Chapter 1

This first chapter talks much about Ecuador, with explanations about how their political

structure has changed drastically over the past century. Showing how diversely their

environment and its protection policies about it have changed. Ecuadors main idea behind its

environmental protection was to attempt to leverage its beautiful landscape as a tourist attraction,

and use its unique characteristics to help ask the international community for funding to keep it

pristine. This funding would allow for the protection of the rainforests from economic

encroachment from mining and oil, and protect the indigenous tribes from being trampled on by

outsiders. The money was also going to be used to help kickstart the country towards state

programs with universal schooling and healthcare. The proposed amount of 3.6 billion was

stifled with the Ecuadorian government only receiving 13 million, leaving them no choice but to

drill.

Ecuador is a very interesting place to learn about primarily due to its high diversity in

both landscape, wildlife, and vegetation. Their country including the Galapagos has higher

biodiversity per square mile than almost any other country in the world. This brings in the

interest of not only researchers, but many tourists wanting to indulge in the breath-taking

scenery.

The country strives on sustainability, in its attempts to try and keep the country both

healthy and prosperous both environmentally and economically. This proves to be a struggle

since the country is very young and has an economy that would rely on both mining and oil

drilling in areas that are very dense, protected rainforests. The new initiative that was pushed

forward by President Correa to help remedy this problem was called the triple bottom line, and it

was a bold attempt to leverage the worlds love for nature to help boost their economy enough to
keep the area preserved. The first step being that Ecuador would not drill for oil if the

international community would give them a grant for 50% of the profits they would net from oil

drilling over 20 years, which is relatively small in the grand scheme of oil drilling. The second

step is to help the country guide themselves towards an initiative that would make them less

dependent on fossil fuels such as coal and oil. The third and last step is called the Yasuni- ITT

initiative, where the area that the oil fields are located would be protected as a nature reserve to

help with biodiversity preservation and preservation of the local tribes that still reside in the area.

Overall, a very ambitious plan, but it failed nonetheless due to the excessive cost of the proposed

plan and the lack of interest from numerous government organizations. This plan ties into

Ecuadors Buen Vivir due to the relation of trying to tie in the community together as one whole

and keeping their interests and passion preservation of their country.

The Yasuni-ITT initiative was a very crucial thought towards an environmentally

progressive future for Ecuador that could have paved the way for other countries in the area, but

it was deemed a failure after not obtaining enough international funding. The proposed

protection area was close to 10,000 square KM and was set to protect many densely vegetated

areas of the rainforest from oil drilling and mining. The proposition was for a Debt-for-Nature-

Swap, which would cause the international community to help aid with preservation, and in turn,

NGOs and external governments would pay down Ecuadors national debt. The proposed

financial sum was 3.6 billion, but was a complete failure after only obtaining 13 million. Polls

showed almost 90% of Ecuadorians opposed drilling in the park. (Marx) But the government

was left with no choice due to the needs for a stable economy

The treadmill of production was the cyclical pattern of Ecuador trying to keep its economy afloat

while simultaneously trying to keep its environmental from crumbling to heavy extraction.
Ecuador was trying to find a balanced middle ground due to the lack of support from the

international community, leaving them with drilling as their only source of significant income.

The issue arose from the fact that the more drilling that went on, the more hazards that came up

with damaging water potibility, destroying native lands, and deforesting very crucial vegetation.

The country struggled with finding a limit to the economic expansion and was starting to damage

unrepairable rainforest land.

Furthermore, the chapter speaks about how the government is torn between pleasing

corporations and pleasing citizen workers. One which brings forward economic growth from

spending, employment, and taxes. And the other because of its masses, bringing for social reform

and pressure. Along with groups such as NGO's and Social movement actors working with

average citizens to help push the government away from the sway of large corporations. SMAs

are often considered radical due to their nature of trying to dismantle the current broken

government system. NGOs on the other hand are organizations that help from outside the

country to not only provide financial support and preform research, but also help educate citizens

of Ecuador on the crucial needs of their country. These organizations are such as Green Peace or

The World Wildlife Foundation. Their strength is usually swayed by the international economy

due to their need of funding and support. The country is torn on both ends of the spectrum due to

external actors and internal governing forces trying to decide whether to protect the environment

or build up the economy. Though they are the only country in the world with a constitution that

puts nature at high enough standing to be considered a national asset.

Works Cited
Marx, Eric. http://www.sciencemag.org.ezproxy.stockton.edu/news/2013/08/ecuador-says-it-will-
launch-controversial-drilling-amazon-park. 9 August 2013. 2017.