• Another Landmark EarthRights International Case Goes to Trial
• Congratulations to the EarthRights Burma School Class of 2008!
• ERI Speaks Out Against Chevron's Attempts to Lobby the White House in an Effort to Escape Liability for Toxic Pollution of Ecuadorian Amazon
• Latest Cyclone Nargis Update
• ERI in the News: Katie Redford Discusses How Foundation Support Catalyzed the Earth Rights Movement
• Upcoming this Fall . . .

Another Landmark EarthRights International Case Goes to Trial

Later this month, another landmark EarthRights International human rights case, Bowoto v. Chevron, will go to trial in federal court in San Francisco. The plaintiffs, with ERI as co-counsel, will present evidence that Chevron was complicit in gross human rights abuses committed against villagers who peacefully protested environmental abuses and other harm caused by Chevron's oil production activities. The protest took place at a Chevron drilling platform (pictured.)

Chevron paid and ferried members of the notorious Nigerian military and ‘kill and go’ mobile police to the platform in Chevron-leased helicopters and Chevron personnel supervised the operation. Two protesters were shot and killed in the brutal attack – including one who was shot in the back - and others were injured.
ERI and our co-counsel are using the tools of the U.S. litigation process, including the Alien Tort Statute, to hold Chevron accountable for serious human rights violations. The court has already ruled that the plaintiffs have presented enough evidence that Chevron abetted and conspired in the abuses to warrant a trial. Moreover, the court has already applied important rules supporting accountability of parent corporations for actions taken nominally by their foreign subsidiaries.

> > Learn more about Bowoto v. Chevron >>

RELATED: Read about the protests at the 2008 Chevron Annual Shareholders' Meeting

**As this is a developing story, we will be sending periodic updates from San Francisco as the trial proceeds -- so if you received this newsletter from a friend, click here to sign yourself up to receive our updates.**

Congratulations to the EarthRights Burma School Class of 2008!

On July 15, 2008, the EarthRights Burma School celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2008 with a ceremony and party attended by many friends, supporters, and network partners. Speeches were made by school staff and alumni, encouraging the graduates to continue their fight to bring about peace and democracy in their troubled country.
The students also recently published a compilation of their reports; click here to read Gaining Ground, Earth Rights Abuses in Burma Exposed.
> > Read the full story > >

ERI Speaks Out Against Chevron's Attempts to Lobby the White House in an Effort to Escape Liability for Toxic Pollution of Ecuadorian Amazon
Chevron previously agreed to submit to jurisdiction in Ecuador and be bound by the local court’s decision when it succeeded in moving the case from the U.S. to Ecuador. The case alleges that Texaco (now Chevron), dumped over 18 billion gallons of toxic waste into the Amazon between 1964 and 1990, devastating the pristine rainforest environment, causing massive health problems for the local, indigenous communities. A court-appointed expert assessed Chevron’s liability at between $7.2 billion and $16.3 billion this year. However, faced with a ruling next year from Ecuador, which could lead to the largest ever damages awarded in an environmental lawsuit, Chevron is attempting to use political leverage to threaten Ecuador with revocation of trade preferences with the US.

Read more . . .

Click here to listen/watch ERI Legal Director, Marco Simons, on Democracy NOW!

Latest Cyclone Nargis Update

Even after three months, the humanitarian situation on the ground continues to be dire as ongoing assistance is limited, despite being critically necessary for rebuilding efforts. A brief update was compiled by the Applied Research Centre in Human Security. Click here to read the latest and support the work of relief organizations.

Related News:
"Lifting the Bamboo Curtain" (The Atlantic Monthly)
"DROWNING: Can the Burmese People Rescue Themselves?" (The New Yorker)

ERI in the News: Katie Redford Discusses How Foundation Support Catalyzed the Earth Rights Movement
In this week's public radio program, A World of Possibilities, host Mark Summer speaks with eight leaders about the strategic use of venture philanthropy to tackle issues of foreign policy and in each case we see how foundations use their independence to catalyze new solutions to pressing problems and consequently propel others to invest additional resources.

Listen again to Katie Redford's interview.

Upcoming this Fall . . .
Later this month we will unveil some exciting changes to our website, including a new homepage to feature our news and updates as well as an easy and searchable Publications section allowing visitors to find relevant articles and reports. And in coming months we will renovate major sub-sections of the site with the aim of increasing online presence and activism for earth rights issues. In addition, EarthRights International will release major reports this Fall/Winter building on our previous documentation of abuses connected to foreign investment in Burma. So stay tuned as we roll out these exciting updates and releases. . .

EarthRights International (ERI) combines the
power of law and the power of people
in defense of human rights and the environment.
Learn more about our work at http://www.earthrights.org.