The mayor of the Amazonian province of Orellana in Ecuador, Anita Rivas, is coming to London today to deliver a heartfelt appeal to the UK government: "Save the Yasuní National Park by helping keep its oil underground".
The Yasuní is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet and is home to some of the world's last indigenous groups living in voluntary isolation from the outside world.
But it is under threat from oil companies desperate to start drilling up the half a billion barrels of oil underneath it. Exploiting Yasuní's oil would destroy this UNESCO reserve and will result in significant loss of life for its inhabitants. All this for a mere five days' oil for the rest of the world.
Last year, the Ecuadorian Government made a groundbreaking request to the international community. It asked for financial help to leave the oil underground - a move whichcould help the country make the transition from its current state of oil-dependency to alternative, sustainable economic activities.
Germany, Spain and others have already expressed support for the initiative. But with the imminent threat the world is facing from climate change, and the urgent need to find ways to prevent deforestation and fossil fuel extraction, more countries must get on board before the deadline of December 2008.
With some important improvements the Ecuadorian Government's proposal has the potential to be a model for how countries can work
together to protect the planet.
'There are many arguments in favour of keeping the oil in the Yasuní Park below the ground,' says Anita. 'If we achieve this, not only will we conserve an enormously diverse area, home to many indigenous people, but also we will become a universal symbol that a new world is possible. It really is. The success of the defence of the Yasuní will be a milestone in overcoming the challenge which humanity faces in thwarting the effects of climate change.'
The week's events coincide with the launch of a stunning photo-book, published by New Internationalist and Movimiento Idun, which highlights the growing international Yasuní Green Gold campaign. The campaign is calling for the Ecuadorian Government's original proposal to be improved upon and supported by western governments without
resorting to unjust and ineffective mechanisms such as carbon trading. World-renowned primatologist, Jane Goodall DBE, is one of its supporters:
'The efforts of Yasuní Green Gold should be supported by everyone who calls this planet home. To destroy the Yasuní is to destroy our past and our future. If we turn a blind eye we will be robbing ourselves and our youth'
