stuver
Development Director David Matchett
Design Action Shannon Wright
Simeon Tegel* Christian Poirier Leslie Morava
Brazil Program E Tech Michael Zap
Communications International Ana Maria Murillo
Coordinator
Director
Kevin Koenig Elisa Bravo
Research, Finance and
Northern Amazon
Development Associate
Our Partners in the Amazon
Program Coordinator We offer special thanks to all of our Amazonian partners who
Mitchell Anderson Daniel Herriges stand on the frontlines of this struggle for life, land and dignity.
Program Assistant We are honored to stand with them.
Corporate Accountability
Campaigner
Acción Ecológica Communidad de Fundación
Sarayaku Pachamama
AIDESEP
Board of Ambassadors Derechos NAE
Asociacion Ambiente y
Directors Antoine Bonsorte Indígena de OilWatch
Recursos
Andrew Beath Morona
Benjamin Bratt FECONACO ONIC
Treasurer AsoU'wa
FECONAU ORACH
Cary Elwes ATI
Dee Dominguez* ORAU
FENAP
Daryl Hannah CEDIA
Jonathan Frieman FICSHE Racimos de
Bianca Jagger CENSAT Agua Ungurahui
Ken Larson Viva FIPSE
Red Ambiental
President Q’orianka Kilcher COIAB Frente de Defensa Loretana
Youth Ambassador de la Amazonia
Lily la Torre COICA Selva Viva
John Quigley Fundación Hemera
Daniela Meltzer COMARU Shinai
Chair Zoe Tryon
Jeff Mendelsohn
Jonas Minton Executive Collaborators, Volunteers & Interns
Ana Maria Murillo Director's
Leadership Celia Alario Damara Ganley Amelia Rudolph
Leila Salazar-Lopez
Council Janet Anderson Stephanie Kristen Sague
Gonzales
Atossa Soltani Megan Wiese Karolo Aparicio Roel Seber
Secretary Chair Heidi Kreiss
Zachary Boone Ashkan Soltani
Richard Wegman Michael Kuehnert
Suzanne West Martha Maria Roxana Soltani
Carmona Marianne Manilov
Claudia Wheeler-
Sue Chiang Allison McManis Rappe
Ouida Chichester Maury Mendenhall Rachel Whyte
* Departed 2008
Jackie Coates Katherine Needles Deborah Zierten
21. Tomas Maynas and Youth Ambassador Q'orianka Kilcher speak outside the Oxy AGM (Thomas Cavanagh / Amazon Watch)
AMAZON WATCH SUPPORTERS IN 2008
Jaguar The Kindle Project Hesperian Foundation Tree Frog
$100,000 and Up Michael Klein Hull Family Foundation $500 - $999
The Blue Moon Fund** Levi Strauss Foundation Sarah Jaffe Alan Hunt Badiner
Charles Stewart Mott The Network for Social Change Todd Laby Environmental Defense
Foundation**
Ken Larson Five Stones
Wallace Global Fund
Spider Monkey Lowepro Cherie Glasse
$5,000 to $9,999 Daniel Greaney
The George and Judy Marcus
Harpy Eagle As You Sow Family Foundation
$50,000 to $99,999
Thomas Hall
Raj and Helen Desai John Anthony Martinez Jacques Harari
The Moriah Fund**
The Olivia Companies Jonas M. Minton & Julie Deborah Harmon
Rudolf Steiner Foundation Carrasco Minton
PS321 School Michael Hirschhorn
The Sigrid Rausing Trust Letitia & Milan Momirov
Rupp Foundation Tamar Hurwitz
Megan & Russell Wiese Daniel Nord
Anaconda Terry Lynn Karl
Latin America Fund / Jenny Overman
$25,000 to $49,999 Terry and Carolyn Koenig
Combined Federal Pachamama Alliance
American Jewish World Campaign Kohn, Swift & Graf
Service** Lyon and Rob Petty Family
Foundation Carol A. Kurtz
Conservation, Food & Health
Kapok Tree Rainforest Action Network Leeann Lahren
Foundation
$1,000 to $4,999 Daniela Meltzer
John Dabrowski Bruce Robertson
Amnesty International Radical Media
Overbrook Foundation Heather Rosmarin
Angelo, Gordon & Co The Rockefeller Foundation
Francis Tansley Peter Rosmarin
Bank Information Center Jill Southard
Threshold Foundation Ray and Anna Sargoni
Jeffrey Goldberg/CaliBamboo Allan Spiwak
John Seed / EarthWays
The Christensen Fund Foundation Wendy Volkmann
Pink River Dolphin
$10,000 to $24,999 Scott Fitzmorris Zoe Tryon Nadine Weil
The Atticus Foundation Forest Peoples Project Vitaquest James Whitson
The BENNY Award / Heidi Gifford Frederick Welty
Corporate Ethics Goldman Environmental Charities Aid Foundation / Zoe
International Foundation Tryon Walk
**Giving levels reflect multi-year grants
22. SUPPORTERS (CONTINUED)
River Spirits Tim Dale / Yoga Tree Marika Holmgren Barbara Rogoff
$100 to $499 Joanne Dale Jack Howell Lorraine Rominger
Stan Adler Davis Family Trust I Do Foundation / Grelia and Laurie Rosmarin
Leilani Alo Mark Delavalle Clark Smith Laurie Rowley
Karolo Aparicio Dolphin Foundation Aviva Imhof Jenny Rudolph
Linda Assante Earth Rights International International Rivers Amelia Rudolph
Assurat Health Foundation Ana Eder Rosalind Jackson Matthew Rudolph
Joseph E. Baker Robert Eisenbach Peter James Leila Salazar
Sheldon Baker David Eliason Donald Kagan Antonia Scott Day
Ben S. Bayer Melanie Engles Cindy and Michael Kamm Abby Sher
Michael A. Beer Emily and Peter Evers Jennifer Kim Richard Silver
Robbie Bent Lawrence E. Fahn Tracy King Kristin Spychalsky
Kenneth Bernstein Yael Falicov Sarosh Kumana Robert Stack
Steven Berse Linda and John Finn Deborah Kushner Marie-Elisabeth Steindamm
Stephen Bickel First Giving / Zoe Tryon Walk Maureen Langloss Jan Stensland
Phyllis Bieri Fund Ralph & Sandy Larson Daniel Susott
J. Billock James Eric Fisher Leslie Leslie Tellus Construction
Colleen Bolton Lindsey Ford Lorna Li Robert Tindall
Ben Bowman S. David Freeman Mary J. Marcus Karen Topakian
Risa Boyer Leritz Michael Freund Matthew May/May Realty Jeanne Trombly
David Brast Josh Fryday Jeff Mendelsohn Thomas Van Dyck
Eldy Bratt Marianne Gagen Bruce Michael Fred Vasquez
Adam Browning Angie Garling Jamie Myers Maria Verdesoto
Michael Brune Al Gedicks Martha Nicholson Violeta Villacorta
Scott Bryan Camellia George James Nunemacher Anna S. Wagner
Anthony Buscemi Global Exchange James O'Dea Scott D. Walker
Jesse Carmichael Robert Goodland Gigi Obrecht Paige Weber
Anna Carmichael Ryder Goodwin Lucky Otting Dewey Webster
Troy Casey Google Patagonia S. & K. Weinstein Family Fund
Julie Casinelli Gordon and Betty Moore Perforce Foundation Weitz Brothers
Foundation Diane Perry
boona cheema Michelle C. Wells
Nanci Graham Elaine Phillips
Steven Chow Barbara Williams
Sara Greenfield Project Bandaloop
Dana Clark Jan Williamson
Aurora Guerrero Tao Radoczy
Christopher Clay Gina Zappia
Robert Guilbert Mark Randazzo
Molly Clinehens Brooke Zobrist
Rodrigo Guimaraes American Endowment
Kevin Connelly
Dan Bienenfeld / L.A. Healing Foundation / Resonate
Allison Connor
Arts Center Foundation
Daniel Coughlin
Jeffrey Hertz Jesus Rodriguez
David J. Crawford
Morgan Stanley Trade - Daniel Erin Rogers
Custom Direct Holzer
And a very special thanks to our hundreds of grassroots supporters whose contributions help make our critical work possible.
23. Back Cover (Antoine Bonsorte / Amazon Watch)
SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
PROTECTING THE AMAZON RAINFOREST
w w w. a m a z o n w a t ch . o r g
Printed on 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Paper, Process Chlorine Free.
Printing by Inkworks Press. Design by Design Action Collective. Union Labor.
24. SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
PROTECTING THE AMAZON RAINFOREST
w w w. a m a z o n w a t ch . o r g
MAIN OFFICE LOS ANGELES, CA WASHINGTON, DC QUITO, ECUADOR
221 Pine Street, 4th Floor P.O. Box 2421 1350 Connecticut Ave., NW E-1270 y Portete
San Francisco, CA 94104 Malibu, CA 90265 Suite 1100 c/o Frente de Defensa de la
Tel: 415-487-9600 Tel: 310-456-9158 Washington, DC 20010 Amazonia
Fax: 415-487-9601 Fax: 310-456-0388 Tel: 202-785-3962 Quito - Ecuador
Fax: 202-355-7570 Tel: (593-9) 79-49-041
