Summit of the Americas: Indigenous Amazonian Delegation, Climate Activists to Demand Politicians and Diplomats Across the Americas Protect the Amazon From Industry Destruction

Activists organizing vigils, rallies, and ceremonies to draw attention to U.S. complicity in rights violations, pollution, corruption, deforestation, and land-theft by oil industry in rainforest

WHAT: The 2022 Summit of the Americas Conference is taking place in Los Angeles, CA at the Sheraton Grand Los Angeles. Leaders from multiple nations of the Americas will be participating in this gathering, including an Indigenous delegation from the Amazon rainforest.

Join Amazon Watch, Stand.earth, and Los Angeles frontline communities in a rally and vigil on Monday, June 6, 2022, and a gathering with Indigenous and frontline communities on Tuesday, June 8, 2022, at Cabrillo Beach 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro, CA.

WHO: 

• Tuntiak Patricio Katan Jua, Shuar Vice-Coordinator of the Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon River Basin (COICA)
• Nemo Guiquita,(Waorani), Leader of Women and Health, Confederation of Amazonian Indigenous Peoples of Ecuador (CONFENIAE)
• Andres Tapia, Communications Director, Confederation of Amazonian Indigenous Peoples of Ecuador (CONFENIAE)

WHEN:

• Monday, June 6, 2022: the opening rally and vigil is a two-part event, one in the morning from 8 am-11 am and one in the evening from 8 pm-9 pm.
• Tuesday, June 7, 2022: Indigenous and Fenceline Community Gathering at 10:30 am.

WHERE: Opening Rally and Vigil 6/6 will be at the Sheraton Grand Los Angeles at 711 S Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90017, and the Indigenous Gathering 6/7 will be at Cabrillo Beach 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro, CA.

Interviews and Multimedia: For interviews, photographs, or additional information please contact Ada Recinos at ada@amazonwatch.org or +1.510.473.7542.

Background:

Last year, Stand.earth and Amazon Watch released Linked Fates, a groundbreaking investigative report that tracks crude oil from the Western Amazon to the United States. 89% of the crude oil exported from the Amazon comes from Ecuador and 66% of that goes to the U.S.

Ecuador’s President, Guillermo Lasso, who will be attending the Summit, announced plans in 2021, to double the country’s oil production and to auction nearly 7 million acres (3 million hectares) of mostly roadless rainforest for new oil exploration. If extracted, this Amazon oil would likely end up in the U.S., the majority for consumption in California.

Linked Fates shows how California converts 50% of the Amazon oil exported globally into fuel for airports such as LAX, distributors such as Amazon.com, trucking fleets such as PepsiCo., and retail gas giants such as COSTCO. The refined fuel comes from controversial oil extracted in the Amazon, linked to the violation of Indigenous rights, deforestation, biodiversity loss, pollution, increased fires in the Amazon from road building, and also contributes to climate change.

Despite its progressive image and leaders, this research shows California consumes more oil from the Amazon than any other region in the world. In fact, 1 in 9 gallons pumped on average in California comes from the Amazon, and in Southern California, the average is 1 in 7 gallons. Marathon, Chevron, and Valero – all in California – are the top 3 refiners of oil from the Amazon. Of the Amazon crude that goes to the U.S., 27% goes to Marathon, 22% goes to Valero, and 17% goes to Chevron.

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CONTACTS:

• Travis Nichols, Stand.earth at +404-432-1362 or travis@stand.earth
• Xiomara Chingate, Amazon Watch, Event Organizer at +1-510-365-4922
• Ada Recinos, Amazon Watch at +1.510.473.7542 or ada@amazonwatch.org