Yasuní-ITT Initiative and Blood of the Amazon

Native Spirit Foundation and Casa Ecuatoriana invite you to a night dedicated to raising awareness of the Yasuní-ITT Initiative, and a screening of the film Blood of the Amazon.

 

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

 

Thursday 1st December 2011

7pm

Casa Ecuatoriana

144-146 King’s Cross Road

London WC1X 9DU

 

Nearest Station: King’s Cross & St. Pancras

(Exit Pentonville Rd)

Buses: 10, 17, 30, 45, 46, 59, 63, 73, 91, 205, 214, 259, 390, 476.

 

Entry: Donations of £5 and £10 that will go toward the Yasuní Fund

 

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

 

Screening: Blood of the Amazon

Blood of the Amazon is a new documentary by Nicola Peel, an environmental activist and film-maker who has spent time in Amazonian Ecuador looking at environmental damage at the hands of oil companies. The film looks at the fallout of oil activities in the Amazon and the impact on the forest and the indigenous people who live there. It follows the largest environmental lawsuit in history (Chevron-Texaco case) and looks at an innovative solution to the pollution – the Yasuní proposal; an initiative to leave the oil in the ground.

 

See here for more about Nicola’s work: www.eyesofgaia.com

 

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

 

The film will be followed by a Q&A with director Nicola Peel and Ambassador to the UK, H.E Ana Albán Mora will be present to talk about the Yasuní-ITT Initiative.

 

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

 

Please see below for information about the Yasuní or follow these links:

Official page: www.yasuni-itt.gob.ec

UNDP Fund Page: www.mdtf.undp.org/yasuni

 

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

 

Yasuní-ITT Initiative

The Ispingo-Tiptuni-Tambococha (ITT) oil fields within the Yasuní National Park (located in the Amazon region of Ecuador) hold an estimated 846 million barrels of crude oil – 20% of Ecuador’s reserves. The Yasuní-ITT Initiative proposes to leave the oil untapped in exchange for receiving 50% of the projected revenue from the international community. Over half of the Yasuní National Park is inhabited by indigenous communities including two non-contacted groups: the Tagaeri and Taromenane. It is also one of the most biodiverse places on earth, with one hectare holding more tree species than the US and Canada put together.

 

The Initiative proposes:

1. An innovative option for combating global warming, by avoiding the production of fossil fuels.

2. Protecting the biodiversity of Ecuador and supporting the voluntary isolation of indigenous cultures living in the Yasuní National Park.

3. A move away from an oil dependent economy and toward the use of renewable energy sources, as part of a strategy aimed at consolidating a new model of sustainable human development in the country.

 

A Trust Fund was set up with the UNDP in August 2010 with the aim of securing $100 million from the international community by December 2011. Plan B for the Yasuní-ITT Initiative is to allow for further oil concessions to be granted within the Yasuní National Park. The December deadline is imminent – so far, over half the amount has been raised and there are currently international efforts to put the Yasuní on the international agenda.

 

Key Facts:

• Yasuní: One of the most bio-diverse spots on Earth

• One hectare in Yasuní contains more tree species than are native to the whole of North America

• Ecuador indefinitely foregoes extraction of 846 million barrels of oil and more than US$ 7.2 billion in income

• Avoidance of 407 million metric tons of CO² emissions due to non-extraction and burning of oil

• Avoidance of 800 million metric tons of CO² from avoided deforestation

• 78% of Ecuadorian citizens support the Yasuní Initiative • The Yasuní-ITT Trust Fund administered by UNDP was established in August 2010

• Agreement requires US$ 100 million by 31st Dec 2011