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The Amazon vs. Chevron – An indigenous plea and a toxic legacy

Priscilla Queen of the Dessert, the bio-diesel bus, is whizzing down the freeway in the drizzle. About 20 activists in sopping fleece jackets sit inside on lumpy cushion seats that have probably carried protesters since the late 1960s. It’s about 7:30 a.m. and they sip coffee, pass around dried mango slices and sign over-sized cardboard petitions that, in a few hours, will hit the desks of Chevron’s top executives. Emergildo Criolo, who sits shoulder-to-shoulder with activists from Rainforest Action Network and Amazon Watch, has been up for three hours. Criolo is an indigenous man visiting California from Ecuador's rainforest. He woke early to dress in his tradional Cofan garb and to paint his face with customary red markings. Then he sat and thought about his responsibility representing four Amazonian tribes. “I wanted to think about what we were going to do and make sure I was in the right head space,” Criollo says through a translator. He says oil drilling in Ecuador’s rainforest from 1964 to 1992 killed two of his sons and nearly took his wife. Partnered with an Ecuadorean oil company called Petroecuador, Texaco left 17 million gallons of crude oil spills, 917 unlined crude pits and dumped 18 billion gallons of toxic waste, according to ChevronToxico, an environmental campaign for justice in Ecuador. Over the years, Texaco and Petroecuador produced about 1.7 billion barrels of oil. When Chevron bought Texaco in 2001, the company inherited the burden of tens of thousands of Ecuadorians claiming their water supplies are poisoned and more than 1,400 of their people dead because of the oil mess. Today Criollo is going to the home of Chevron’s new CEO John Watson to deliver a petition with over 325,000 signatures of people from 150 countries urging Chevron to clean up the oil giant’s toxic legacy. John Watson took over the position at the beginning of this year. As part of his new job, Watson must also deal with the largest environmental lawsuit in the company's history. Thirty-five thousand Ecuadorans filed a $27.3 billion lawsuit against Chevron, but the oil company begrudgingly disputes this as a corrupt figure. Chevron recently produced information showing that, “the author of a report recommending that Chevron be ordered to pay $27 billion in damages is the majority owner of an oilfield remediation company that stands to gain financially from a judgment against Chevron.” “It’s been 16 years of legal process,” Criollo told San Francisco Chronicle. “People are still dying. They’re sick. So we’re really hoping this new CEO takes a new position.” Criollo exits the bus in Lafayette, CA and makes his way to the intersection of Deer Hill and Happy Valley Roads for a photo opportunity. A videographer from Rainforest Action Network and members of the press photograph a stoic yet unassuming Criollo as he stands in a cotton shirt and pants at the signpost in the light rain. The documentation is important so that Criollo’s people can witness his actions, one activist explains. But, critics argue these types of “camera-friendly” events are more stage shows than substance. A swarm of activists and the press follow Criollo as he walks for about a mile over the wet road to deliver his message to Watson’s home. He rings the intercom doorbell at the CEO’s front gate. He stands for 15 minutes at the front gate, telling the intercom system of the havoc Chevron wrecked on his home. To little surprise, Watson doesn’t invite Criollo in for a cup of coffee. By the time Criollo leaves a few voice messages, two cop cars speed onto Watson’s property and politely tell the group to leave. Criollo was six years old when Texaco came to Ecuador. “They arrived in these big helicopters that looked like big birds,” he says. “We hid because we didn’t know what they were.” About three months later, young Criollo remembers walking into a Texaco worker’s camp while selling jewelry. He greeted the American senior oil executives and the oil drillers. They responded by lifting the flap of the traditional wrapping he wore around his waist in order to check his gender. From then on, Criollo gave up dressing in the customary garment and started wearing pants. This was his first encounter with the oil giants. It’s approaching 10:00 a.m. and Priscilla is loaded up again and driving the few miles to Chevron’s headquarters in San Ramon, CA. Han Shan of Amazon Watch says he’s proud of the people on the bus. “I’m inspired by people like Emergildo and those from Ecuador’s rainforest who’ve sounded the alarm to ask for solidarity from us,” he says. “We’re trying to build a grassroots movement of support for something that ultimately rippled out of California,” Shan says of America’s responsibility in outsourcing oil drilling. “We need to take responsibility for this California company.” By quarter after ten, everyone’s lining up in Priscilla’s center aisle to exit the bus. Armed with a loud speaker and big colorful photographs of Ecuadorans impacted in their oil-saturated rainforest, the activists are ready to take on Chevron. Criollo, his interpreter Mario Ramos and Mitch Anderson from Amazon Watch are the last to get off the bus and they make their way to Chevron’s entry kiosk. Chevron has been expecting the group. Through the glass, the security guards are busy making phone calls and lots of exaggerated gesticulation. Only Criollo and the two others are allowed into the headquarters' main building to talk with top officials. Security keeps everyone else outside. Meanwhile, the activists form a semi-circle on a grassy patch in front of the headquarters' entrance. They make cell phone calls to the executives inside, read off the names of petition signers and impacted Ecuadorean. Several belt their manifestos into the loudspeaker as passing cars honk in support. Later, after returning from the trip inside, Mitch Anderson describes the Chevron executives’ “disingenuous” empathy during the meeting. After Criollo told his story, Anderson says Chevron said his problem was with Petroecuador and that Chevron had already cleaned up its portion of the mess “They won’t say Texaco did a bad job in Ecuador. Texaco was supposed to clean 40 percent of the spill because they owned 40 percent of the drilling operation. But they did a remedial job of covering oil with dirt.” Chevron didn’t respond to several requests for comment, but here is the section of their site that addresses their role in Ecuador and here is a video on Chevron's YouTube channel indicating a $3 million bribery scheme implicating the judge ruling over the lawsuit in Ecuador. Summing up Chevron’s ethics and litigation strategy about the $27 billion environmental lawsuit, last May Chevron spokesman Donald Campbell told reporter John Otis that, if Chevron loses, they would appeal. “We’re going to fight this until hell freezes over,” he said. “And then we’ll fight it out on the ice.” The lawsuit is playing out in an Ecuadoran court in Lago Agrio and the judge is expected to have a ruling by the end of the year. added by: LilyBixler

Lindsay Lohan’s Sweet Leather Tights

Lindsay Lohan is still in Europe doing what the Europeans do best, wearing leather pants and looking bitchy. Here she is out it France somewhere prancing around town in her tight little leather leggings and jacket looking like she owns the place. Who’s paying for this trip? She’s been there for like a month, she has no money coming in, something’s up. I bet there’s a rich old dude somewhere pulling the strings. Bastard.

Former ‘Idol’ Elliott Yamin in Chile During Quake

Filed under: American Idol Elliott Yamin had nothing but bad things to say about his trip to Chile … then a 8.8 earthquake hit and he quickly changed his tune.The former “American Idol” contestant is in Chile for the Via del Mar International Song Festival. He bashed the … Permalink

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Former ‘Idol’ Elliott Yamin in Chile During Quake

Lindsay Lohan Back In La La Land

Lindsay Lohan attended a Modeling Agency private party at the Tea-Room in Hollywood, California. Fresh off her trip to London , the Mean Girl star was wearing a blue and black leather jacket, black tights and black high heels.

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Lindsay Lohan Back In La La Land

Kris Allen Recalls ‘Destruction’ He Witnessed In Haiti

‘I wanted to go over there and help,’ says Allen, who will perform on ‘American Idol’ and talk about his trip. By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Jim Cantiello Kris Allen helps out in Haiti Photo: Fox Kris Allen’s “American Idol” appearance on Thursday (February 25) will not just be a homecoming for the show’s reigning champ, but also an opportunity for the 24-year-old to contribute to a worthy cause: the ongoing relief efforts in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. Allen traveled to the embattled island nation last week, and before he takes the “Idol” stage for the first time since his win last May, the singer spoke with MTV News about his experience in Haiti and what he hopes to accomplish during Thursday’s appearance. “It was a weird trip, because you get over there — everyone’s seen the pictures and stuff and the videos — it’s really bad,” he said. “It’s a lot of destruction. A lot of people have been affected by it. But there’s a lot of stuff going on.” Allen pointed to the relief efforts of organizations like the Salvation Army and the Red Cross, who have been working on the ground ever since a 7.0 quake nearly leveled the capital city of Port-au-Prince in January. During his visit, Allen stopped by an aid camp that opened the night of the earthquake and now is the temporary home for more than 3,300 Haitians, with more arriving every day. All these relief groups, the singer said, “have done so many amazing things for the Haitian people and gave that nation a lot of hope for the future.” The idea for the trip to Haiti came from “Idol” creator Simon Fuller. As soon as Fuller made the suggestion, Allen came onboard. He ended up handing out food, breaking up fallen concrete with a sledgehammer and clearing rubble with his hands, all the while working side by side with the Haitian people. Allen’s last stop took him to a tent where mothers come to breastfeed their babies and care for their children. During Thursday’s show, viewers will be asked to make online or text-message donations to the Idol Gives Back Foundation, with funds going to support the United Nations Foundation’s ongoing efforts in Haiti. “I wanted to go over there and help,” Allen said. “I felt like I did that in a little way. I think that me being on the show is going to be a bigger help than me going there with the little bit of manpower that I have.” Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Kris Allen Visits Haiti

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Kris Allen Recalls ‘Destruction’ He Witnessed In Haiti

Justin Bieber Fans Cause Police To Shut Down Paris In-Store Appearance

‘Paris is crazy!’ Canadian pop star tweets after meet-and-greet. By Jocelyn Vena Fans in Paris gather to meet Justin Bieber Photo: Francois G. Durand/ WireImage Justin Bieber is apparently huge in France. The 15-year-old pop star on Monday (February 22) that his in-store appearance in Paris that afternoon was cut short after a large crowd of fans swarmed his meet-and-greet. The police were forced to shut down the event at the Citadium store after a large number of fans showed up to meet the singer. “Paris is crazy!” Bieber wrote following the experience. “Had some interviews this morning with mags and radio. Got to practice my French a little. But then the in-store … There were thousands of kids at the in-store and the police were not expecting it. They reorganized the crowd and we got it going, but after a little while the police stopped it and came in and said it was over and I had to leave.” Bieber apologized to the fans he missed. “Sorry to any of the kids I didn’t get to meet. I love all of you for your support. To start my trip in Paris like this already, the love and the energy is amazing. Thank you so much.” This isn’t the first time Bieber fans have caused pandemonium . Last November, an appearance he was scheduled to make at Roosevelt Field Mall in Long Island, New York, was canceled after fans started a stampede. According to reports at the time, someone in the mall falsely screamed that Bieber was inside their store and kids rushed toward his mistaken location. One young girl was reportedly hospitalized and several fights allegedly occurred. Related Artists Justin Bieber

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Justin Bieber Fans Cause Police To Shut Down Paris In-Store Appearance

A Tale of Two Babies by Sarah Palin.

(Keep checking back throughout the day for updates.) “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times…” For Sarah Palin back in March of 2008, this was especially true. She was right in the middle of trying to convince the people of Alaska that, despite all appearances, she was indeed pregnant with her fifth child, after surprising even her own staff with the news on March 6th. (Though at first she did not seem to put a lot of effort into convincing people as you can see from this photograph taken on March 29th, at the Spouses’ Luncheon. This is a scant twenty short days prior to Trig’s “birth.” You will notice that she’s wearing what appears to be a raincoat inside of her own house. And there’s nothing under those hands but a black scarf.) Obviously as she got closer to her due date she would have to put a little more effort into the deception. Perhaps a little padding would help. There, that’s much better. (The above picture was taken at the end of the legislative session in Juneau, on April 13, five days before Sarah supposedly gave birth, and only fifteen days after the picture from the Spouses’ Luncheon was taken.) The next twist in our storyline was Sarah’s trip to give a speech at the Republican Governor’s conference in Texas on April 18th. What really happened there? No one knows. But what is known for certain is that Sarah left the conference abruptly in the early afternoon of April 17th and came back to Alaska, a ten plus hour trip involving two four hour flights and a layover in Seattle. (Not only did this decision seem abrupt, but even Sarah’s security staff was not contacted and did not know she was arriving to have a baby until after the birth.)What is also known for certain is that no one has ever come forward to say that they noticed anything special or different about the Gov during this trip. In fact, she was seen reading a book in the lounge during the layover in Seattle. Whatever the truth, by noon on April 18th the Governor’s office had announced that at approximately 6:30 that morning Sarah Palin had given birth to a son. So now Sarah did not have to wear that cumbersome belly anymore and she could enjoy the warmth of spring in her shorts and sweatshirt. See how much more comfortable Governor Palin looks only a few days after she had that baby? And look at that beautiful baby boy! Let’s see if we can’t get a a better quality picture of that precious child shall we? (Below is a screenshot from, Palin best friend, Kristan Cole’s website which shows photos that Cole posted of a baby shower she hosted for Sarah Palin on a weekend in May, either the 3rd or 4th, I believe. A photo, not included here, but obviously from the same day was later provided to OK Magazine of Sarah and her newborn.) And here is the OK magazine shot, and its doppelganger from the baby shower. Now from that same baby shower we have this much more detailed picture of the child known as Trig Palin. (Please note that I have chosen not to show the face or release the name of the young girl holding “Trig” as she was a minor when these photos were taken.) He IS just adorable isn’t he? But wait a minute. Is there something a bit odd about this picture? Take a close look at this baby’s ear. Do you see that? Perhaps a closer view might help. According to one of the physicians I talked to that is a malformation of the helix. In this case, it’s noticeable and distinctive. And, although not as clear, in another picture taken at the same event, this time of the baby’s left ear, a similar malformation is possibly visible. Ear defects are often “bilateral” which means on both sides. Isn’t that odd? I don’t remember the Trig Palin who was photographed so many times on the campaign trail having that particular malformation. Oh that is because he didn’t. In fact it appears that Trig Palin has two absolutely perfect little ears. As you can plainly see in this photo of his left ear. Yet as you can see in this side by side comparison, it is crystal clear that the ear on the infant Trig does NOT match the ear on the older Trig. I showed the baby shower picture to a number of medical professionals, including an Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist, a physician, an audiologist who specializes in children’s hearing issues, and a pediatrician (None of them knew they were looking at a picture of Sarah Palin’s child). Each agreed the ear is visibly malformed. I asked them if this defect could “heal” or disappear on its own. “Of course not”, they each replied. I then showed them pictures of Trig Palin’s ear from the campaign. Again, none knew they were looking at a photograph of Sarah Palin’s son. I asked all if it could possibly be the same child, four to five months later. The answer: “No.” Furthermore I learned that to correct conditions like this surgery is required, and that these surgeries are never performed before the age of four. And even if someone could have been located to perform plastic surgery on a child so young, the result would not be the “perfection” that Trig’s ear shows. Some scarring would still be visible. We have countless high-definition photos of Trig Palin’s head. Nothing of the sort can be seen in any of them. “So in other words” I asked. “You are saying that the child in the baby shower pictures must still have that same ear malformation today?’ Each of them answered in the affirmative. In fact here is a direct quote from one medical professional: “There is an approximately zero percent probability that these two sets of ears belong to the same infant.” So what does all of this mean? If that baby’s ear could not have healed on its own, then how can the Trig we see today have two perfectly formed ears? The answer is simple and shocking. Sarah presented an entirely different child to the world as Trig Palin on August 30, 2008. Just a fluke, you say? A trick of the camera? A shadow? Well, there’s more. She did not just do it once. Look again at this picture of Mercede holding this mystery baby in Sarah Palin’s kitchen, taken on a different day with a different camera. Look closely at that ear. Do you see it? It was there all along. This picture was taken the week right after Sarah “gave birth”. Here is another one. This time of Levi holding the child identified as the Governor’s son. (Seen for the first time on the Tyra Banks Show) (For those who wanted confirmation of the day these pictures of Levi and Mercede, with “ruffled ear” baby were taken I just learned that it was on May 3rd, Levi’s birthday. You can see his cake in the background in the picture above.) Do you see the ear? Again, although it’s not as clear, the ear of the baby in these photos has the same “ragged” pitted appearance. And you can see it in every shot taken that day. As most of you know I have been absolutely convinced that Sarah Palin did NOT give birth to a baby on April 18th, 2008. But what has come as a huge surprise was that on two separate occasions, she presented a newborn baby to two separate groups of people as Trig Palin her newborn son with Down syndrome. (She did it once in her own kitchen while presenting him to the Johnston family, and again at a baby shower given in her honor.) As you can plainly see THIS baby has a distinctive malformation of his ear. However the baby that was introduced to the nation only four months later does NOT have any malformation of his ear whatsoever. In fact, though today’s Trig has many of the characteristics of a Down syndrome child, he also possesses two perfectly shaped ears. As Andrea Friedman pointed out so eloquently: “My mother did not carry me around under her arm like a loaf of French bread the way former Governor Palin carries her son Trig around looking for sympathy and votes”.” Perhaps with this new evidence we can understand, now more than ever, why Sarah treats this child like a prop. Because that is EXACTLY what he is. It is well past time that the “lame stream media”, to use Sarah’s very own phraseology, start to ask the really hard questions about Sarah Palin’s pregnancy. When the questions first arose the Alaska media failed to do so. When they resurfaced five months later the McCain campaign failed to do so. And in all of this time since the world discovered Sarah Palin the national media has also failed to do so. It was left up to a rag tag group of bloggers to stay with the story until some real evidence could be produced. Well we have done our part, will the rest of the media do theirs? There are still so many questions left to answer. Who is the baby’s real mother? Who helped Sarah pull off this deception? Who else in her family knew about this? Exactly why did she feel the need to lie about her pregnancy? I am still conducting interviews and digging for those answers, but it would be ever so helpful if reporters with expense accounts and the support a national publication or television network would lend a hand. (By the way I encourage EVERYBODY to download pictures off of this post, and take screenshots of the blog. There is a very good chance that this will cause a tsunami of anger directed at me and the Immoral Minority. I have already saved it as a pdf file and I have many friends who have done the same. But just to be triple sure it would be nice to know the content is safe on friendly computer hard drives all across the world.) Update: Speaking of a “rag tag group of bloggers” my friend Bree Palin is on the case as well. Update 2: Palin’s Q & A joins the party ! Update 3: I notice that some people are getting fixated on the young woman whose face I blacked out. That young lady has NOTHING to do with the baby. She was just a girl who happened to be at the shower. It is also not one of the Palin girls. I would not have felt the need to protect their identity since they are already well known. Update 4: It looks like Todd did indeed quit the Iron Dog at Puntilla Lake . Hmm I wonder if he received a frantic phone call? (By the way thanks for the link Anonymous.) (The Fairbanks Miner has more .) Update 5: The Alaska Report asks the obvious question . Update 6: Let me clear up another misconception, this time about the photo on OK magazine. I did not say that it and the photo next to it were identical. I actually referred to it as a “doppelganger”, in other words, a “look-a-like”. If it had been the same picture I would have said “Look the same picture shows up in OK magazine.” However what is clear is that those two pictures were taken the same day, with the same camera, of the same baby, and only moments apart. The important point is to prove that Sarah herself had identified that baby as Trig Palin to a national audience. She was not just trying to fool a few friends and potential family members, she lied to the whole world. Update: Oh wow! I think I inspired a Facebook group . Cool!

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A Tale of Two Babies by Sarah Palin.

After being humiliated by Family Guy actress Andrea Friedman, Sarah uses her favorite little shield to deflect criticism again.

This from Sarah’s Twitter page: Trig’s a fan! Go IronDoggers – be safe, ride hard, have fun lovin’ Alaska’s great outdoors. (This Twitpic of poor Trig is from her as well.) Oh Trig, I wish I could say that things are going to get better for you, but sadly I know that they are not. Update: Just HAD to add this quote from the past: “The mere idea of someone doctoring the photo of a special needs baby is appalling.”— Meg Stapleton to CNN, June 2009 Too perfect isn’t it?

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After being humiliated by Family Guy actress Andrea Friedman, Sarah uses her favorite little shield to deflect criticism again.

Oh THIS is not going to make a certain ex-Governor of Alaska very happy.

“Game Change,” the 2008 campaign tell-all book by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin, takes over the No. 1 rank on our list of top political books, while “Going Rogue” by Sarah Palin slips to No. 5. And guess what? “Game Change” managed to get to number one without having a bunch of conservative groups buying it in bulk to create the artificial illusion that it was a great book. Let’s face it if “Going Rogue” had been forced to compete on a level playing field it would NEVER have even come close to a bestsellers list. But Palin always insists the deck be stacked in her favor, doesn’t she?

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Oh THIS is not going to make a certain ex-Governor of Alaska very happy.

Kris Allen Plans Haiti Visit For ‘American Idol’ Fundraiser

Last year’s winner will appear on the show next week to share footage of his trip and perform. By Katie Byrne Kris Allen Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Kris Allen will appear on “American Idol” next week to help raise money for Haiti, it was announced Wednesday (February 17). Last year’s “Idol” winner has partnered with the United Nations Foundation to take a trip to the earthquake-ravaged country, and he will share footage from his visit and perform on the February 25 results show. Allen will head to Haiti on February 19 to meet with U.N. staff and Haitian people to find out what the country will need to recover in the coming months. Fox told The Associated Press that viewers will be asked to make donations online or by text-messaging during the “Idol” episode, with the money going to the Idol Gives Back Foundation to help support the U.N. Foundation’s work in Haiti. “I’m looking forward to traveling to Haiti to see the U.N.’s work firsthand,” Allen said in a statement. “The people of Haiti are rebuilding their country, and the U.N. is there to help them every step of the way. I look forward to sharing the images and stories from my trip with ‘Idol’ viewers across the country.” The appearance is part of the show’s “Idol Gives Back” charity effort, with the full “Idol Gives Back” episode airing April 21. The charity show took a break last season due to the pressure of producing that show along with the finale. “Idol” judge Randy Jackson suggested that this year’s “Idol Gives Back” might benefit Haiti, and it looks like that is part of the plan. Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Artists Kris Allen

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Kris Allen Plans Haiti Visit For ‘American Idol’ Fundraiser