THE OIL TRAIL - GREENPEACE MEXICO

Background

PEMEX, the Mexican Petroleum Company, is the fifth world oil production campaign and is selling now more than 1 million barrels per day to USA, one of the greatest CO2 emission country.

Oil exploration and exploitation in Mexico has resulted in a large amount of environmental destruction that has been severely affecting basic economic activities and health conditions of local communities. This destruction is focused on the inland coastal area of the state of Tabasco and marine coastal area of the state of Campeche. Many communities have been demanding that PEMEX should e obliged account for the destruction and pollution of their natural resources (agricultural land, lagoons, etc). The cheap cost of oil production is related to the absence of environmental controls.

In recent years, non violent demonstrations against PEMEX, such as the obstruction of access roads to exploration areas, have increased. The environmental impacts of PEMEX will continue and get worse as USA oil demand and pressure on Mexico to pay back the interest of the foreign debt are increasing. In 1977, USA oil imports from Mexico represented 3% of all their oil imports, in 1995 it represented 14% (1, 037,000 barrels per day). The main source of USA oil imports have been moving form Middle East to the Americas. The USA oil imports form Middle East have decreased form 36% in 1977 to 20% in 1995. An the USA oil imports form the Americas have increased form 11% in 1977 to 47% in 1995.

The PEMEX new exploration frontier is moving now to the most important Mexican wetland region, between Tabasco and Campeche where Grijalva and Usumacinta rivers flow into the Gulf of Mexico. This region covers the CENTLA WETLANDS in Tabasco, a protected area included in the international RAMSAR with 290,037 hectares, and the LAGUNA DE TERMINOS in Campeche, a National Protected Area with 705,000 hectares). PEMEX has projects in both areas. In Tabasco there is a strong local movement against PEMEX and in Campeche the local communities and local NGOs have forced PEMEX to initiate negotiations. These communities, along with PEMEX to initiate negotiations. These communities, along with academic groups and local and national NGOSs like Oilwatch Mexico support the demands of Greenpeace Mexico.

Also included the wetland area of Tabasco-Campeche, Centrla Wetland and the Laguna de Terminos which appear to be the most vulnerable area to sea level rise as consequence of climate.