Ecuador’s government is dividing land in the rainforest into blocs to auction off to oil companies. This would allow the oil companies to take advantage of the oil reserves in those blocs. However, there are people living in those areas. Including the indigenous, hunter and gathering tribe called the Waorani. If the land is sold to large oil companies they will extremely effect they way of life they are currently living. The oil companies actions completely go against the Waorani’s belief in the treatment of the earth. They wish to stop this sale and are therefore suing the Ecuadorian government in an attempt to gain the rights to their home land. Not only would this be a huge victory for these people but it would also leading the way for future cases. There are many indigenous tribes within the Amazon rainforest and their way of life is at risk due to the deforestation and exploitation of resources in the forest.
I believe it is important to allow people to live the live that they desire and to give them the space to do so. If it was a single person you allow them the freedom to buy or continue to own a piece of land in which they can carry out their own way of life. The Waorani’s are not just one person though they are thousands and should be granted those same rights. They should not be pushed off their lands for economic gains. If I concesouse can be made in which the tribe agrees to allow the oil companies on their land to use the resources than I think that is perfectly acceptable but to force them of the land and destroy it is not. I hope Ecuador’s court system will rule in favor of the tribe and allow them to control the state of their indigenous land.