Beth Burrows, Edmonds Institute, EEUU

«…. I therefore find that the decision taken by your administration is in total contradiction with the aims stated in the new Constitution and can only think that it is a mistake made by some ill-informed person within your administration….»

To: The Honorable Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador
Date: March 10, 2009

Dear President Correa,

I write as the head of a public interest, non-profit organization in
the US, committed to the protection of biodiversity and the rights of
all communities. Mr. President, I write to share my dismay upon hearing
of the decision taken by your Administration to close down Acción
Ecológica by withdrawing its legal certification (personería juridica).
Such a decision, coming from your Administration, was a complete shock.
While such an action might have been expected from  previous
anti-people, anti-nature governments, it was an action entirely
unexpected from your Administration.

Your Administration is well-known for its recognition of the rights of
nature and the right to “well-being” (buen vivir) as promoted and
approved in the new Ecuadorian Constitution.

Within Ecuador, there is no doubt that for years Acción Ecológica  has
been one of the few organizations that staunchly defended nature and
local peoples’ well-being. Everyone around the world knows of Acción’s
dedication to defending the Amazon and its peoples from oil companies
such as Texaco. Everyone that has been in contact with Acción  knows
about their courage, intelligence and commitment to protecting the
country’s social and ecological wealth against the economic interests
of national and transnational corporations eager to exploit them in a
socially unjust and environmentally unsustainable manner. Everyone who
has had the privilege of working with Acción  can only express
admiration.

Protecting the country’s natural resources and peoples against
industrial logging, commercial shrimp farming, oil exploration and
extraction, monoculture tree plantations, biopiracy, water
privatization and so on – as Acción Ecológica has been doing over many
years – is clearly in line with the new Ecuadorian Constitution. Even
more so: it is an obligation for any person, organization and
institution in Ecuador.

I therefore find that the decision taken by your administration is in
total contradiction with the aims stated in the new Constitution and
can only think that it is a mistake made by some ill-informed person
within your administration.

Your government is seen by many as one of the most progressive within
the region and as an example to many other governments that do not
respect nature or people’s well-being. Your government is also a sign
of hope for those of us who are fighting for a socially just and
environmentally sustainable world.  Unfortunately, the credibility of
your government is put at stake by this attack against one of the most
respected civil society organizations in your country: Acción Ecológica.

I hope that I may trust that you will intervene on this issue and
ensure that Acción Ecológica’s legal standing is restored immediately
so that they can continue doing what they do best: protecting people’s
and nature’s rights. I hope I may look forward to news of your decision.

With gratitude in advance for your kind attention to this important
matter, I am . . .

Yours sincerely,
Beth Burrows
President/Director
Edmonds Institute
20319-92nd Avenue West
Edmonds, Washington 98020
USA
phone: (001) 425-775-5383
website: http://www.edmonds-institute.org