Environmental Destruction For 20 years, Texaco pumped oil from the Ecuadorian rainforest, one of theEarth's gems of biodiversity, and home to 300,000 Quichua, Siona, Secoya, Cofan, Shuar, and Huaorani indigenous people. After extracting more than one billion barrels of crude oil, Texaco pulled out of Ecuador in 1992, leaving behind a colossal mess of toxic waste pits,oil spills, and poisoned communities. Texaco's legacy to Ecuador;- Spills totalling 17 million gallons of crude oil (50% more than theExxon Valdez spill) Discharge of 20 billion gallons of wastewater, with hydro-carbons,heavy metals and other toxic Contaminants abandonment of hundreds of unlined toxic waste ponds Construction of oil roads opening more than 2.5 million acres of theforest to colonization Besides extensive damage to rainforest ecosystems, Texaco's operations haveaffected the people of the Amazon, who use river and rain water for bathing, drinking, and fishing. Skin diseases,stomach ailments, respiratory diseases, headaches, malnutrition, and cancerhave surfaced in native communities affected by Texaco's operations. Texaco refuses to cleanup, or even to compensate those people whose lives have been affected by their operations. Wherever they work, Texaco has demonstrated irresponsibility and lack of concern for public health, human rights, and the global environment: In Indonesia, pollution from Texaco's Caltex operations has killed fish in Siak River tributaries,destroyed rubber trees near the streams, and caused skin diseases among Sungai Limau villagers. Texaco is also suspected of pressuring the oil tanker, the Sea Empress, to come in at low tide, causing one of the UK's biggest ever oil spills in February 1996. Over 175 miles of coastline - including 35 Sites of Special Scientific Interest were affected, and it still unknown what long-term ecological effect the spill will have. Texaco did not pay towards the cost of the clean up operation. Parent company Texaco Inc is a member of the Global Climate Coalition. [The Ethical Consumer Guide to Everyday Shopping  published by the Ethical Consumer Research Association.] [Corporate Watch Address Book (1997)] [Corporate Watch Issue 3, February 1997]
	Supporting brutal / repressive regimes In Burma, Texaco collaborates with the brutal Burmese military dictatorshipi n an offshore naturalgas project. In order to construct a pipeline through the rainforest, the army has declared"free-fire zones" in which soldiers are authorized to shoot civilians, including members of theKaren hill tribe. In Haiti, Texaco has blatantly violated the U.N. oil embargo, designed to pressure Haiti's military dictatorship. Texaco and Shell (heavily criticised for their operations in nigeria, see Shell in the McSpotlight) are to combine part of their US refining and marketing operations. [The Ethical Consumer Guide to Everyday Shopping  published by the Ethical Consumer Research Association.] [The Independent newspaper, 16.3.97]
	Exploiting employees In 1996 Texaco Inc. paid a $176m settlement to six black employees for racial discrimination [Corporate Watch Address Book (1997)] [Reuters, 16.11.96]

Credits and References: Most of the information in this section was taken from The Ethical Consumer Guide to Everyday Shopping  published by the Ethical Consumer Research Association. 

Opposition and Campaigns

Exploitation and profiteering do not need to exist. A better way of running our lives can be created based on the sharing of resources and on respect for each other and for nature. Increasingly people are questioning and challenging those with power and are seeking alternatives. Let's hope it's possible to make a difference.