QUITO, ECUADOR – Juan Oshcu traveled more than six hours from his rural farm, walking and hitching rides, to reach the Ecuadoran capital. For three nights, he’s slept on wooden benches in one of the city’s cultural centers, a temporary base for the thousands of indigenous protesters who have arrived here this week. “We haveContinueContinue reading “Ecuador’s indigenous people are leading the anti-government protests. They have a record of ousting presidents. (Washington Post)”
Tag Archives: human rights
Ecuador unrest: What led to the mass protests? (Al Jazeera)
QUITO, ECUADOR – Mass anti-government protests have paralysed Ecuadoran transportation and other services for more than a week. Protesters are angry over President Lenin Moreno’s decision to cut decades-old fuel subsidies and implement tax and labour reforms. “The people, united, will never be defeated,” demonstrators chanted as they briefly breached a security line and enteredContinueContinue reading “Ecuador unrest: What led to the mass protests? (Al Jazeera)”
Ecuador unrest: Protests erupt for 6th day over fuel subsidy cuts (Al Jazeera)
QUITO, ECUADOR – Paralysing protests in Ecuador continued on Tuesday over a series of labour and tax reforms and President Lenin Moreno’s decision to scrap decades-old fuel subsidies. Thousands of indigenous people who had been marching towards the capital, Quito, descended on the city on Tuesday. Protesters were reportedly able to briefly cross security linesContinueContinue reading “Ecuador unrest: Protests erupt for 6th day over fuel subsidy cuts (Al Jazeera)”
In Ecuador, one woman has given shelter to over 8,500 Venezuelans (Al Jazeera)
JUNCAL, ECUADOR – The sun had already set when a group of 10 Venezuelans trickled into Carmen Carcelen’s home in northern Ecuador late last month. They joined about 100 others who were already there. Two volunteers immediately invited the new houseguests to put down their tattered suitcases and backpacks, and offered each person a bowl of soup.ContinueContinue reading “In Ecuador, one woman has given shelter to over 8,500 Venezuelans (Al Jazeera)”
Life on the Amazon oil frontier: From exploration to ecotourism (Mongabay)
LLANCHAMA, ECUADOR – A long passenger boat floats abandoned outside Andres Machoa’s house, along the Tiputini River in Ecuador’s Amazon rainforest. The community bought the boat more than five years ago when the state-owned oil company, Petroamazonas, moved into the area and promised everyone stable jobs, including as water taxi conductors to transport their staffContinueContinue reading “Life on the Amazon oil frontier: From exploration to ecotourism (Mongabay)”
Ecuador: Colombia refugees stage weeks-long protest against UNHCR (Al Jazeera)
QUITO, ECUADOR – Gina Pena said she was leaving a humanitarian aid office in Ecuador’s capital Quito one day when she saw the man who had threatened her life back in Colombia. “If I open my mouth, he’ll cut my family up. That’s what he told me,” Pena recalled, adding she no longer feels safeContinueContinue reading “Ecuador: Colombia refugees stage weeks-long protest against UNHCR (Al Jazeera)”
“Photography and Human Rights” (Panel discussion: Quito, Ecuador)
QUITO, ECUADOR – I partook in this panel discussion titled Photography and Human Rights for the annual book fair at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador. Four international photographers based in Ecuador spoke about our work in relation to human rights issues, including how photography can be a tool to bring these issues to light,ContinueContinue reading ““Photography and Human Rights” (Panel discussion: Quito, Ecuador)”
Historic win by Ecuador’s Waorani could re-shape extraction activities (Mongabay)
QUITO, ECUADOR — The indigenous Waorani community in Ecuador won a historic lawsuit against the government late last month, when a three-judge panel ruled that a consultation process conducted with the community in 2012 was inadequate and violated the community’s rights. The ruling immediately suspends any possibility of selling the community’s territory for the sakeContinueContinue reading “Historic win by Ecuador’s Waorani could re-shape extraction activities (Mongabay)”
Indigenous Waorani win landmark legal case against Ecuador gov’t (Al Jazeera)
QUITO, ECUADOR – The indigenous Waorani community in Ecuador won a landmark lawsuit on Friday against three government bodies for conducting a faulty consultation process with the community before putting their territory up for sale in an international oil auction. The ruling immediately suspends any possibility of selling the community’s land for oil exploration. ItContinueContinue reading “Indigenous Waorani win landmark legal case against Ecuador gov’t (Al Jazeera)”
How Drones and GPS Are Helping Indigenous People in Ecuador Save the Amazon (The Pacific Standard)
SINANGOE, ECUADOR — The day begins with everyone drinking a big cup of Yoko. A man called Viejo (“old man,” in Spanish) carves the bark off a special vine found only in the Amazon highlands and mixes it with water. The resulting brew has a gritty texture and a bitter, earthy taste and gives theContinueContinue reading “How Drones and GPS Are Helping Indigenous People in Ecuador Save the Amazon (The Pacific Standard)”
Kimberley Michelle Brown 