AP – Ecuador’s Correa plans to bypass drug patents
Monday, Oct. 19th 2009
“Correa says access to medicine is a human right and his decision is motivated by “the philosophy of 21st century socialism.”
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In the News
San Francisco Chronicle blog – Chevron Ecuador issue: video showing Judge talking bribe authentic
Wednesday, Mar. 3rd 2010
Ecuador Ministry of Justice Engineer Hugo Rekalde issued a statement today, Tuesday, that the video taken of an Ecuadorian Judge named Juan Evangelista Nunez involved in a conversation over an alleged bribe that the Judge would get part of if he were to rule against Chevron in their case against Ecuador (and note, not the indigenous people, because Ecuador's a party to the lawsuit). Read more »San Francisco Chronicle – Chevron, plaintiffs seek gains as verdict nears
Tuesday, Mar. 2nd 2010
In other recent developments: -- A report last month from another court-appointed expert showed that water in the area is heavily contaminated with fecal bacteria. Chevron has long argued that contamination from bacteria - not oil - is responsible for health problems in the region. -- An investigation into one of the case's previous judges found Monday that clandestinely recorded videos of the judge, released by Chevron last year, were authentic and unaltered. The videos show Judge Juan Nunez discussing the case with two men seeking oil field cleanup contracts. At one point, the judge agrees with a statement from one of the men that Chevron is the "guilty party" in the case. The incident prompted a government investigation. Read more »The Daily Caller – Latin America’s future depends on the rule of law
Monday, Mar. 1st 2010
Over the course of good years and bad, the countries of Latin America have recently been taking diverging paths to very different futures. In one camp are countries such as Chile, Colombia and Panama, which are actively promoting the rule of law. By fostering an investment climate that supports job creation and economic growth, they have advanced the prosperity of their citizens. In another camp are countries such as Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua, which have taken stances inimical to the rule of law and hostile to international investment. Unsurprisingly, they have seen growth and investment collapse. The difference in outcome is stark. The UN’s Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean has for several years reported that countries in the second group have attracted almost no foreign direct investment, and economic growth and job creation have suffered. Read more »
Ecuador News
Poder 360 – Ecuador and Iran Sign Hydroelectricity Agreement
Wednesday, Mar. 10th 2010
Representatives from both countries signed an agreement for the construction of three hydroelectricity plants in Ecuador Read more »Tehran Times – Iran to build power plants in Ecuador
Wednesday, Mar. 10th 2010
Iran plans to build two power plants in Ecuador, First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi has been reported as saying. “Both sides agreed to expand cooperation in all fields,” he said, on the sidelines of his meeting with Ecuadorian First Vice President Lenin Moreno in Tehran on Sunday, the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network reported. Read more »Latin American Herald Tribune – Ecuador Says It Has “Plan B” If Yasuni Initiative Fails
Monday, Mar. 8th 2010
President Rafael Correa said Saturday his administration has a “plan B” up its sleeve in the event the Yasuni-ITT initiative – a proposal by Ecuador to leave Amazon oil in the ground in exchange for international compensation – is unsuccessful. Read more »