[Lasa] Conservation International in Ecuador: The Case of Alfredo Luna

[Andolina, Robert]

Dear Fellow Ecuatorianistas:

Given our LASA section’s concern with north-south professional collaboration, and the fairness of the same, you may be interested in the case of Mr. Alfredo Luna, an Ecuadorean biologist who was severely injured in a plane crash in 1993 while working on a project sponsored by Conservation International (CI). In the years following this accident, Alfredo’s condition deteriorated to the point of permanent disability. Mr. Luna has been unable to carry out his professional work. Ecuadorean government agencies have emitted resolutions requiring that CI compensate Mr. Luna by way of a long-term disability insurance policy and monetary payments for financial and personal costs incurred. Ecuadorean NGOs have written letters to CI requesting that it do the same.  Despite these mandates and appeals, Conservation International has yet to provide such compensation to Mr. Luna.

I learned of this case in June 2011 while researching in Ecuador. During this time I met Alfredo who provided detail about his situation. At Mr. Luna’s request, I sent a brief e-mail to Conservation International in October 2011 asking that it respect Ecuadorean government resolutions and redress this grievance fairly.  I soon received a reply from Conservation International that denied responsibility for Mr. Luna’s disability and claimed to be acting in good faith to respond to Alfredo’s needs.  A copy of this e-mail exchange is pasted below.

Since receiving that reply, I communicated further with Mr. Luna and investigated this case through a number of primary documents and Alfredo’s testimony.  My view is that CI is effectively responsible for Mr. Luna’s disability, a position backed by Ecuadorean government law and regulations. Currently, I am drafting a follow-up response to Conservation International that informs it of my findings and again asks that it compensate Mr. Luna fairly and expeditiously. I have attached a draft of that letter, which summarizes my research and viewpoints, for your perusal.

Your moral support in this case would be most welcome. I believe that most of you would share my concerns about Mr. Luna’s case, and, more generally, about equitable and just cooperation between those in the global south and global north.  If anyone has suggestions, please send them to me at andolinr at seattleu.edu<mailto:andolinr at seattleu.edu> by Thursday, January 25. Shortly thereafter I intend to finalize the letter and send it to Conservation International. In addition, I am happy to provide additional information and documentation. Thank you for taking the time to read and reflect.

Rob Andolina
____________________________________
Robert Andolina
Associate Professor of International Studies
Seattle University, Casey 3W
901 12th Avenue, Seattle WA 98122
Tel: 206.296.2481, E-mail: andolinr at seattleu.edu<mailto:andolinr at seattleu.edu>

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: Andolina, Robert
Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2011 12:02 PM
To: p.seligmann at conservation.org; r.mittermeier at conservation.org; n.crone at conservation.org; m.phillips at conservation.org; a.rosenberg at conservation.org; g.ston at conservation.org; k.ziffer at conservation.org; j.silva at conservation.org.br; l.suarez at conservation.org;
Subject: Solicita a Conservación Internacional respeto a los Derechos Humanos

Solicito que Conservacion Internacional cumpla con la Reparación Integral solicitada por el Defensor del Pueblo y el Gobierno Ecuatoriano en el caso del biologo Alfredo Luna, quien sobrevive con dan'os permanentes por heridos causados por un accidente aereo en 1993 cuando trabajaba por Conservacion Internacional.


From: Jose Maria Silva [j.silva at conservation.org]
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2011 7:18 AM
To: Andolina, Robert
Subject: Your question
Estimado Dr. Andolina:

Conservación Internacional (CI) le agradece la oportunidad de esclarecer la información sobre la situación del Sr. Alfredo Luna.

Conocemos que en Internet ha circulado información incorrecta sobre este caso.  En relación al mismo, CI ha hecho todo lo posible por cumplir con las resoluciones que el Gobierno Ecuatoriano emitió a través de la Defensoría.  Un dato esencial es que el Sr. Luna nunca fue empleado de CI y sus lesiones fueron el resultado de un accidente aéreo, en un sobrevuelo que no fue organizado ni contratado por CI. Estas informaciones están comprobadas con documentos de las autoridades ecuatorianas.

Nuestra organización ha actuado de buena fe al responder a los requerimientos de apoyo del Sr. Luna.  A pesar de que CI no organizó este vuelo, ni tuvo responsabilidad alguna en el accidente, brindó apoyo económico al Sr. Luna, a través de un seguro médico y una donación humanitaria. Este acto de solidaridad ha generado más demandas por parte del Sr. Luna, la última por más de seis millones de dólares, una suma cuatro veces mayor que el presupuesto anual de CI en Ecuador.

CI tiene un sólido historial de logros en Ecuador y estamos comprometidos con el respeto a los derechos humanos.  Estamos determinados a esclarecer esta situación, a fin de poder continuar nuestro trabajo a favor del Ecuador, de su gente y de su biodiversidad.

Si usted tiene alguna pregunta o inquietud adicionales,  por favor,  no dude en contactarme.

Atentamente,

José Maria Cardoso da Silva, PhD
Executive Vice President
Field Program Unit | Conservation International
2011 Crystal Dr. Suite 500, Arlington VA 22202
703.341.2454 (phone) |jmcsilva1 (skype)
j.silva at conservation.org<mailto:m.betre at conservation.org> | www.conservation.org<http://www.conservation.org>
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