Big oil company hurts nature – level 3

Big oil company hurts nature

25-03-2025 07:00

Ecopetrol, Colombia’s largest oil company, has polluted hundreds of sites, including water sources and wetlands, according to a BBC investigation.

Leaked data shows over 800 cases of oil pollution from 1989 to 2018, with about 20% not reported. The company denies wrongdoing, stating that it follows environmental laws. A whistleblower Andrés who worked as an adviser to the CEO discovered severe water pollution and hidden reports of oil spills. He shared confidential data with journalists, exposing violations of environmental laws, including unreported spills. After revealing this information, he received death threats and was forced to leave Colombia.

The oil industry in Colombia is linked to armed conflicts, with security companies possibly hiring former paramilitaries. Environmental activists and critics of Ecopetrol face serious threats, and Colombia remains one of the most dangerous countries for them. Despite the risks, Andrés continues to work on climate policies from exile in Germany.

Difficult words: whistleblower (a person who reports illegal or dishonest activities), paramilitary (a group of armed people not officially part of the military), exile (being sent away from your own country, especially for political reasons).

You can watch the video news lower on this page.

How did Andrés’s decision to disclose unreported oil spills affect his life and what challenges does his experience reveal about the broader risks faced by environmental activists in Colombia?

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