Taking on the Fossil Fuel Industry
STEVEN DONZIGER is internationally renowned for his work on the historic $9.5B judgment against Chevron on behalf of the communities in the Ecuadorian rainforest, for the environmental cleanup of what experts consider to be one of the worst oil-related catastrophes in the world. Following the stunning victory, Steven became the main target of a retaliatory campaign by Chevron – the only person ever to be prosecuted by a corporation – and was wrongly imprisoned, receiving support from 68 Nobel Laureates and 120 NGO’s working for his release. In this astonishing talk, Steven unpacks the landmark case, what it represents for environmental movements globally, as well as the challenges he and other activists have had to overcome for trying to hold a corporation accountable.
Personal Triumph
Globally renowned human rights lawyer STEVEN DONZIGER has fought – and won – some of the biggest cases in history – from taking on Chevron in a $9.5B judgment to producing landmark reports adopted by the United Nations. As a result of his advocacy, Steven has faced enormous personal consequences, as the target of what is considered the best-funded legal attack and the only individual to be prosecuted by a corporation. In this riveting and inspiring talk, Steven shares what it takes to stand up for what you believe against all odds and find victory through perseverance, courage, and teamwork.
Human Rights, the Environment, and Global Warming
Renowned human rights attorney and advocate STEVEN DONZIGER has worked for decades on behalf of communities fighting back against human rights abuses caused by corporate malfeasance and environment crimes. Steven led the team that won a historic $9.5B judgement against Chevron on behalf of indigenous and farmer communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest, and shares his insights from this landmark case, the personal toll of his advocacy work, and the implications of international legal advancements to prevent global warming in this riveting talk.
Steven Donziger is a renowned advocate, writer, and public speaker with a focus on addressing human rights abuses and corporate malfeasance. He is part of the team working with indigenous and farmer communities in an area of the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest suffering from high cancer rates and other health ailments related to the massive oil pollution caused by Texaco, now owned by Chevron. In 2011, the affected communities won a historic $9.5 billon judgment against Chevron for the environmental cleanup of what experts consider to be one of the worst oil-related catastrophes in the world. Known for his “Herculean tenacity” (Business Week), Steven has represented the affected communities since first visiting the region in 1993. Steven also founded Project Due Process, a legal advocacy group for Cuban detainees who arrived in the United States in the Mariel boatlift. He is the former director of the non-partisan National Criminal Justice Commission that in 1996 produced the landmark study, The Real War on Crime, published as a book by HarperPerennial. Steven’s analysis and commentary on human rights, environmental, and criminal justice matters has been featured in numerous legal publications, academic journals, and news outlets. He is the former chief correspondent for United Press International in Nicaragua, where he reported for a variety of publications during the U.S.-backed contra war. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1991, Steven worked as a trial attorney for the District of Columbia Public Defender Service. He currently serves on the Board of Advisors to the Fortune Society, the largest self-help organization for ex-offenders in the United States. In 1991, Steven led a mission to Iraq of lawyers, public health specialists, and military experts to assess the impact on civilians of the bombing during the first Gulf War. The group’s report, which found that an estimated 100,000 children would die following the cessation of hostilities because of damage to the Iraqi health care infrastructure, was adopted by the United Nations and attracted coverage in more than 400 newspaper and media outlets throughout the world. Steven lives in New York City with his wife and son.
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