Ecuador
has come under fire for scrutinizing non-profits like Accion
Ecologica, many of whom get millions from Europe and North America.
Part
5 - The sneaky alliance with mother Earth
One pet
project of USAID was the Conservation in Managed Indigenous Areas, or
Caiman, which ended before Correa took office but was among several
USAID programs to conserve the country’s biodiversity and promote
alliances between Indigenous communities and private businesses.
Caiman
worked with various groups working in ecological and Indigenous
rights, including Accion Ecologica. For several years, Caiman had
Accion Ecologica help them battle against the Ministry of the
Environment and train park rangers to oppose contamination from oil
and mining.
Whether or
not USAID or foreign foundations have funded Accion Ecologica
directly is unclear. Unlike many others in the industry, the
non-profit does not publish its financial information on its website,
and refused multiple requests from teleSUR for copies of audits. When
asked, the organization’s president said she does not know
specifics on foreign funders and could not answer.
Almeida did
say that Accion Ecologica receives funds from Europe — from
individuals, “small organizations, alliances, groups that form”
around fundraising events on ecological issues. She did not say how
much or cite specific names but mentioned Italy and Belgium.
A 2012
investigation from Andes, an Ecuadorean state publication, found that
both Accion Ecologica and the Regional Foundation of Human Rights
Advising, another powerful nonprofit, are financed by the European
Commission, Oilwatch, the Netherlands embassy and a few international
ecological networks. Almeida said the accusations were false.
While Europe
may be the principal interested party in the success of Accion
Ecologica, the U.S. is also well known to have played an active role
in similar battles.
In 2013, the
year after Correa took the lead against foreign NGOs and a year
before he expelled USAID, Bolivia accused USAID of spending US$22
million to divide Indigenous groups on the exploitation and
nationalization of oil in their lands.
“Since
the right can’t find arguments to oppose the process of change, it
now turns to campesino, Indigenous and native leaders who are paid by
several NGOs and foundations with perks to foment a climate of
conflict with the national government to deteriorate the process of
unification that the country is experiencing,” said Morales as
he gave USAID the boot.
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