Appeal plans for rainforest oil case

Prosecution lawyers in the case against oil giant Chevron have announced they plan to appeal against a judge's decision which could see the firm launch an arbitration claim against Ecuador.

Chevron is being sued for billion of dollars by a group of Ecuadorians who claim that its oil business has led to mass pollution in the country's rainforest and also contributed to diseases among indigenous communities.

The case is long standing and has been running for 17 years. The plaintiffs are seeking the money to be used to clean up the areas of the rainforest they claim have been trashed by the oil company.

Commenting on the case, lawyer Jonathon Abady, who represents the indigenous people, said: "After more than 17 years of litigation fraught with delay caused largely by Chevron itself, these individuals deserve to have their claims resolved in the forum that Chevron chose."

Large parts of many of the world's rainforests have been cleared to make way for all types of industry, from logging to the global meat trade.

Written by Kimberley Homer.

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