Lawyers representing indigenous groups in Ecuador’s rainforest launched an ad campaign against Texaco last week for polluting the environment where these communities live. Texaco was sued six years ago for dumping oil and toxic wastewater into Ecuador’s rainforest between 1971 and 1992. Overall, the company dumped three times more than the amount spilled by the Exxon Valdez disaster-into one of the most biologically fragile places on Earth. The lawyers say that as Texaco continues to challenge their right to sue in courts, they are taking the facts to the public.

In a recent press release, Texaco called the lawyers’ ad campaign “an outrageous publicity stunt to draw attention to unsubstantiated allegations leveled against the company.”

More on the story from reporter Leslie George of Pacifica station WBAI in New York.

Tape:

• Leslie George, reporter, WBAI in New York.