2009 Annual Report Photo by Lou Dematteis / Spectralq State of the Amazon

AMAzon WATCH

2009 Annual Report Photo by Lou Dematteis / SpectralQ State of the amazon

Dear Friends, series of new anti-indigenous decrees were violently attacked by the police. The government reacted by 2009 can be summed up in two words, inspiring and trying to blame the protesters and victims. Weeks of heartbreaking. around the clock vigilance and organizing work by Peruvian indigenous rights advocates and Amazon In January, I was one of more than 91,000 people Watch resulted in unprecedented public outcry over gathered in Belem, Brazil for the World Social Forum – the government’s brutal attacks. CNN, Democracy the largest ever anti-globalization gathering where the Now, New York Times, BBC and other global media destruction of the Amazon and attacks on indigenous outlets all reported on the story with prompting by rights were some of the key moments. On opening Amazon Watch. The Peruvian Congress eventually day, our team helped the indigenous movement repealed two of the problematic laws. organize an inspiring action bringing together some 1,700 indigenous leaders, and environmentalists in Throughout the year, Amazon Watch’s dedicated staff forming a human banner with the message “SALvE and partners took to the airwaves, oil company board- A AMAzONIA” (“Save the Amazon” in Portuguese) rooms, and international summits to defend indig- around a massive silhouette of an indigenous warrior. enous rights and the rainforests. We celebrated some Photographed from the air and transmitted worldwide strategic milestones throughout the year: by Amazon Watch, the banner sent a powerful message to local, regional and international media about The Chevron Clean Up Ecuador campaign cata- how the world’s largest rainforest ecosystem is fast ap- pulted into the media spotlight with a segment on proaching the tipping point of ecological unraveling. CBS 60 Minutes and the release full-length documentary fi lm,Crude , which portrays the epic 15-year The year’s heartbreaking moment came when on the legal battle between 30,000 Amazonian residents early morning hours of June 5, peaceful indigenous and oil giant Chevron over massive oil contamina- blockades in the Peruvian Amazon in protest of a tion in Ecuador’s Amazon. 3 State of the A mazon

Amazon Watch increased pressure on Talisman En- Throughout the year, Amazon Watch served as an ergy and ConocoPhillips to not enter indigenous ongoing center for solidarity and support to environ- lands in Peruvian Amazon while pressing Occidental mental and indigenous allies on the front lines, pro- Petroleum and Pluspetrol to address their legacy of viding them with financial support, capacity building, past oil contamination on Achuar territory. strategic planning and media outreach.

We expanded our Brazil program, hiring a full-time When I think back to that incredibly inspiring gathering Campaigner and participating in the Plataforma in Brazil in January, I remember noticing among our BNDES, a network of Brazilian (and increasingly Latin partners a fear that the Amazon is fast losing ground, American) civil society organizations affected by proj- mixed with deep love for the forest and sadness that ects funded by the Brazilian National Development it may be irreversibly lost in our lifetime. Unless more Bank (BNDES). of us urbanites band with the people of the forest, we could face the collapse of this massive life giving sys- We worked to document the impact of the Madeira tem. So I urge you to get involved, to be the vanguard River Complex, Manta-Manaus Corridor and Belo of hope. Monte Dam that threaten to destroy the rivers of the Amazon. On behalf of everyone at Amazon Watch, I think all of our supporters and partners and invite you to con- From the Indigenous Peoples Summit on Climate tinue investing in Amazon Watch in this critical time Change in Alaska in April to the UN Climate change for the defense of our planet and human rights. talks in Copenhagen (COP-15) in December, Amazon Watch actively supported indigenous peoples’ delega- For the Amazon, tion by helping them bring their message on issues such as carbon credits and indigenous land rights to international decision makers and the media. 4 O UR M ISSI ON AN D VISI

Photo by Christian Poirier

Our Mission Our Vision We strive for a world in which governments, corporations and civil Amazon Watch works We envision a world that honors society respect the collective rights to protect the rainforest and and values cultural and biological of indigenous peoples to free, advance the rights of indige- diversity and the critical contribu- prior and informed consent over nous peoples in the Amazon tion of tropical rainforests to our any activity affecting their territo- planet’s life support systems. ries and resources. Basin. We partner with indigenous and environmental We believe that indigenous sel de- We commit, in the spirit of part- organizations in campaigns termination is paramount, and see nership and mutual respect, to for human rights, corporate that indigenous knowledge, cultures support our indigenous allies in accountability and the pres- and traditional practices contribute their efforts to protect life, land, ervation of the Amazon’s greatly to sustainable and equitable and culture in accordance with ecological systems. stewardship of the Earth. their aspirations and needs. 5 O UR S T R ATE GI E

Photo by Kevin Koenig

Our Strategies

In the Amazon region of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, Amazon Watch is working directly with indigenous communities to build local capacity and advance the long-term protection of their territories. In partnership with indigenous peoples, nongovernmental organizations, concernedshareholders and citizens, we utilize the following strategies: 6 O UR S T R ATE GI E

Campaign to persuade decision assert their collective and territo- At the same time we monitor and makers in corporations, interna- rial rights and advance an alterna- publicize new threats in pristine or tional financial institutions and tive vision for conservation-based vulnerable Amazon frontiers and national governments to honor development of their territories seek an end to public financing for the rights of indigenous peoples destructive projects. to self-determination and free, Seek permanent protection prior and informed consent over for threatened areas and vulner- Educate corporate executives, “development” decisions in their able indigenous populations in the shareholders, public officials and territories and to fund full cleanup Amazon rainforest. In partnership the general public using media of areas devastated by past and with national governments and ally coverage, websites, publications, present oil drilling. We use media organizations in South America, documentary films and dialogue. exposure, legal action and share- we promote new, sustainable We strive to foster widespread holder campaigns to demand cor- alternatives to resource extraction- understanding of the intrinsic porate social and environmental based economic development. value of indigenous peoples stew- accountability. ardship and the global significance of the Amazon Strengthen capacity of rainforest. By building indigenous organizations in awareness and promoting the Amazon to defend their green economic alterna- rights in local, national and tives to the current export- international fora. Through oriented fossil fuel based legal, advocacy, media and development model, we technology training and the are helping to bring about donation of equipment, we a paradigm shift within key help our indigenous partners Photo by Amazon Watch institutions and society. 7 Photo by Atossa Soltani

peRu Confronting Extractive Industries in Peru

With 74 percent of the Peruvian Amazon now zoned as oil and gas concessions, Amazon Watch is working with local indigenous partners and socially responsible investors to stop the industry‘’s sprawl into culturally and ecologi- cally sensitive areas and change industry policies and practices. In Northern Peru, an area of high biological and cultural diversity, we supported the Achuar and other indigenous peoples in protecting nearly 20 million acres of intact primary rainforest. We helped advance indigenous land claims and pressured companies currently hold- ing oil concessions, including Talisman, Hunt Oil and ConocoPhillips, and Pluspetrol to respect the rights of indigenous peoples to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) over any activities affecting their territories and livelihood.

Photo by Mitch Anderson Pe ru

Amazon Watch also continued to In OXY’s former concession, mission an independent work with the Achuar people as Amazon Watch and the Achuar third party to evaluate whether they sought justice from Occiden- celebrated the milestone of suc- the company’s policies and proce- tal Petroleum (OXY) for past harm cessfully pushing current conces- dures conform to the internation- to their health and environment. sion holder Pluspetrol to modify its ally recognized legal standard of During its 30 years operating in operations to re-inject 100 percent free, prior and informed consent. the Corrientes River basin, OXY of all formation waters from Blocks Amazon Watch sees this report dumped over 9 billion barrels of 1AB and Block 8x in the Corri- as a key tool to use in urging toxic production waters directly entes, Pastaza and Tigre regions Talisman to leave Achuar terri- into the Achuar’s rainforest terri- of Northern Peru. This modifica- tory in the Pastaza region, per the tory in an oil block known as 1AB. tion will prevent millions of gallons express demands of the Achuar Amazon Watch engaged OXY of future toxic wastewater from people. management while supporting the entering the ecosystem and en- Achuar’s lawsuit filed in the U.S. dangering the Achuar people. MARCH aimed at forcing OXY to clean up the toxic mess the company left FEBRUARY Amazon Watch and the Achuar behind. Although the court ruled celebrate the milestone of suc- in April that the U.S. is an “incon- Pressure by Canada’s largest cessfully pushing current conces- venient forum” for the lawsuit, that socially responsible investor sion holder Pluspetrol to modify its decision is under appeal while the networks, catalyzed by Amazon operations to re-inject 100 percent legal team is developing strategies Watch, compels Canadian com- of all formation waters from Blocks for bring forth a lawsuit in Peru. pany Talisman Energy Inc. to com- 1AB and Block 8x in the Corri-

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entes, Pastaza and Tigre regions la Torre and Actress Q’orianka Save America’s Forests, Conoco- of Northern Peru. Kilcher urged CEO Ray Irani and Phillips in the Amazon, that cites the Board to rectify the company’s serious environmental and human APRIL legacy of harm in the Peruvian rights issues in the company’s Amazon before more Achuar Peruvian holdings of 10.5 million Amazon Watch leads its second people fall victim to widespread acres. The report is distributed to advocacy mission to Calgary, the oil contamination. New York City board members, shareholders and heart of Canada’s oil industry and Pension Fund, with over 2 mil- media. Campaigners speak at the headquarters of Talisman Energy. lion shares, presents a resolution AGM to challenge CEO Jim Mulva We address the CEO, Board of questioning Oxy’s handling of on the company’s operations in Directors and shareholders the the Peru disaster. The issue domi- Peru, highlighting that uncon- company’s annual meeting and nates the annual meeting. Oxy tacted indigenous people live in present a public statement about management is more receptive to one area where Conoco is working the Achuar’s opposition to Talis- our message in light of the com- jointly with Spain’s Repsol. man’s presence in oil Block 64 pany’s aversion to facing the kind which overlaps their territory. of public relations battle Chevron SEPTEMBER is going through with the lawsuit in Ecuador. Amazon Watch partner E-Tech MAY International releases a new re- Amazon Watch leads a delegation Attending the ConocoPhillips port concluding that crude oil inside OXY’s annual shareholder AGM in Houston, Amazon Watch and toxic waste pits left behind meeting. Achuar legal advisor Lily released a report co-written with by Oxy’s operations in the Cor-

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rientes region of the Peruvian Amazon continue to contaminate the environment and present a serious health risk to local Achuar indigenous communities. The report also finds that the remediation operation by current op- erator, Pluspetrol, is insufficient despite the intention of the company and the Peruvian government to declare the remediation work complete.

NOVEMBER We support the Native Federation of the Río Madre de Dios (FENA- Photo by Luis Pilares MAD) in demanding that Hunt Oil leave the Amarakaeri Communal communities living in the Reserve media coverage of the issue with Reserve in the Peruvian Amazon area by issuing a press release an article in Latin American Herald as a condition to continuing any and conducting media outreach. Tribune. further talks with the indigenous A month later, we help garner

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Photo by Luis Pilares

National Campaign in Peru for Indigenous Rights

2009 presented many challenges the beginning of the year, ten- ment with the United States, as the Peruvian government con- sions were high as President Alan would facilitate the transfer of tinued a policy that discriminates Garcia issued a series of contro- Amazon land and resource rights against indigenous peoples of versial decrees adversely affect- to oil, mining, logging and agri- the Amazon while promoting ing indigenous land rights. The cultural companies and set back large-scale extraction of natural decrees, which were passed to indigenous people’s land rights resources in their territories. At facilitate the Free Trade Agree- to the dark ages. The decrees 13 Pe ru

also set the stage for the privati- drop unjust charges against hun- protestors leads to disruptions of zation of water resources. dreds of indigenous leaders after transport as well as the interrup- the protests. As the year came to tion of oil production. We were shocked and deeply a close, Alberto Pizango, the pres- saddened when Peruvian Special ident of the National Amazonian MAY Forces staged a violent raid on Indigenous Federation, AIDESEP, a peaceful indigenous blockade remained in exile as Amazon Indigenous leaders entered the in the northern Peruvian Amazon Watch continued calls for justice, Peruvian Congress to declare a on the 56th day of protesting the dialogue and investigation. hunger strike until a repeal of the decrees. Amazon Watch launched Presidential decrees is debated a successful effort to help shift APRIL by the full legislature. Peru de- public opinion in Peru in support clares a state of emergency in of indigenous people and against In early April, indigenous com- several Amazonian regions and their violent treatment. Over the munities across the Peruvian Ama- several incidents of violent crack- ensuing months, we provided zon take to the streets and rivers downs against peaceful demon- strategic funding to Peruvian to protest a series of new laws strators by government forces are organizations for media work imposed by the Garcia Admin- reported. Amazon Watch helps and for indigenous leaders from istration and call for the suspen- mobilize a peaceful demonstra- around the Amazon to participate sion of all oil, mining, timber and tion of indigenous peoples and in talks with the national govern- other industrial concessions on civil society organizations out- ment and to travel to key regions. indigenous territory. The resulting side the Peruvian Mission to the We urged the government to blockades by more than 30,000 United Nations during the UN

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Permanent Forum on Indigenous LA Times, CNN en Español, BBC two of the most divisive decrees, Issues. World (radio and website) Al ending more than 70 days of pro- Jazeera English, Voice of America, tests. JUNE Guardian UK, National Public Radio, Democracy Now! and OCTOBER On June 5th, Peruvian Special others. Forces stage a violent raid on a Amazon Watch works with the group of indigenous people at We launch a letter writing cam- Peruvian organization Shinai to a peaceful blockade on a road paign to Peruvian officials gen- organize the first annual “Amo outside of Bagua in a remote area erating signatures by over 5,000 Amazonía” “I Love the Amazon” of the northern Peruvian Amazon people. At our request, Avaaz. festival. The festival, a collabora- resulting in 34 people confirmed org carries out a petition drive tion of dozens of Peruvian civic dead and more than 200 injured. generating 225,000 signatures and environmental organizations, Amazon Watch is on the ground calling on President Alan Garcia to aims to bring the beauty of the the next day gathering first hand respect indigenous peoples rights Amazon to residents of Lima. 100 testimonies from blockade par- and their legitimate grievances. events occur ranging from exhibits ticipants, local journalists and Leading international human of paintings by indigenous artists residents. rights bodies press the Garcia ad- to a thought-provoking film festi- ministration to end the repression. val and a free concert with some Amazon Watch media outreach of the most popular Peruvian results in articles, radio and TV On June 18th, Peru’s Congress, bands playing to a crowd of over coverage in the New York Times, directed by the President, repeals 5,000 people.

15 Photo by Amazon Watch

eCuADoR protecting ecuador’s Rainforests program

AMAzON WATCh CONTINUES TO promote an alternative vision of sustainable development in the rainforests of Ecuador, a country with the highest deforestation rate in South America, whose economy is highly dependent on oil exports. In 2009, we focused on advancing long-term conservation solutions in the face of climate change, halting damaging “development” projects, and defending indigenous rights. A major emphasis of our work was supporting the innovative proposal of the government of Ecuador to protect the world-renowned Yasuni Na- tional Park by forgoing the extraction of Ecuador’s largest undeveloped oil reserve, Photo by Antoine Bonsorte Ecu a d o r

the Ishpingo-Tambococha- Ecuadorian Amazon, we helped Ecuadorian Amazon, Amazon Tiputini (ITT) oil block in the local Kichwa communities Watch continues to monitor the organize against plans by the situation of oil blocks 23 and 24, exchange for a trust fund of Canadian company Ivanhoe to where we have worked with the $3 to $4 billion to finance exploit the Punguruyacu oil field Achuar in successfully suspend- its transition to a post pe- located beneath their communal ing drilling plans for nearly a troleum economy. Covering territory in oil block 20. Access- decade. ing this reserve would require a nearly 2.5 million acres of huge tar sands mining operation, February primary intact tropical rain- one of the most environmentally forest, Yasuni is an area of damaging forms of oil exploita- We publicize a small victory as extreme biodiversity, the tion. In the central Ecuadorian President Correa indefinitely ex- ancestral territory of the Amazon, we worked to chal- tends the deadline for the Yasuni- lenge the Ecuador portion of the ITT proposal to obtain funding. Huaorani people, and home Manta-Manaus Transportation However, the proposal is later to two other isolated indig- Corridor that would create a new modified to allow for the sale of enous tribes. shipping route linking the Brazil- carbon credits to the European ian Atlantic with the Pacific Coast Union’s Emission Trading Scheme, Amazon Watch also monitored of Ecuador, causing profound as opposed to donations from and countered new threats to deforestation and social disrup- countries and international finan- Ecuador’s remaining rainforest. In tion in the heart of the Amazon. cial institutions. Amazon Watch the Napo Province of the central Finally, in the pristine southern voices concern about the use of

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carbon credits to capitalize the the cancellation of Ivanhoe’s oil the social and environmental im- Yasuni-ITT Trust Fund. We be- concession in Block 20. Amazon plications of the project. come more involved in interna- Watch also organizes briefings for tional climate talks to ensure that major Ecuadorian news outlets to December indigenous peoples have a voice call attention to the issue. in the policy discussions. As part of our support for the October Yasuni proposal, we accompany August leaders from the national Ecua- Through the new civil society dorian indigenous federations, Amazon Watch helps finance coalition, the Observatorio, CONAIE and CONFENIAE, to and participates in an indigenous Amazon Watch participates on the UN climate change talks in summit held in the Kichwa com- a fact-finding mission to gather Copenhagen (COP-15), to bring munity of Rucullacta, site of one information, conduct workshops their criticism of carbon offsets of the first wells to be drilled by and interviews with communities and market mechanisms being Ivanhoe for its massive Pungaruy- along the Napo River that would created to reduce deforestation to acu tar sands project. The meet- be affected by the Manta-Manaus international decision makers and ing, which includes participation Transportation Corridor. In the the media. of every Amazonian indigenous following months, we support the group in Ecuador, as well as the creation of new, publicly acces- powerful national indigenous or- sible information tools (a video, ganization CONAIE, produces a map, and website), so that civil key set of resolutions that call for society has basic information on

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Photo by Kevin Koenig Chevron Clean Up Ecuador Campaign

In 2009, Amazon Watch continued people affected by Chevron’s mediation, clean drinking water to pressure Chevron, California’s legacy of toxic pollution in Ecua- and health care. largest company, to take responsi- dor while in the U.S. we escalated bility for the environmental catas- our pressure campaign to force The campaign catapulted into the trophe and human rights abuses Chevron to improve its corporate media spotlight with coverage by the company perpetrated in the social responsibility policies start- CBS 60 Minutes and a new full- Ecuadorian Amazon. Amazon ing with meeting the demands of length documentary film, Crude, Watch continued to support the Ecuadorian affected communities written and directed by acclaimed lawsuit brought about by 30,000 for a full-scale environmental re- filmmaker Joe Berlinger. By host- 20 Ecu a d o r

ing events and driving attendance vided critical on-the-ground sup- to film festivals and screenings port to our partner the Amazon across the country, Amazon Defense Coalition (ADC) in moni- Watch used the movie as a tool to toring the final stages of the case expand public awareness of the and helping counter Chevron’s campaign and the ongoing plight outrageous claims in the news of affected people in Ecuador. and in the blogosphere.

Photo by Caroline Bennett Despite our best efforts to move January the lawsuit in Ecuador forward, (winner of both the CNN Hero progress was hindered by Chev- The documentary film Crude, Award and Goldman Environmen- ron’s repeated efforts to derail which portrays the epic 15-year tal Award), and other celebrities, the trial. When a decision in the legal battle between 30,000 at the film’s premiere. landmark case was close at hand Amazonian residents and oil in the fall of 2009, Chevron un- giant Chevron over massive Amazon Watch also provides in- veiled a new aggressive legal and oil contamination in Ecuador’s formation to the New York City public relations posture with the Amazon, opens at the prestigious Common Retirement Fund, the release of allegedly ‘incriminat- Sundance Film Festival. The film New York State Pension Fund, the ing’ evidence of corruption on the documents the team of lawyers Pennsylvania Pension Fund and part of the judge then presiding and activists as they take on Chev- Amnesty International USA, who over the case. Throughout the ron. Amazon Watch joined Trudie co-file an environmental resolu- year in Ecuador, we have pro- Styler and Sting, Pablo Fajardo tion for Chevron’s May 2009 an-

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nual general shareholder meeting ron’s San Ramon headquarters to $9 billion in shares support a reso- (AGM). demand that the company take lution about the Ecuador case. responsibility for cleaning up 18 May billion gallons of toxic waste it left August in the Amazon. Indigenous leader Chevron‘s toxic legacy is fully Emergildo Criollo, Goldman Award Chevron releases videos on the exposed on CBS‘ 60 minutes, Winner Luis Yanza, and Amazon web that purport to implicate the which airs a segment featuring Watch founder Atossa Soltani di- judge hearing the case in a brib- one of the most significant inves- rectly address CEO David O’Reilly ery scandal with the President of tigative reports ever aired about inside the meeting. Ecuador. Investigations into the Chevron’s in Ecuador. The exposé two men who conducted the se- leaves Chevron with little room to At the AGM, the True Cost of cret video-taping reveal they were hide. Chevron Coalition releases an paid by the oil giant to entrap the alternative Chevron annual re- judge. Amazon Watch counters Later that month, Amazon Watch port that details the company’s the story in the media, calling into conducts a week of action timed environmental and human rights question Chevron’s claims and un- with Chevron’s AGM, bringing to- abuses worldwide, from Burma ethical tactics. gether an unprecedented coalition and Nigeria to Ecuador and Rich- of activists, affected communities, mond, California. Amazon Watch Weeks later, while Chevron‘s Ecuadorian leaders, and share- also releases an important letter claims of a bribery scheme are holders. Hundreds of activists join to shareholders explaining the Ec- widely debunked, the legal cost to Amazon Watch outside the Chev- uador liability. Shareholders with the case is immense. The presid-

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ing judge recuses himself, creating a long delay that has allowed Chevron to continue to engage in subterfuge. A new judge is ap- pointed, but must still read the many thousands of pages of evidence generated during the trial.

October David O’Reilly, the CEO of Chev- ron, announces his retirement by Photo by Jenna Lynn the year’s end. The timing of his resignation is auspicious given the award-winning documentary December CEO ready to take the helm at Crude had just opened in the- Chevron on January 1st, Amazon aters in Chevron’s “home town.” Rainforest Action Network and Watch and our partners confront Timed with the Bay Area release, Global Exchange join the cam- him immediately at a public event Trudie Styler invites 6,000 Bay paign in late 2009, bringing at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Area Chevron employees to see extensive activist networks and in Washington, D.C. as we make Crude for free. additional online organizing ca- plans to ramp up our multifaceted pacity. With a new Chairman and advocacy efforts in 2010.

23 Photo by Atossa Soltani

BRAzIl Introduction

BRAzIL, AN ECONOMIC POWERhOUSE BENT ON ACCELERATED growth and regional integration, is also home to the largest expanse of the Amazon rainforest. Brazil’s National Development Bank, BNDES, is a primary driver and fi nancier of IIRSA, the Initiative for the Integra- tion of Regional Infrastructure in South America, a regional development plan that threatens a vast area of the Amazon rainforest and its indigenous peoples. The Bank is now the largest fi nancier of industrial projects in Latin America with more than $57 billion in loans in 2009. Amazon Watch’s role is to support the work of the Plataforma BNDES, a network of Brazilian (and increasingly Latin American) civil society organizations affected by projects funded by BNDES, and to challenge of IIRSA’s most egregious mega-development projects.

Early in the year, Amazon Watch and our partners identifi ed the Madeira River Complex (MRC), as one of the most emblematic and destructive projects in Brazil. Funded by BNDES, the MRC involves several dams that would turn the principal tributary to the Amazon River into a major corridor for energy production and raw material exports. This project is extremely controversial due to its threats to the region’s complex and fragile ecosystems as well as to the indigenous and traditional communities that rely on the waterway for their survival. Photo by Antoine Bonsorte B r az i l

As it became clear that the MRC Social Forum in Belem, Amazon displace riverbank communities, was proceeding despite intense Watch and Amazonian indigenous cause serious ecological devasta- opposition, our local partners organizations organize an action tion and threaten isolated indig- identified the Belo Monte dam as calling for urgent action to pro- enous populations. We travel to the next clear threat and flashpoint tect the Amazon rainforest. Nearly meet affected communities along for the debate on infrastructure 1,700 indigenous leaders, and the Madeira and Mamoré Rivers, and development. Also funded by environmentalists join forces in including those in Bolivia. BNDES, Belo Monte would be the a human banner to spell out the third largest dam in the world with message “SALVE A AMAZONIA” JULY devastating environmental and (“Save the Amazon” in Portuguese) social consequences. With approxi- which then transforms into “SOS Amazon Watch‘s Brazil Program Co- mately 25,000 indigenous peoples AMAZONIA” around a massive ordinator travels to Europe to strate- from 18 ethnic groups along the silhouette of an indigenous war- gize with new allies in the campaign Xingu River who largely oppose rior. Photographed from the air and against French/Belgian company, the dam, the project is a clear vio- transmitted worldwide, the banner GDF Suez, for their majority stake lation of international law on free, sends a powerful message to local, in the Jirau dam, one of the mega- prior and informed consent, the regional and international media. dams of the Madeira River Complex. right to self-determination and Bra- We later help nominate the com- zil’s own constitution. pany for the Public Eye award held JUNE at a counter-event to the annual We conduct a fact-finding mission World Economic Forum meeting JANUARY to the Madeira River Complex each year. We join the BankTrack On the opening day of the World – a series of four dams that will network and work with Spanish or-

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ganization SETEM to successfully at BNDES headquarters in Rio de Movement of People Affected by demand that Banco Santander with- Janeiro, where a small delegation is Dams (MAB), Amigos da Terra – draw funding from Madeira‘s Santo received by bank President Luciano Amazonia, Instituto Socioambien- Antonio Dam. Santander‘s with- Coutinho in order to hear their tal, and many more. drawal comes shortly after we suc- grievances. Amazon Watch helps ceed in getting a high-profile article provide international media sup- Beyond Belo Monte, we realize on the Spanish news-wire EFE. port, resulting in important news that we are preparing for a larger articles in the Washington Post and battle to stop some than 70 new Al Jazeera. In meetings with allies, dams planned for the Brazilian NOVEMBER the Belo Monte dam is identified as and the Peruvian Amazon over the Amazon Watch attends the First next clear campaign target. next two decades. Many Brazil- South American summit of Peoples ians believe that if Belo Monte is Affected by projects financed by approved, it will represent a carte DECEMBER BNDES. The gathering features blanche for the destruction of all first-hand testimonies on the injus- Throughout the year, Amazon the magnificent rivers of the Ama- tice and suffering caused by the Watch builds effective partnerships zon – next the Tapajos, the Teles bank’s project-financing model. with indigenous, environmental Pires, the Araguaia-Tocantins, and Representatives of dozens of civil and human rights organizations, so on. The Amazon’s rivers will be- society groups who make up the a feat that can be challenging for come an endless series of lifeless Plataforma BNDES network attend non-Brazilian organizations. These reservoirs, their life drained away the summit—including delegates new relationships include the Plata- by giant walls of concrete and from Bolivia and Ecuador. The forma BNDES, Movimento Xingu steel. However, we see that an- meeting concludes with protest Vivo Para Sampre, Kanindé, the other future is possible if we act.

27 Photo by Antoine Bonsorte

ColoMBIA Colom bi a

Colombia’s U’wa indigenous We facilitated contacts between border of the U‘wa Reserve. people, accompanied by Ama- U’wa leaders and international zon Watch since 1997, continue media that resulted in coverage, In October, we provided financial to face serious threats to their including a story published on support for a nonviolent U’wa resis- survival. The country’s state oil BBC Online in June. tance action against oil and gas ex- company Ecopetrol plans to in- traction activities in their territory as stall a gas plant on the Uwa’s tra- In March, we commemorated the well as to other planned megaproj- ditional cloudforest territory and 10th anniversary of the killings of ects. The march was held concur- explore for oil in the heart of their indigenous activists Terrence Frei- rently with the national indigenous legal reserve. Plans for resource tas (founder of the U’wa Defense mobilization (“minga”) on October extraction on or near the U’wa Project), Ingrid Washinatok and 12th as part of the International land have led to the increased Lahe’ane’e Gay in Colombia by Day of Action for Indigenous Rights presence of armed groups in Co- creating a memorial booklet cel- and Mother Earth. lombia’s civil war, a major threat ebrating Terry’s life. to the safety of U’wa leaders and In December, the U‘wa Congress community members. In Janu- In May, Amazon Watch backed a elected Goldman Environmental ary of 2009, Colombia’s Consti- delegation of representatives from Prize recipient Berito Cobaría as tutional Court listed the U’wa the Bogotá-based indigenous international coordinator, setting amongst a handful of indigenous and civil society organizations to the stage for increased campaign groups at risk of extinction. accompany the U‘wa as they con- collaboration in 2010. fronted Ecopetrol and Colombian Over the course of the year, Ama- government officials. U‘wa leaders “The U’wa will continue to zon Watch continued to galvanize expressed opposition to the con- defend Mother Earth with our international solidarity for the struction of military bases for the voice, our songs and our faith.” U’wa, through our website, grass- protection of the Gibraltar oil ex- roots networks and the media. ploration platform, literally on the —The U’wa 29 IDB

IDB

Photo by Luis Pilares

International and regional Development Bank (IDB) remains attention to the bank‘s legacy of in- financial institutions have a long a significant financial force in Latin equality and environmental devasta- history of financing infrastructure America with current lending of tion across South America. Coalition and extractive industry projects that some $10 billion a year. members met with bank president cause irreversible environmental Alberto Moreno and other Bank destruction in the Amazon rainfor- At IDB’s 50th anniversary / annual directors, and organized a parallel est. These institutions invest in dirty meeting in Medellín, Colombia, public forum and demonstration, energy projects that contribute to Amazon Watch worked with a coali- where some 2,000 people protested 30 global warming. The Inter-American tion of civil society groups to call the Bank‘s policies as well as its lack IDB

of accountability and trans- tion process around parency. We published the GCI in Septem- two issues of IDB Watch in ber 2009 of which Spanish, a special civil soci- Amazon Watch, Bank ety newsletter providing a Information Center, critical perspective on the and other partners bank. When the IDB pub- participated. licly launched its proposal for a $100-200 billion gen- Throughout the year, eral capital increase (GCI) Amazon Watch con- at the meeting, Amazon Photo by Atossa Soltani tinued to monitor the Watch, Bank Information progress of the Cami- Center and other civil society or- countries, in particular the U.S. sea natural gas project, the IDB’s ganizations launched a campaign Government, which controls 30 most controversial project to date. that later influences the terms of percent of the IDB, to insist on We supported local partners in the GCI and improves consultation conditions for stronger environ- monitoring and documenting the mechanisms. mental and social safeguards for project’s impacts on local com- bank-financed projects and for munities and in voicing their con- In July, when the Bank’s Board phasing out IDB’s investments in tinued opposition to the project of Governors met in Santiago fossil fuel and other non-renew- at key international fora, including Chile, the coalition issued a set of able energy projects. The IDB the Inter-American Commission recommendations urging donor launched a civil society consulta- on Human Rights.

31 Cl i mate Chan g e

CLIMATE CHANGE

Photo by Amazon Watch

The Amazon rainforest crisis, Amazon Watch sees promise change and increased the profile is one of the Earth’s best defenses in working with indigenous peoples of tropical deforestation and indig- against climate change. Deforesta- who are the guardians of climate enous rights issues at the United tion, much of it in the tropics, is stabilizing tropical rainforests. Nations climate change nego- estimated to cause some 15-20 tiations. In April, we accompanied percent of all greenhouse gas This year, Amazon Watch devel- indigenous leaders from Ecuador emissions. In solving the climate oped greater expertise on climate to the Indigenous People’s Global 32 Cl i mate Chan g e

Summit on Climate Change in vulnerable to climate change. “We may not be scien- Alaska. Leading up to the United There we intervened in the nego- tists, but we know bet- Nations (UN) COP 15 conference tiations about REDD (Reducing ter than anyone else how in Copenhagen, we attended pre- Emissions from Deforestation and paratory meetings in Bonn, Ger- Degradation in Developing Coun- the earth is changing. We many and Bangkok, Thailand. In tries) to ensure that the rights of have thousands of years Bangkok, we provided campaign- indigenous peoples are explicitly of traditional knowledge ing and media support to the guaranteed. Otherwise, an official that should be part of any International Indigenous People’s REDD scheme could be a threat Forum on Climate Change, in to the rights and livelihoods of climate change solution. their demands for the explicit in- indigenous and forest-dependent Respecting our rights is clusion of indigenous rights within peoples and enable unjust land not in conflict with climate any climate treaty. grabs in the name of forest pres- change solutions, it’s a ervation. Thanks to our support, In Copenhagen at the UN COP our indigenous partners gave necessary part of them.” 15 international climate policy dozens of press interviews partici- conference, Amazon Watch ac- pated in the indigenous caucus, —Tito Puanchir, president of the companied indigenous leaders where they voiced concern over country’s Amazonian indigenous from the Ecuadorian Amazon who the use of carbon offsets and confederation (CONFENAIE). traveled to represent thousands market-based mitigation mecha- of indigenous Amazonians whose nisms to reduce emissions. rainforest territories are extremely

33 Fi nan ci al Re p o r t

Income 2009

Individual Organizations Funds for Donors & Businesses Partner Groups 18% 7% 28%

Investment & Other Income Foundation Grants 3% Temporarily Restricted Foundation Expenses 2009 20% Grants 29% Fund Management Development 7% 16%

Grants to Programs Amazonian Groups & Campaigns 9% 68%

34 Fi nan ci al Re p o r t

Statement of Financial Activity

January 1 to December 31 2009 2008 Net Income (37,761) 39,435 Net Assets on January 1 458,079 418,644 INCOME Net Assets on December 31 420,318 458,079 Foundation Grants 304,251 460,436 Net Assets on Dec 31 Include Foundation Grants Cash Assets 239,244 181,040 Temporarily Restricted 225,126 195,676 Short-term Investments 0 61,375 Funds for Partner Groups 314,290 91,614 Prepaid Rent – 7,452 Individual Donors 202,602 162,712 Grants Receivable 150,676 195,676 Organizations & Businesses 36,670 73,540 Net Equipment Assets 12,202 6,556 Investment & Other Income 21,469 709 Other: Stock Donations 21,421 12,192 TOTAL INCOME 1,104,408 984,687 Less: Accounts Payable (3,225) (6,212) TOTAL NET ASSETS 420,318 458,079 EXPENSES Note: This report is based on the 2008 and 2009 audited financial statements. Programs and Campaigns 788,649 661,252 Grants to Amazonian Groups 100,965 97,501 Total Program Services 889,614 758,753 Management 74,244 58,851 Fund Development 178,311 127,648 TOTAL EXPENSES 1,142,169 945,252

35 Staff

Amazon Watch Andrew Miller Daniela Meltzer Executive Director’s Staff Environmental and Human Chair Leadership Council Rights Campaigner Atossa Soltani Jeff Mendelsohn Megan Wiese Founder and Executive Christian Poirier Chair Brazil Program Coordinator Jonas Minton Director Suzanne West Paul Paz y Miño Elisa Bravo Ana Maria Murillo Managing Director Research, Finance and Atossa Soltani Contract Staff & Development Associate Thomas Cavanagh Secretary Consultants Jenny O’Connor Technical and Financial Richard Wegman Melissa Adams Donor Relations Manager Kahlea Baldwin Cyndie Berg Daniel Herriges Ambassadors Charles Buchanan Program Assistant Development Director Ouida Chichester Antoine Bonsorte Joseph Mutti *Departed staff in 2009. Luis Eduardo Cisneros Benjamin Bratt Communications Director* Design Action Board of Directors Kevin Koenig Cary Elwes Ana Eder Northern Amazon Program Andrew Beath Daryl Hannah E-Tech International Coordinator Treasurer John Gibler Bianca Jagger Mitch Anderson Leila Salazar-Lopez David Gilbert Corporate Accountability Jonathan Frieman Q’orianka Kilcher Susan E. Goranson Campaigner Youth Ambassador Ken Larson Thomas Jenkins Gregor MacLennan President John Quigley Southern Amazon Program Ariel Lopez Coordinator Lily La Torre Zoe Tryon Nicholas Magel

36 T han k Yo u ' s

Evanize Martins Miriam Azizi Stephanie Gonzalez Kathleen O’Halloran Daniel Medress Anne Barton-Veenkant Alejandro Gramaglia Katrina Ortiz John Picone Melanie Bellomo Benjamin Grant Josh Peterson Henry Pilares Stephanie Boyd Tashia Hales John Picone Christian Poirier Gennie Brecherman Marika Holmgren Kathryn Presley John Quigley George Byrne Lila Holzman Bill Raymond Dawna Shuman Alexx Campbell Emily Howland Jonathan Reichlen Mark Stuver Bryn Carter Victoria Kaplan Tom Romanoff Mitie Tucker Bianca Chavez Daniele Knust Ivana Rosas Turning Tide Design Studio Sue Chiang Arezou Kohan Natasha Sanchioni Annika Virdone Danial Jacob Crookston Daniel Levine Todd Sanchioni Shannon Wright Humberto Cuevas Heather Lounsbury Marius Schwartz Michael Zap Michaela D’Amico Mehmet MacMilan Natalie Starr Van Zelm Aliyah Field Emily McPartlon Mark Stuver Collaborators, Christie Frields Melissa Mielke Luah Tomas Volunteers & Interns Monica Galan Leslie Morava Sarah Vaill Melissa Adams Damara Ganley Courtney Moreno Paula Valdez Celia Alario Rudy Gardner Suheila Mouammar Marcel Velasquez Shelley Alingas David Gilbert Sumaya Mouammar Dahvi Waller Tosha Alon Emily Goldman Katherine Needles Jessica Zacholl Janet Anderson Richie Goldman Keren Ness Deborah Zierten Jill Anderson

37 T han k Yo u ' s

Our Partners in the Frente de Defensa de la 50,000-99,999 10,000-24,999 Amazon Amazonia Blue Moon Fund Leonardo DiCaprio Fund Accion Ecologica Fundacion Hemera JMG Foundation at California Community Foundation AIDESEP Fundacion Pachamama Rainforest Action Network Richard and Rhoda Asociacion Indigena NAE Wallace Global Fund Goldman Fund de Morona OilWatch The Kindle Project AsoU’wa ONIC 25,000-49,999 Michael Klein ATI ORACH American Jewish World Service Kohn Foundation CENSAT Agua ORAU Timothy and Michelle Marra Foundation Viva Racimos de Ungurahui Barakett The Neda Foundation COIAB Red Ambiental Loretana Conservation, Food & Salesforce COICA Selva Viva Health Foundation Stephen Silberstein COFENIAE Shinai Moriah Fund Russell and Megan Wiese COMARU Overbrook Foundation CONAIE Amazon Watch Peace Development Fund 5,000-9,999 Communidad de Sarayaku Supporters in 2009 Threshold Foundation As You Sow Derechos Ambiente y Rainforest Action Network Raj and Helen Desai Recursos 100,000+ Rudolph Steiner Flora Family Foundation John D. and Catherine T. FECONACO Foundation MacArthur Foundation Richard Goldman FENAP Tikvah Fund of the Tides Charles Stewart Mott Polly Howells FICSHE Foundation Foundation The Men’s Wearhouse FIPSE

38 T han k Yo u ' s

1,000-4,999 Jenny Overman Maura Joyce Miguel Alexiade Andrew Beath Rainforest Information Alex Karras Mary Altman Anna Berg Centre Carol A. Kurtz Jennifer Alvarado Arlene Bitetti David Rosenstein Todd Laby Janet Anderson Benjamin Bratt Heather Rosmarin Matthew Lauer Karolo Aparicio William Buffett Peter Rosmarin Lowepro Stephen Attell Susan Nora Clark Christy Rupp Daniela and Adam Meltzer Sheldon Baker Hunter Covington Sarita Spiwak National Philantropic Trust Michael A. Beer Peter Coyote Daniel Susott Linda Nicholes Janice Benson Charlot D’Arcy Donaldson Weinmann Charitable Lead Rockwood Leadership Anna Bernhard John Fitzgerald Frederick Welty Institute Thomas Berns Scott Fitzmorris Saint Francis Medical Gregory Bernstein 500-999 Center Further Foundation Dan Bienenfield Amnesty International USA Allan Spiwak Randall Hayes Donna Blethen Irma Alvarado Bill and Lynne Twist Jared Huffman Eric Bogosian Bonni Cohen Wendy Volkmann Arlene Karesh Colleen Bolton Earth Island Institute Nadine Weil Mitchell Kapor Foundation Carmel Boss Jodie Evans Latin America Fund Event Brite Beth Goldberg 100-499 Ken Larson Michael Brune Carol Gunby Daniel Abrams Jonas M. Minton and Kelley Buestad Herbs America Celia Alario, People for PR Julie Carrasco Minton and the Planet Jennifer Burroughs Michael Hirschhorn Letitia & Milan Momirov Ian Albert Maria Cacho

39 T han k Yo u ' s

Helen Kennedy Cahill Francis DellaVecchia Ellison Folk Claire Greensfelder Ann Capitan Daniel DeSantiago Peggy Forster Katie Gregory Kristen Cashmore Design Action Rodney Frank Terry Gross Elizabeth Castrejon Robert De Vight Michael Freund Paul Haible Thomas Cavanagh Alison Devlin Andrew Fried Marika Holmgren Jenny Chartoff Custom Direct Christie Frields Melody Horton Tom and Linda Chauncey Kimberly Director Angela Garling HP Company Foundation Ouida Chichester Dolphin Foundation Stanlee Gatti Tamar Hurwitz Kao Yi Chun Marjorie Donalds J Michael Gearon Peter Husby Dana Clark Timothy Quinn Donna Al Gedicks Rosa Ibanez Cindy Cohn East Bay Community Maryl Georgi I Do Foundation Kevin Connelly Foundation Timi Gerson Aviva Imhof Eleanor Coppola Sage Eaton Elizabeth Gignilant Inkworks Press Lafcadio Cortesi Gary Eckstein Global Exchange International Rivers Diane Cox Daphne Edwards Ruth Goldstein Rosalind Jackson Barbara Culver Robert Eisenbach Ann Golob Maura Joyce Time Dale Electronic Arts Robert Goodland Terry Lynn Karl Christine Dauphine Aimee Ellis Dean Goodman Laurie Kaufman Michael Davis Lorin Engquist Google Danny Kennedy Jane and John DeLury Laura Lynne Fael Gordon and Betty Moore Heather Kenyon Jennifer DeLury Ella Joan Fenoglio Foundation Maya Kocian Francisco Delgado Peter Flaxman Sara Greenfield Terry and Carolyn Koenig

40 T han k Yo u ' s

Photo by Christian Poirier

Pamela Krasney Edward Lewis Kathleen McIntire Amanda Moran Linda Kunik Eric and Eve Libertone Joe McLaughlin John Morgan Keith Laby Margaret Lieberman Nadine C. Mellor Holly Mosher Sheila Laffey Marcie Lister Jeff Mendelsohn Jamie Myers Sarah Laird Paul Little Samantha Meyer My Tribe Designs Las Lianas Resource Center Luke Lundemo Webb Miller Maria Nebritov Latin America Fund Hugh E. Magen Evan Mizrachy Network for Good Lynn Ledford Ellen Manchester Yelda Basar Moers Sara Nichols Jeffrey Leifer Eamonn Markham Hilary Momberg James O’Dea William LeMaster Michael Marx Deborah Moore Elizabeth O’Sullivan

41 T han k Yo u ' s

Vickie Peck Lorraine Rominger Joel Shapiro Behrouz Vafa Perforce Foundation Jenny Rudolph Beth Singer Kashi Vance William Petronelli Lloyd and Susanne Robert Singer Jack Vanderryn Bianca Philippi Rudolph Sharon S. Smith Thomas Van Dyck Nico Phillips Runa Guayusa Tea Stephanie Snyder Theyer Walker Robert Plattner Loretta Rymer Roxana Soltani Dahvi Waller Anne Poirier Jasmin Saidi-Kuehn Spectral Q Wendy Walsh Rebecca Pollack Leila Salazar Lynn St. Albus Lea Walters Renata Pompelli Santa Monica City Lorenz Stattegger David & Suzanne Warner Employees Mayanna Prak Amy Stenson Richard Wegman Kamela Sargent Vaughan and Margot Pratt William Stephens Weitz Brothers Productions Murray Sargent III Paul Preston Desiree Bertotti Stinson Adam Werbach Suzana Sawyer Project Bandaloop Levi Strauss Jan Williamson Ellen Schaffer Joellen Raderstof Kipp Stroden Erik Wohlgemuth Kim Schandorff Stephen Readmond Nancy Tally Shannon Wright Yvonne Schellerup Jonathan Reichlen Deidre Terry Jordan Wynn Johanna Schulte-Hillen Jonathan Renn Toby Thain Paul and Betsy Zeger Bruce Scotton Joyce Rey Swami Thirta Margaret Zeigler Melina Selverston-Scher Roger Richman Denis Thomopoulos Natalie Starr Van Zelm Terry Senne Jacquelyn Rivas Nancy Thompson Terry Shames Jesus Rodriguez Tracy Tiernan Laura Shane Barbara Rogoff Robert Tindall

42 Supporting Indigenous Peoples Protecting the Amazon Rainforest

www.amazonwatch.org

Photo by Antoine Bonsorte SuppoRTInG InDIGenouS peopleS pRoTeCTInG THe AMAzon RAInFoReST www.amazonwatch.org

maIn offICe loS anGeleS, Ca WaShInGton, DC QUIto, eCUaDoR 221 Pine Street, Suite 400 P.O. Box 2421 1350 Connecticut Ave., NW E-1270 y Portete San Francisco, CA 94104 Malibu, CA 90265 Suite 1100 c/o Frente de Defensa Tel: 415-487-9600 Tel: 310-456-9158 Washington, DC 20010 de la Amazonia Fax: 415-487-9601 Fax: 310-456-0388 Tel: 202-785-3962 Quito - Ecuador

Cover Photo by Antoine Bonsorte. Back Photo by Atossa Soltani. Fax: 202-355-7570 Tel: (593-9) 79-49-041