Amidst the glitterati and the bustle of the Clinton Global Initiative (“CGI”) are the “quiet voices” of individuals and NGO’s trying to affect change on this planet. This year one remarkable individual comes to mind. It was his maiden voyage into the unchartered waters. His name is Richie Goldman and he has pledged himself to find the money, partnerships and muscle to alleviate the suffering of the people of Ecuador. A relative “newbie” to the philanthropic world in search of like-minded individuals that can help him fund the work of Amazon Watch to fund clinics, bring in medicine and provide clean drinking water. Lawsuits go on for years as this one against Chevron has done. But people continue to get sick as countries posture and lawyers argue.
This man is up against one of the most massive public relations machines of recent times, possibly second only to the tobacco industry’s campaigns. The fact is that Chevron is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on television, radio and Internet ads attempting to create a new image – the leader in clean energy. They want to wipe the slate in the court of public opinion. Ironically, they never anticipated such a formidable adversary as Mr. Goldman who was the marketing genius behind the success of the Men’s Warehouse franchise.
The film, Crude by Joe Berlinger (Brother’s Keeper; Metallica) chronicles what is often referred to as the “epic Amazon Chernobyl legal battle in Ecuador.” The film premieres this evening in San Francisco and has been scheduled for showings in both New York City and Los Angeles. Chevron, please watch carefully this is only the beginning of the PR wars on behalf of 30,000 indigent people of the rain forest. Just because they cannot speak does not mean that others like Goldman and Berlinger cannot speak for them.
So let the games begin as they marshal the forces of good at the Clinton Global Initiative to help alleviate the atrocities leveled against the people and lands of Ecuador.