NBC's Curry: U.S. to Blame for 'Toxic Legacy' of Oil Drilling in the Amazon

NewsBusters.org ^ | May 3, 2013 | Kyle Drennan

[Kaslin]

Previewing an upcoming story for NBC's Rock Center on Friday's Today, correspondent Ann Curry warned that tribes of the Amazon rain forest "are sharpening their spears and preparing their blow guns to fight Ecuador's new plan to auction as much as 8 million acres of the rain forest for oil drilling." [Listen to the audio or watch the video after the jump]

She then cited Boston University biology professor Kelly Swing arguing that "America, a top importer of oil from Ecuador, shares responsibility for this coming conflict....And the toxic legacy of past oil drilling in other parts of the rain forest." A sound bite played of Swing declaring: "We're definitely guilty in this story."

NBC's Curry: U.S. to Blame for 'Toxic Legacy' of Oil Drilling in the Amazon

Curry fretted: "I understand that more oil has been spilled here than in the Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska." Swing replied: "Yeah, those numbers are real. We're talking about hundreds of small spills that add up to a huge amount."

Curry proclaimed the Amazon tribes "believe their purpose in life is to save the forest." Speaking to one tribal leader, she sympathetically wondered: "As long as you're alive, you're going to fight for your community?" After the man replied that he would, Curry concluded: "He sees no difference between the survival of the forest and the survival of his people."

In an interview with the vice president of Ecuador, Lenin Moreno, Curry worried: "So if confronted with indigenous people with spears, would Ecuador use force?" Moreno responded: "According to international law, if dialogue fails, there is a process of escalation of the use of force."

Curry lamented: "In this battle of blow guns against bull dosers, the Kichwa and Wauroni are clearly outmatched. Perhaps one reason why Professor Kelly Swing says this is about more than saving the rain forest." Swing asserted: "I definitely see this as a human rights issue. I think it's very sad to say that most human rights issues don't really come to be recognized as human rights issues until people start to die."

Here is a full transcript of the May 3 segment:

8:17AM ET

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: And now to one of the most remote and pristine places on the planet and a battle brewing over oil. With the story, here's NBC's Ann Curry.

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Rock Center With Brian Williams; Battle Brewing Over Oil in the Amazon]

ANN CURRY: Deep in Ecuador's lush Amazon rain forest, the most bio-diverse place on Earth, the rarely seen Wauroni tribes are sharpening their spears and preparing their blow guns to fight Ecuador's new plan to auction as much as 8 million acres of the rain forest for oil drilling. A tribal leader sings, "We are not going to lose our culture. We are going to protect our land." Boston University biology professor Kelly Swing has come to know the riches of this rain forest after researching here for more than 20 years.

KELLY SWING: There may be one-tenth of all the species on the planet right here in this space that's like the size of South Carolina.

CURRY: He's also come to know Wauroni tribesmen, who he says will fight to the death to protect this land. And he says America, a top importer of oil from Ecuador, shares responsibility for this coming conflict.

SWING: We're definitely guilty in this story.

CURRY: And the toxic legacy of past oil drilling in other parts of the rain forest. [Looking at spilt oil] Smells pretty bad. Well, I understand that more oil has been spilled here than in the Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska.

SWING: Yeah, those numbers are real. We're talking about hundreds of small spills that add up to a huge amount.

CURRY: Another tribe, the Kichwa, has been told to expect oil operations to begin at any time. Angry Kichwa women say they will fight with their men because they believe their purpose in life is to save the forest. Patresia Hupa, a tribal leader and shaman healer

PATRESIA HUPA: My grandfather protect this land and up to this, my father said me, "You need to protect." If I am leaving, I am going to fight, my community.

CURRY: As long as you're alive, you're going to fight for your community?

HUPA: Yes.

CURRY: You feel so strongly?

HUPA: Yes. I'm sorry.

CURRY: He sees no difference between the survival of the forest and the survival of his people.

The drilling is being ordered by the government of Ecuador, which depends on Amazon oil for up to 50% of its revenues. Ecuador's vice president, Lenin Moreno

LENIN MORENO: If Ecuador were in a position to provide for all of the needs of its people, we will be happy not to exploit. However, that is not the case.

CURRY: So if confronted with indigenous people with spears, would Ecuador use force?

MORENO: According to international law, if dialogue fails, there is a process of escalation of the use of force.

CURRY: In this battle of blow guns against bull dosers, the Kichwa and Wauroni are clearly outmatched. Perhaps one reason why Professor Kelly Swing says this is about more than saving the rain forest.

SWING: I definitely see this as a human rights issue. I think it's very sad to say that most human rights issues don't really come to be recognized as human rights issues until people start to die.

CURRY: Ann Curry, NBC News, Ecuador.

GUTHRIE: And you can see more of Ann's report from the rain forest tonight on Rock Center with Brian Williams at 10/9 Central Time, right here on NBC.

[Mortrey]

Communist Goals (1963) Congressional Record—Appendix, pp. A34-A35 January 10, 1963

#21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.

http://rense.com/general32/americ.htm

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I thought they fired her sorry ass?

[Cboldt]

This is an old case that's been winding through corrupt Ecuador and corrupt US courts. Follow the money. Anyway, the facts show that the vast majority of pollution was caused by Ecuador government operation, after stripping rights from the private (big international) company that is now being sued.

[henkster]

Nice picture of the hand after it was stuck in the can of used motor oil. This is likely from the network that lit flares on the back of a Ford Pinto to blow it up.

[onyx]

She’s a puke.

[Chances Are]

This shit happens all the time nowadays.

Read Confessions of an Economic Hitman. It'll open your eyes.

CA....

[Alaska Wolf]

I thought they fired her sorry ass?

I did too. She must have something on someone in that leftist asylum.

[Cboldt]

-- Read Confessions of an Economic Hitman. --

Is Steven Donziger mentioned in there? Hell, billions of dollars flying around, I'm sure it attracts all manner of shyster.

[PLMerite]

She’s a ditz but I still think she’s pretty.

[PLMerite]

“I thought they fired her sorry ass?”

Cripes, they sent her to freaking Equador, what more do you want them to do?

[Vendome]

That’s the attitude!!!

Cherokee People!

Cherokee Pride

So proud live

You just might die....

Das Vi Dana

Ave Good Day...

[Chode]

desperately searching for attention... feh

[njslim]

Thought NBC had fired the stupid Beeotch.....

[Brad from Tennessee]

I would bet the damage done by oil companies is eclipsed by slash-and-burn subsistence farmers, locals hunting exotic plants and animals, the timber industry and agribusiness mega-farms. Television is an entertainment medium and that includes newscasts. With her pseudo-anthropology Curry creates an impending battle between noble savages and greedy Yankees driving trackhoes.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

I’ve been to Ecuador four times since December negotiating government contracts. The Correa government is reaching out to all tribesmen to find common ground, and the comment about the US being the main importer of Ecuador resources is laughable (China).

The is bs journalism.

[Sherman Logan]

About 2/3 of Ecuador’s oil production goes to US.

http://www.eia.gov/countries/cab.cfm?fips=EC

[SunkenCiv]

Jihad-embracing beeotch shills as always. Thanks Kaslin.

[matchgirl]

Perhaps,if Obozo and his minions in Congress would allow us to drill for more oil in the US we wouldn’t need to buy 2/3 of Ecuador’s oil!

[Kaslin]

Exactly, but all they do is come up with lame excuses why we shouldn’t