Ecuador Sold To Chinese Gold Mining Companies

This article details the environmental damage of massive mining planned by Ecuador under President Rafael Correa that threatens the Amazon. This paragraph summarizes the criticism of his rule:

“Those who have organized against Correa’s policies have not fared well. If they’re lucky, they are merely harassed. More than 200 other non-violent activists end up in court and face serious jail time. ‘Like a dictator, everyone in government repeats his pro-development themes and slogans: Responsible mining, man over nature, Indians versus progress,’ said Fernanda Solis, a weary-eyed campaign coordinator for the Quito group Clinica Ambiental. ‘There is no independent judiciary. The three powers of government are acting with Correa and everyone knows it. Because Correa represents the left, opposing him opens you up to the charge of supporting the U.S., or the old right that bankrupted everyone. He’s betrayed the new constitution and proven himself a neoliberal with redistributive touches. He’s avoided pacts with the U.S. but has sold the country to China.’”

Alexander Zaitchik

Full article here