The Oronico River report, by Arjan de Bruine
The oil production has many negative effects on the environment of the Orinoco. To give an insight on the effects a brief enumeration will follow.
- The spilling of oil in the Orinoco delta because of test drilling.
- Massive destruction of mangrove areas are observed by locale population.
- An decreasing in fishery yields due to environmental disturbances.
Orinoco river
Characteristics
Length: 2560 km (one of the largest rivers in South-America)
Surface area: 1.200.000 square km
Problems
- The spilling of oil in the Orinoco delta because of test
- Massive destruction of mangrove areas are observed by locale population. drilling.
- An decreasing in fishery yields due to environmental disturbances.
Abstract
One of the rivers investigated in this scope is the river Orinoco. The Rio Orinoco lies in the country of Venezuela. She has length of 2.560 kilometres, and is one of the largest rivers in South-America. The river’s riverbasin has an area of about 1.200.000 square kilometres. The river is a rain river, which means that the level of the rivers depth is specified by the amount of precipitation that falls in the riverbasin.
Unfortunately the river is being threatened by the activities of oil companies, which are drilling for oil in the riverbasin. The following question rises: what are the consequences of the oil production in the riverbasin of the Orinoco for durable watermanagement?
The oil production has many negative effects on the environment of the Orinoco. To give an insight on the effects a brief enumeration will follow.
- The spilling of oil in the Orinoco delta because of test drilling.
- Massive destruction of mangrove areas are observed by locale population.
- An decreasing in fishery yields due to environmental disturbances.
These environmental disturbances have great effect on the community of the local Indian tribes, the Warao Indians. The entirely live of the yield of the environment. The disturbances make that these yields are decreasing. Furthermore the Indians are harassed by the oil company’s workmen. This makes it understandable that the Indians are not supporting the oil companies activities.
The river basin of the Orinoco River
Both the Venezuelan government as the oil companies pay no notice to the Indians protest, and the disturbances continue. In the area are various organisation active, trying to change the current situation. The largest of those organisation is the Orinoco Oilwatch. Her main concern is the environment and the sociological effects of the oil production in the Orinoco delta and the Gulf of Paria. Organisation such as this one can only ask for public attention regarding the problems that occur in the area, they cannot change the methods of the oil companies. As long as the government has the opinion that the economic interests outweigh the environmental interests nothing will change.
The oil companies can do whatever they please, because the government of Venezuela only regards the economic benefits. The largest consumers’ market, the United States, keeps providing a insatiable market for Venezuelan oil. If this doesn’t change neither will the attitude of the Venezuelan government. As long as an enormous market for oil keeps existing, the oil companies can continue there activities without any precaution concerning the environment and society. To change this situation it will be necessary to change the manner of the consumer. Not until the consumer starts asking questions and calling the oil companies to order concerning there working-method shall this situation change.
Links
http://orinocodelta.com/
http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?ti=05433000
http://www.britannica.com/seo/o/orinoco-river
http://www.grdc.sr.unh.edu/html/Stn/B22.html
http://csf.colorado.edu/mail/elan/jun97/0128.html
http://www.pdvsa.pdv.com/
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