MISSEDLINK

Ecuador Report - BBC: LINK ¤ B B C

_________________________________________

 

• "Ecuador is a patchwork - of ethnic - regional - and racial identities !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "a complex legacy - of its indigenous - and different pasts !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "Ecuador is traditionally a - farming country - in the 1960s was the discovery of oil !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "with differences - in Spanish-descended - mixed descent - and indigenous peoples !"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "there should be - more justice !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "leader Rafael Correa - President of Ecuador - elected for three terms !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "introduces sweeping - left-wing policies !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "Ecuador has different geographical zones - including the Andean mountains !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "tropical rainforests - and the Galapagos Islands !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________

the Chevron Court Case - the Guardian: LINK ¤ the GUARDIAN

_________________________________________

 

• "Ecuadorian lawyer Juan Pablo Saenz - described the living conditions - of his clients !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "30,000 residents - of the Oriente - in the Ecuadorian Amazon !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "because of the improper - use of oil - by Texaco !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "from 1972 to 1990 - later Chevron bought Texaco !"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "Friends of the Earth said - it was about - indigenous groups !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "and the rainforest environment - noted for its biodiversity !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "since 1993 - lawyers had been representing - Ecuadorians !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "in a bid - to obtain compensation - from Chevron !"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "in 2011 - an Ecuadorian court - ruled in their favour !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "and demanded Chevron - pay US$ 19bn - in restitution !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "Ecuador's supreme court - later reduced the damages !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "to US$ 9.5bn - but upheld - the original ruling !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

• "Chevron had filed court documents - against a political cartoonist !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "and had subpoenaed - 100 email accounts !"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "environmental activists - and journalists !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "this was the response - of a foreign corporation - to questioning it !"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "in 1995 - Chevron agreed to clean up - the sites !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "in return for the Ecuadorian government - dropped proceedings against the company !"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "but Chevron - simply threw the material - on top of unlined oil pits !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "that the company had used - to store - left-over oil !"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "judge Alberto Guerra - had admitted that Chevron - paid him US$ 48,000 !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• ""for physical evidence" - of bribery - as well as travel expenses !"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "for his - and his son's families - to flee Ecuador - attorneys fees !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "and committed to pay him US$ 12,000 - per month for living expenses - in the US for two years !"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "Ecuadorian lawyer Juan Pablo Saenz - said it was about !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "campesinos - peasant farmers - and indigenous people !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________

Chevron fined US$ 8bn - the Guardian: LINK ¤ the GUARDIAN

_________________________________________

 

• "an Ecuadorian judge - had ruled that - Chevron !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "was responsible for the circumstances - in the country's Amazon basin !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "and fined - the company - US$ 8bn !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the epic lawsuit - had been going on for 18 years !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "it was brought on behalf - of 30,000 people - their health - and environment !"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "waste water - had been dumped by Texaco's operations - from 1972 to 1990 !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "Chevron - bought Texaco - in 2001 ! - ( 18bn gallons ! )"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the land - and waterways - of Ecuador's Amazon basin - or "Oriente"  !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________

Ecuador expelled US Military Staff - the Guardian: LINK ¤ the GUARDIAN

_________________________________________

 

• "Ecuador had ordered - 20 defense department employees !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "in the US embassy's group - to leave the country !"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the government of President Rafael Correa - said it was asking USAID !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the US agency for international development - to end operations in the country ! - ( opposition ! )"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "and also ended an agreement - that had allowed US flights !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "to be based at the Ecuadorean airfield - in Manta !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________

President Correa - US cable - 2010: LINK ¤ 10QUITO25

_________________________________________

 

• "President Rafael Correa said - that the country's economic policy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "was decided exclusively - by Ecuadorians - the owners of this country !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "without interferences from a foreign state - foreign company - or foreign foundation !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "tried to do things - that they could not do - in their own countries !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________

Ecuador's Foreign Policy - US cable - 2009: LINK ¤ 09QUITO160

_________________________________________

 

• "secretary foreign affairs Orbe - described Ecuadorian foreign policy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "seeked good relations - with all countries !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "particularly those in the region - and developed countries !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "he stressed that - possibly ties with the US - must be developed !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "on the basis of - shared interests !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "in strengthening democracy - promoting sustainable development !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "increasing employment - reducing inequality - treating migrants humanely !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "Orbe cited that the Ecuadorian people - voted against pro-FTA candidates - free trade agreement !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "commercial agreements - must be concluded on new terms !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rights of the Environment in Ecuador's Constitution - US cable - 2008: LINK ¤ 08QUITO913

_________________________________________

 

• "there are rights - of the environment !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "in Ecuador's constitution - of the Correa administration !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "nature - or "Pachamama" - a Quechua word for - "earth mother"  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

_________________________________________

• "is given explicit rights - to exist - and be maintained !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the central government is responsible - for limiting activities !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "to protect - species - or ecosystems !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the constitution creates an - environmental prosecutor's office !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• ""Defensoria" - to manage environmental claims !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the constitution specifically identifies - "strategic sectors"  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "to include energy in all forms - non-renewable natural resources !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "water - and biodiversity !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "all forms of privatization - of water - are prohibited !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "public or community agencies - may allocate water resources !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "for consumption - agriculture - nature - or productive uses !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecuador's Trade and Development - US cable - 2009: LINK ¤ 09QUITO390

_________________________________________

 

• "Ecuadorian government officials - of the Correa administration !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "have made statements - that Ecuador seeked !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "a new type - of commercial agreement - with the US !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "this "trade agreement for development" - should include !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "political dialogue - and cooperation components - in addition to trade !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "and should incorporate numerous - trade protections for - "sovereignty"  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "foreign minister Falconi said - a new type of "asymmetrical" - trade agreement !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
  

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "Ecuador wanted agreements - that incorporate - food sovereignty !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "financial sovereignty - and public policy sovereignty !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Investment Treaties - US cable - 2009: LINK ¤ 09QUITO973

_________________________________________

 

• "in evaluating investment dispute claims - the Correa administration has !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "new standards - related to the pre-establishment - of investment !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "environmental impact - post-establishment of investment !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "and the defense - of human rights !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the fulfillment of - national development plan objectives !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "corporate social responsibility - and anticorruption norms !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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local Pharmaceutical Production - US cable - 2009: LINK ¤ 09QUITO998

_________________________________________

 

• "the Correa administration has - a new public tender process !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "where only national pharmaceutical suppliers - will be able !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "to participate - in an initial bidding round !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "should the government be unable - to fulfill all of its requirements - through the initial bid ?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "a second round will be held - in which foreign suppliers - will be able to participate !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "President Correa says - "his vision of - intellectual property"  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "is a mechanism - for development - for the people !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "( and not profit - of a pharmaceutical company ! )"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________

Correa's Inauguration for 2nd Presidential Term - US cable - 2009: LINK ¤ 09QUITO716

_________________________________________

 

• "President Rafael Correa said - he had the satisfaction - of announcing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "to Ecuadorians - that it had recovered its - territorial sovereignty !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the last foreign soldier - that was in its territory - went back to his country !"

 

 

_________________________________________

• "with a government - whose goals - were not necessarily those - advocated in public !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecuador withdraws from World Bank's ICSID - US cable - 2009: LINK ¤ 09QUITO579

_________________________________________

 

• "following President Correa's earlier statements - that Ecuador wanted to withdraw !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "from the World Bank's - international center - for the settlement of investment disputes - ICSID !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the Ecuadorian government - issued a decree !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "declaring that the country - was terminating its agreement - with ICSID !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the US embassy met with - foreign companies - which were not too concerned !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________

Ecuador's Bond Buyback - US cable - 2009: LINK ¤ 09QUITO510

_________________________________________

 

• "finance minister Elsa Viteri - announced that the Ecuadorian government !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "successfully bought back - US$ 2.9 billion - 91% !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "of the country's - global bonds - at a 65-70% discount !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the government had not used - any internal - or foreign debt resources - to finance the operation !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the repurchase represented savings - on debt service !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "of US$ 7.5 billion - for 20 years - or US$ 30 million per month !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "instead this money was used - to finance social programs - education - and production !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax Reform - US cable - 2009: LINK ¤ 09QUITO645

_________________________________________

 

• "the tax reform - of the Correa administration - included hikes on luxury taxes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "a new minimum corporate income tax - of 7 percent !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "and an increase on capital outflow taxes - from 1 percent !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "to 2 percent - on every money transfer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the hikes in the luxury tax - impacted cigarettes - alcohol - and soft drinks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "as a way to reduce - consumption of - unhealthy products !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "Carlos Marx Carrasco - director general of Ecuador's internal revenue services - SRI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "said the tax reform - improves equity levels - decreases tax evasion !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "reduces commercial deficit - and promotes employment !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________

Banco del Sur - US cable - 2009: LINK ¤ 09QUITO1026

_________________________________________

 

• "President Correa has publicly described - Banco del Sur !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "as a mechanism - to finance development projects !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "Argentina - Brazil - Bolivia - Ecuador - Paraguay - Uruguay - and Venezuela !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "signed the constitution agreement - of the Banco del Sur !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chevron - US cable - 2009: LINK ¤ 09QUITO860

_________________________________________

 

• "a ruling against Chevron - could result in the largest damages award !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "ever handed down - in an environmental case ! - ( a court appointed expert - US$ 27.3 billion ! )"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________

Climate - US cable - 2009: LINK ¤ 09QUITO1015

_________________________________________

 

• "director environment Meneses - said the most important outcome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "from the Copenhagen climate conference - should be an agreement !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "on the transparent - verifiable - and voluntary transfer - of green technology !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "from the developed world - to assist developing countries' - adaptation efforts !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "climate protection - was globally !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "and the US - should take a - leadership role !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chevron - der Standard: LINK ¤ der STANDARD

CONAIE - Wikipedia EN: LINK ¤ CONAIE

Galápagos Islands - Wikipedia EN: LINK ¤ GALAPAGOS ISLANDS