Summary: Texaco was drilling wells in the Oriente region of northern Ecuador and dumped 18 billion gallons of production water into water sources that were used for drinking water, fishing, bathing, and swimming by the indigenous peoples of the Oriente. This created over 9000 sludge pits which led to the poison seeping into ground water. The workers also mistreated the indigenous peoples. The pits have caused the Tetetes and the Sansahuari to be completely wiped out. the remaining indigenous peoples have taken legal measures against Chevron which has lasted over 16 years.
Opinion: The Texaco workers were very reckless and inconsiderate towards the indigenous peoples and the land. That area of the Amazon forest will never be the same again and there is no way to even imagine all the damage it has already done to the environment. The oil company should have handled their wells in a better manner and the major issues they have caused.
Cultural-Ties: The environmental issue has led to cultural issues as well. The two nomadic groups that died because of this had no way to preserve their culture and now it is lost. The sludge pits also endanger the culture of the five remaining indigenous groups. They have also had to change their eating habits because animals can not survive in certain areas. This also plays a role in cultural change. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kerry-kennedy/chevron-and-cultural-geno_b_346257.html