California to examine its Amazon oil ties after Indigenous leaders visit to Richmond

Indigenous leaders from Ecuador visited California to raise awareness about the environmental dangers of oil extraction in the Amazon and its ties to the state's crude oil imports. Their visit coincided with the California Senate introducing a resolution to investigate the state's involvement in importing Amazon oil. Ecuador's government plans to auction 14 new oil blocks covering over 2 million hectares of Indigenous territory, contradicting a national referendum aimed at protecting Yasuni National Park's oil reserves. Juan Bay, president of the Waorani people, emphasized the need for Californians to reconsider their crude oil sources, highlighting human rights violations. The delegation participated in a kayaking event near a Chevron refinery, sharing stories about the Amazon and climate threats.

State Senator Josh Becker commended the leaders for asserting their rights and defending the rainforest. California is currently the largest consumer of Amazon oil, raising concerns about pollution and public health. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights previously ruled that Ecuador violated Indigenous rights by allowing oil operations in protected areas, further complicating the situation.