My Work in Ecuador

The Pachamama Alliance and Our Work in Ecuador

2008 is an historic and important year for The Pachamama Alliance in Ecuador, which here is called Fundacion Pachamama. Because of the timeliness of this work, my husband Bill and I are living and working full time in Ecuador. The highlights of the work here include:

THE BEAUTIFUL KAPAWI ECOLOGICAL RESERVE

Kapawi (http://www.canodros.com/kapawi/) is a breathtakingly beautiful place deep in the Amazon rainforest, and is the most remote and sustainable eco-lodge in the world. It is also the only facility in the Amazon completely owned and operated by indigenous people. The Achuar indigenous group, our main partners in this pristine rainforest, assumed complete ownership and management of the Kapawi Ecological reserve as of January 1 of this year.

Kapawi is an alternative to oil exploration and other extractive industries that can destroy this pristine rainforest, critical to the life support system of our planet. The ownership and management of Kapawi is a huge milestone for the Achuar, and for indigenous people everywhere.

Fundacion Pachamama is the Achuar’s main partner in having this project succeed.

AERO TSENSAK AVIATION SERVICE

Just as Kapawi is a very unique place, Aero Tsensak Aviation Service is unique as well. It is the only indigenous owned and run aviation service in the entire Amazon region. The air service serves the indigenous people who inhabit these millions of acres of untouched primary rainforest. Aero Tsensak’s small planes flying people in and out of the forest make it possible for the indigenous people to stay connected to the modern world, have a relationship with the national government, and to travel as needed. Travel includes handling medical and other emergencies for the Achuar and parts of the Shuar, Shiwiar, and Quechua territories.

The Achuar completely own and run Aero Tsensak.

These territories intentionally have no roads. An indigenous owned and run Air Service helps to ensure that roads will not be built. Without roads, oil companies, mining companies, loggers, rubber tappers and other exploitive industries cannot access this pristine area of the rainforest. Just as significant, the Achuar air service is pivotal to transporting people into the rainforest to the Kapawi Eco-lodge. It will make the operation financially viable and successful, which is also part of ensuring the preservation of these magnificent forests.

Imagine the significance of air travel to the Achuar, who have never learned how to ride a bicycle or drive a car. They are taking the bold step of training to pilot small planes, become aviation mechanics, and run a very complex aviation service in and out of this remote area.

The success of the Achuar will be an inspiration to Amazonian indigenous groups across the continent. We are there through our organization, Fundacion Pachamama, to ensure the success of both these endeavors.

THE NEW ECUADORIAN CONSTITUTION

The dynamic young President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, and the Ecuadorian people are engaged in a bold undertaking of completely rewriting their constitution. In a voter’s referendum early this year, President Correa received the support of 82% of the population in drafting a new constitution, which will root out the inherent colonialism and exploitation of the current document. President Correa speaks fluent Quechua, the main indigenous language, and the indigenous people of the country have a real political voice under his leadership.

One of the boldest and most historic conversations taking place in the process of drafting the new constitution is the intention to include THE RIGHTS OF THE EARTH AND ALL SPECIES in fundamental constitutional law. This would be an enormous global legal precedent, and to even consider it is unprecedented, igniting a new conversation worldwide. We are honored to have a small role in bringing selected global experts to Ecuador to advise and contribute to this important process and dialogue.

It is our honor and joy to be working in Ecuador during this seminal year of 2008.

Please see The Pachamama Alliance website (www.pachamama.org) regarding how you can get involved. We invite you to become an investor in the airplane project, the Kapawi Lodge project, our role in the Ecuadorian constitutional process, or to join one of our transformative trips to experience for yourself this most amazing global treasure.

With love and respect,

Lynne Twist, Co-Founder, The Pachamama Alliance