From: Cool Earth
Ecuadoreans living in the Amazon rainforest are taking legal action against US oil firm Chevron over allegations that the company dumped waste into the waterways in the area, causing illness amongst many who live in rainforest communities.
As many as 30,000 Amazonians are suing the company over allegedly contaminated water which they claim has led to higher levels of cancer, miscarriages and birth defects.
The case is the subject of the film Crude, a documentary by Joe Berlinger.
According to those bringing the lawsuit, Texaco - which is owned by Chevron - constructed a number of pits in which it put 18 billion gallons water produced as a byproduct in the production of oil.
This water - which was allegedly toxic - then got into the rivers and lakes of the rainforest, it is claimed.
Commenting on the claims, former official at the US Environment Protection Agency Douglas Beltman said: "Texaco treated Ecuador's Amazon like a garbage dump."