Issues+Ecuador

Ecuador Issues  Ecuador-Colombia Conflict On October 5, 2008, a serious violation of national sovereignty was taken place when Colombia government forces crossed the border into Ecuador to conduct a deadly assault against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel camp over the weekend. Colombia's government says Venezuela and Ecuador have secretly supported Colombian rebels. Ecuador's government is furious over the military raid and with Venezuela, took their case to the diplomatic front seeking international condemnation for Colombia's deadly assault on the rebel camp. []  Both countries have severely increased their security focused especially on the borders as this does pertain to a sovereignty issue. The conflict between Colombia and Ecuador ultimately centers around two core issues: Colombia, internally positive that the FARC has been pushed to a breaking point, is focused on security. Colombia wants to ensure that the FARC does not gain a stronghold at the border with Ecuador as it is being uprooted from within the country. Ecuador is focused on the issue of sovereignty. It does not want to become involved in Colombia’s internal conflict, and it wants a clear repudiation of the "terror has no borders" ideology that justified Colombia’s incursion into Ecuador. The primacy of these issues domestically,security in Colombia and sovereignty in Ecuador,means that both countries are treading extra carefully to avoid any missteps that would appear as concessions or capitulations.

 On October 9, 2009, foreign ministers form both Colombia and Ecuador have met to discuss improving relations between their countries. This meeting marked a dramatic change of heart and the effort to improve bilateral relationship ultimately leading to an increased cooperation on security issues. Currently however, their mutual borders continues to be insecure. []  Oil Exploitation Oil was discovered in Ecuador in the late 1960s and large-scale production began in the 1970s. Ever since then, oil has been a huge boost to the nation’s economy. However, development has not been sustainable, there have been negative consequences for both public health and the environment. Oil companies are a serious threat to the rainforest today. Even at lodges deep in the jungle, plumes of smoke coming from oil refineries smudge the otherwise untouched horizon. The Ecuadorian Amazon is one of the most bio-diverse regions on the planet, and the exploitation of oil has been particularly detrimental on the region’s fragile ecosystems and vulnerable indigenous populations. Research has shown that oil has had an extremely destructive impact on the environment, with many gallons of crude oil and toxic waste spilled into the waterways of the Amazon each year. It is estimated that the extent of the damage in the Ecuadorian Amazon is far greater than that caused by the Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska in 1989. Furthermore, oil production requires waste pits where carcinogenic “produced water” is dumped back into the soil, a damaging process for which Chevron/Texaco has faced a billion-dollar lawsuit since 2003. Whilst few long term studies have examined the effects of oil production on the health of local communities, investigations have proven an increase in miscarriages, cancers and leukemia local residents. http://www.vivatravelguides.com/south-america/ecuador/ecuador-overview/social-and-environmental-issues-in-ecuador/

Health Issues The primary health concerns in Ecuador can be attributed to the natural effects of poverty on living conditions and the dangers introduced by industrial and agricultural development processes. The economic crisis of the 1990’s contributed significantly to poor living and sanitary conditions, which in turn aggravated the spread of infectious diseases. Reduced government spending resulted in poor health services; meanwhile, families were increasingly more likely to put off receiving costly medical attention due to lack of funds. The number of families deferring medical treatment due to cost rose from 50 to 72 % during the economic crisis in the late 90s. The shortage of medicine within health centers and the abandonment of vaccination campaigns only intensified the problem. Malnutrition is a serious problem in Ecuador, as poverty generally translates into fewer meals and less protein and minerals. In 2001, 45% of children under age 5 were malnourished. Chronic malnutrition rates have eased up in past years, yet it is still a serious problem, especially in the Sierra, where food consumption is lower than other regions. However, funding to address these issues is still the same across provinces, and geographic factors have not been sufficiently taken into account. Nutritional concerns can also be traced to a move away from traditional foods, as family subsistence becomes more dependent on a salary and cheap commercialized food. Other important health issues in Ecuador are gender-related. Alcoholism and violence are common issues for men who are unable to cope with the economic desperation that confronts them. The resulting abuse of their families creates a severe problem for Ecuadorian communities. Furthermore, men’s role in family planning is often ignored and excluded from health programs. Only 3% of men use condoms in Ecuador, which only aggravates the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Finally, chemicals related to industrial and agricultural production processes are often released into the environment and contribute to degenerative disease in Ecuador. A prominent example of this is the use of pesticides. Agricultural workers do not always leave the treated area or wait long enough before returning, and these chemicals have the potential to affect far greater amounts of the population when they are released in the land and water. Interns and volunteers work with FSD partner organizations to supply a variety of health and social services to underserved populations throughout Ambato. Whether you are researching local health issues, providing medical treatment, or educating community members about nutrition, your work will put you in direct contact with a diverse group of people in need of effective care. http://www.fsdinternational.org/ntlopps/country/ecuador/healthissues

Refugees //refugees (country of origin):// 11,526 (Colombia); note - UNHCR estimates as many as 250,000 Columbians are seeking asylum in Ecuador, many of whom do not register as refugees for fear of deportation (2007) Drug Transiting significant transit country for cocaine originating in Colombia and Peru, with much of the US-bound cocaine passing through Ecuadorian Pacific waters; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics; attractive location for cash-placement by drug traffickers laundering money because of dollarization and weak anti-money-laundering regime; increased activity on the northern frontier by trafficking groups and Colombian insurgents (2008)