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🗞️ Driving the news: A whistleblower has revealed that Colombian oil giant Ecopetrol has polluted hundreds of sites, including vital water sources and biodiverse wetlands
• Leaked data shows over 800 cases of environmental contamination between 1989 and 2018, with about a fifth allegedly hidden from authorities
• Fisher communities report severe ecological damage, while Ecopetrol insists it complies with environmental laws
🔭 The context: Ecopetrol, 88% state-owned and listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is Colombia’s largest oil producer
• Reports indicate the company has continued to spill oil hundreds of times annually since 2020
• Allegations suggest some pollution incidents remained unresolved for over a decade, with concerns about lack of transparency
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Oil pollution in the Magdalena River threatens endangered species like manatees, river turtles, and jaguars
• Contamination disrupts local livelihoods, worsens biodiversity loss, and adds to the global challenge of reducing fossil fuel-related environmental damage
• Addressing corporate accountability in resource extraction is key for sustainability
⏭️ What's next: The Colombian government and environmental regulators may face increasing pressure to investigate and enforce stronger pollution controls
• Activists and local fishers continue to push for action despite facing threats
• The case highlights broader concerns about corporate environmental responsibility and the risks faced by environmental defenders
💬 One quote: "If we speak and report, we are killed… And if we don't report, we kill ourselves, because all these incidents of heavy pollution are destroying the environment around us." – Yuly Velásquez, fishing community leader
📈 One stat: Ecopetrol has reported hundreds of oil spills per year since 2020
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