Ecuador Archives – The Esperanza Project

A Green Magazine for the Americas

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Ecuador: After National Strike, extractivism and equity debate begins

Large-scale mining and oil extraction go to the dialogue table along with economic relief measures for the poor

QUITO, Ecuador— The National Strike this summer in Ecuador mobilized people from all 24 of its provinces, concentrated thousands of protesters in the city of Quito, and lasted 18 days. Although it has left as a consequence, so far, seven people dead, this new social outbreak compelled important advances in the fight for the defense […]

18 days of resistance: Women leaders in Ecuador speak out

Achievements include ban on mining in protected and indigenous territories; strikes will resume if ongoing negotiations fail

Today these words can finally come out on paper, because the fear and the lump in the throat — for now — are appeased. The peace agreements with social justice between the organizations and the Ecuadorean government were signed on Thursday, June 30. Now they are in the vigil process with a term of 90 […]

'Helena from Sarayaku'

Award-winning film shows the struggle to save a community from petroleum megaprojects in the Amazon

Helena from Sarayaku traces the Sarayaku Kichwa people’s struggle to protect their lives, cultures and their territories from oil extraction in the period 2002 to 2021. It is both an anthropological study conducted by indigenous people for indigenous people, and for the world, and a vehicle to demonstrate the contribution of indigenous peoples to protecting […]

Heathy Children, Healthy Future in Ecuador

Indigenous Kañaris place the child at the center of the Andean world — and their commitment to a return to food sovereignty

Indigenous Kañaris place the child at the center of the Andean world

Lino's Dream

Creating a Kañari future based on tradition in the Ecuadorian Andes

Lino Pichasaca and I walked the rough footpaths, the chakiñanes in Kichwa, around the Hacienda Guantug in the province of Cañar, Ecuador. It was 1967, and the Ecuadorian agrarian reform was getting started. Leaders like Lino saw great possibilities and huge obstacles.

Heroes in Ponchos and Sombreros

Behind the Indigenous uprising in Ecuador

“Superheroes don’t wear capes. They wear ponchos and sombreros.” The Andean phrase is being invoked once again in Ecuador.

Amazonian Artivistas

Ecuadorian muralists use art to generate excitement about the astounding biodiversity of the Pastaza region

PUYO, ECUADOR — A handful of urban artivistas in this small Amazonian city in Ecuador started out 2019 by bringing the walls of the public works offices a new type of mural that Puyo has never seen before. Local artists Estiven Mera “Steep”, Pedro Tapuy “Pedrote”, Israel Vinces “Irki”, Jordy Yucailla “Jah”, and Miguel Tapuy […]