A Lawsuit in Ecuador

The suit alleges that Texaco, acquired by Chevron in 1971, left behind oil waste pits like this one during the eighteen years in which it drilled in the region
Ivan Kashinsky / Aurora

Black Waste
The lawsuit alleges that Texaco, acquired by Chevron in 2001, left behind oil waste pits during the eighteen years in which it drilled in the region and that this has contributed to a higher rate of cancer and other ailments among the settlers and indigenous people who live there. This photo shows a waste pit left by Petro Ecuador, Texaco's partner in the region.

share

Get the Latest Photos from Time.com
Get TIME photos and pictures of the week delivered directly to your inbox.