Source: Sky News
Victims of the BP oil spill have been warned they should be prepared to wait years, perhaps even decades, for compensation.
That is one of the lessons that Ecuadorian residents say can be learned from their 17-year battle to hold oil company Texaco to account for what has been called the Amazon's Chernobyl.
They allege that Texaco, which was bought by Chevron in 2001, caused catastrophic devastation in the country when it drilled for oil there from 1964 to 1992.
It is claimed 18 billion gallons of toxic waste water and 17 million gallons of crude oil were dumped in an area three times the size of Manhattan.
Campaigners say it is the worst oil-related environmental disaster in the world.
Last month, a delegation of indigenous people from the country travelled to the Gulf of Mexico to meet people that have been affected by the Deepwater Horizon spill and pass on what they have learned from their experience.
Han Shan, the co-ordinator of the Clean Up Ecuador Campaign at Amazon Watch, told Sky News Online patience and resilience are vital: "There are a lot of lessons that can be gleaned from Ecuador.
"One of the reasons why we supported the delegation to go to the Gulf last month is because those from Ecuador wanted to see the devastation and come and share their stories, so people won't have to go through what they have gone through."
Maria Ramos organised the trip and said those in the Gulf should be prepared for "a long battle".
The Ecuadorians remain in contact with those in the Gulf, and the visit has inspired the people there to set up a new organisation to campaign for compensation.
Mr Han said Texaco's oil drilling has caused cancer, miscarriages and cases of childhood leukaemia - with one study estimating 1,400 deaths from cancer.
Emergildo Criollo, the leader of the Cofan indigenous tribe, was six years old when Texaco arrived.
His first two children both died as a result of coming into contact with contaminated water.
Chevron spokesman Kent Robertson told Sky News Online there are three elements to the company's defence.
"Texaco was a responsible operator when it was in Ecuador, it conducted a $40m (£25.7m) remediation which was signed by the Ecuadorian government - this resulted in a release from future liability, and Petroecuador (a state-run company) assumed responsibility for the bulk of the clean-up which needed to be done," he said.
Chevron disputes the claims that Texaco's operations caused cancer, and has questioned the $27bn (£17.4bn) figure the residents say they are liable for.
It has attempted to get the case dismissed.
"It has already been demonstrated that the $27bn figure is worthless - the illegitimacy of the process is apparent," Mr Kent added.
In this bitter fight there is one thing both sides agree on - it could go on for years.
A verdict is expected to be delivered next year.
If the court decides in the residents' favour, they would then have to file for enforcement in a country where Chevron has assets to get them to pay the compensation – for example the United States.
Mr Roberston confirmed Chevron will appeal if it loses and fight any enforcement attempts.
Tribes say their way of life has been destroyed. (Photo: Rainforest Action Network)Even if Chevron eventually pays, Mr Han admits it would be largely symbolic.
He said: "People have lost parents, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters. Indigenous groups have had to move from their hunting grounds where they lived.
"That can not really be compensated for. Even in the event of a positive judgement no amount of money can heal the devastation.
"Nevertheless they want some sort of justice."