Ecotourism in Ecuador

Below is a video about Ecotourism in Ecuador. We are pleased to show you eco-tourist activities in which we have participated. We also interviewed both fellow eco-tourists and locals in the towns that we visited. A large part of our project is learning how eco-tourism affects surrounding communities. Here is what we have found so far:

By: Rayna Weiss (Arena)

Talleres: Consumption and Sustainability

By: Rayna Weiss (Arena)

Sometimes I find myself wishing that I lived back in the days when repair shops were common; if you broke the heal off your shoe you would get it mended instead of buying a new pair of Prada heels. These shops that used to be so common in the United States are rapidly being replaced with Urban Outfitters and drive-thru Starbucks.

Luckily, I have found myself in a culture which still values maintaining ones belongings. In Spanish, the word for repair shop is taller. You would not believe how many talleres there are down a typical Ecuadorian street. There are talleres for everything from shoes to motorcycles. They are on every street corner, in every neighborhood, and in every town. If your local handyman doesn’t have the right piece to fix your prized household blender, don’t worry, he’ll find something to make it work.

I had a conversation with a hotel owner in Saraguro, Ecuador about this particular phenomenon. He, Marcelo, explained to me that Ecuadorians are very conscious of their belongings. They will keep a pair of jeans until they absolutely cannot be mended any longer. Their Toyotas and Chevy Luv’s are 20 to 30 years old and run like they did 10 years ago.

I explained to Marcelo that many folks in the US just buy a new product when their existing product breaks. Not only do our devices break often, but also they are built to break or be thrown away after one use. He explained that only rich people in Ecuador behave in this manner.

Something I have not seen in Ecuador are disposable cleaning products such as the Swiffer WetJet or Clorox cleansing wipes, items that are sold en masse in grocery stores in the US.

I said that I was ashamed of our throwaway mentality because it is an example of excessive consumption for which the US has become famous. He understood my disgust and described the contrasting lifestyles of the Saraguro communities that surround the city.

The Saraguro are indigenous people for whom the town of Saraguro was named. They maintain their traditional lifestyle by living more simply than we are accustomed. Their land has been handed down through the generations and they practice subsistence farming. They have jobs in the town but because of a paucity of expenses, they commonly have a comfortable salary and an advanced education. They make and mend their own clothes, eat food that comes from their farms, and share vehicles.

Marcelo and I gazed at the view from the hotel: gorgeous mountains, the sunset, and Saraguros returning from the city to their communities. I imagined how the world would be different if more people shared the Saraguro’s mentality.

1. How does consumption play a part in sustainability?

2. Are there ways that we can control our consumption to help increase sustainability?

3. Do you think the Saraguros are sacrificing comfort in their way of living?

Basura (Litter) in Ecuador

By: Rayna (Arena) and Kether (Ceviche sin Pescado)

Litter is a problem in most parts of the world…. (I mean honestly, when do you drive Highway 101 and not see Taco Bell wrappers and those ridiculously large plastic soda cups). However, it is truly demoralizing when you see mounds of trash in a place that has more ecosystems within three square miles than in three US states. Cycling in a place like Ecuador is breathtaking in two ways: 1) the scenery that surrounds us, and 2) the rank smell of rotting trash and road kill.

In addition to the conservation-oriented signs you will see in the video, it is clear that Ecuador is making an effort to increase the environmental awareness of its citizens. For example, when we purchased our bread from the SuperMaxi in Santo Domingo, the bag our bread came in was actually biodegradable. As we rode out of Pedernales, we encountered at least thirty men cleaning up litter beside the road. After questioning them briefly, we discovered that this was a monthly, government-sponsored project. In Loja, there are signs all over the place reminding people to put rubbish where it belongs, in the trashcan. One more example is that people are expected to return glass bottles to the store where they were purchased so that they can be refilled.

The following video was made to show you the beautiful things we have seen and our encounters with litter in some of those stunning places. We hope it will bring a reality to some of the issues all of us should be concerned with when it comes to disposing of our waste.

Beautiful Ecuador: an encounter with litter

Discussion Questions:

1) When you don’t see fast food wrappers and soda bottles on the side of the road, is it because people are aware of the environmental impact? Isthere is someone to clean it up? Are there facilities like trashcans on street corners that make people think twice?

2) In the places where people see less trash, is there more money allocated to waste removal services?

3) Why are waste removal services important? How do these services affect your awareness about what you are throwing out? If these services were not available to you, would you think differently about what you consume and what you throw away?

4) In the US many towns/cities have large landfills where our trash is taken. There are also many places that have recycling facilities, is recycling energy efficient? What do you think about landfills? What are the pros and cons of these systems?

Hydroelectricity in Ecuador

By: Rayna (Arena)

KEY WORDS: hydroelectricity, hydroelectric power plant, generator, electricity, renewable resource, Ecuador, water

Electricity! Something we take for granted several hundred times a day when you turn on the TV to watch the evening news, drink a cold beverage from the refrigerator, heat something up in the microwave, turn on the fan in your house or even switch on the light. But where does that energy come from? Where is the electricity being produced as it flows through the wires and cords to your reading lamp?

In the United States, 49.8% of electricity is produced through coal power plants, 19.9% from nuclear power plants, 17.9% from natural gas, 6.5% from hydroelectric power plants, and 2.3% from other renewable resources. In Ecuador, 63% of electricity is produced from hydroelectric power plants. The rest is mostly from conventional thermal energy (Energy Information Administration). Therefore, most Ecuadorians rely heavily on hydroelectric power, whereas North Americans rely on coal power plants.

Hydroelectric power plants and coal power plants function very similarly. They both use a form of energy to turn turbines. The turbines, which look very similar to propellers, then turn a metal shaft located in an electric generator, which then produces electricity.

A coal power plant uses steam to power the turbine, while a hydroelectric plant uses the motion of falling water. In order for a hydroelectric power plant to work well, it must be built where there are large drops in elevation. The Andes Mountains are a perfect fit. Dams are built on large rivers so that a lot of water can be stored in a reservoir. Turbines at the base of the dam are turned by water traveling through tunnels. The turning turbines then power the generator that is connected to power lines. These power lines carry the electricity to our homes and businesses.

Ecuador has relied on hydroelectric power since the 1970’s. However, between 1976 and 1985, there was a rapid increase in the demand for electricity. During this same period, there was a major switch from oil fired thermal plants to hydroelectric power generation. In 1986 the total generation capacity was 1,802 megawatts, which was still not meeting the needs of the country. In that same year, 70% of electricity came from hydroelectric power.

Ecuador has experienced many problems with hydroelectric powered electricity. Because hydroelectric power plants rely on water level, droughts create nation wide blackouts for up to weeks at a time. Once the plants produce the energy, the energy is then sent to a centerboard where it is distributed throughout the country. Energy is managed through the Ecuadorian government. These blackouts are a large enough problem that the issue is often one of the top subjects of political campaigns.

Additionally, hydroelectric power is still not meeting the demands of the country. A little bit more than 80% of urban dwellers have electricity and roughly 70% of rural folks have access to electricity. Because of the blackouts and the demand, Ecuador is currently purchasing energy from Colombia.

Ecuador’s future goal is to increase hydroelectric power so that the country can meet the needs of their citizens without blackouts. Ecuador does not want to rely on neighboring countries, nor do they want to increase fossil fuel consumption. Interestingly, Ecuador is one of Latin America’s largest oil exporters, approximately at 305,000 barrels per day.

Currently, the country is working on two large hydroelectric projects. The first of these projects, Toachi Hidreoelectrico Pilatón, plans to oversee the construction and operation of two hydroelectric power stations. The second, Coca-Codo Sinclair Hydroelectric plant, is a 1.97 billion dollar project.

Due to road, building and dam construction for these projects, surrounding wilderness will be destroyed and a number of residents will have to be relocated. In addition, the finished dam will further disrupt aquatic life. While these factors are devastating, hydroelectricity is considered a renewable resource and is believed to produce fewer emissions than coal or oil fired power plants.

Discussion Questions:

1) Do you think that building two new hydroelectric projects is the answer for Ecuador’s electricity demands?

2) What are some environmental factors to consider?

3) What are some social factors to consider?

4) What are some economic factors to consider?

5) What does “renewable resource” mean to you?

6) Do you think the United States should consider using more hydroelectricity as an alternative to coal powered electricity? If so, why?

Ecuador: our political encounters and brief history

By: Emily (Tierra entre de los Ojos)

KEY WORDS: Ecuador, politics, history, Rafael Correa, Francisco Pizzaro, strike, military rule, president

Our Encounters

Just a few days ago, Kether’s mom sent us an email warning us about some political upheaval occurring concerning Ecuador’s president, Rafael Correa. Correa was being held hostage in Quito, the country’s police force was on strike, national airports were closed, and the Peruvian and Colombian borders closedwere blocked. At the time, we were in a small coastal town in a bit of a different world.

Initially we worried we would be stuck in Ecuador for another month or more. We feared we would not be able to make our way along the coast due to general lawlessness and no police enforcement. Upon returning to our campsite, we were reassured by locals that, “this stuff happens all the time,” they encouraged us not to worry, all would be forgotten by the morning.” Much to our disbelief, the next day, borders and airports re-opened, president Correa remained in good health, and we encountered several policemen who acted as though nothing had occurred at all. The following article gives some good insight as to the international drama that ensued as a result of this incident and the realities of government and politics in Ecuador:

http://internationalliving.com/2010/10/revolution-in-ecuador-facts-from-the-ground/

Ecuador’s History and Politics

To tell the entirety of Ecuador’s history would require me to write you a novel. I have the feeling none of you are interested in a 100-page blog. Therefore, I give you the following short synopsis of Ecuador’s cultural and economic history, in hopes that you may form some idea as to why these types of issues are common in this small yet geographically diverse country.

HISTORY

The history of Ecuador can be split into 5 major parts: 1) Pre-Colombian, 2) The Conquest, 3) The Colonial Period, 4) The War of Independence, and 5) The Republican Era.

The “Pre-Colombian” period encompasses the time from the last ice age through 4200BC. This time was dominated by two hunter-gatherer cultures. The first, the Las Vegas Culture, lived near the coast and the second, the Inga Cultures, lived near present-day Quito. These cultures thrived off fishing in the Pacific and trade routes in the Andes. They were somewhat nomadic, and between 6000-3500BC slowly developed more permanent establishments as the use of ceramics and advancements in agricultural abilities became prevalent. By 3500BC new cultures thrived throughout Ecuador: the Machalilla, Valdivia, and Chorrera Cultures on the coast and the Cotocollao and Chimba Cultures where the Inga peoples once dominated.

Over the next few thousand years, these cultures further expanded through the time of the Inca. The Incan empire was a sophisticated and complex culture that stretched from its origin in Peru as far as Bolivia and central Chile to northern Ecuador. Their dynamic society was able to establish a vast Andean empire in just one century. As we travel into Peru, we will discuss the Inca in more depth.

“The Conquest” began in 1531 when the Spanish, led by Francisco Pizzaro, landed in Ecuador. Over the next few years, Spanish conquistadors broke the Inca Empire and took over the Andean region as their own. Introducing Catholicism, colonial architecture, and today’s national language, Spanish Governors ruled the region for the next 300 years, “The Colonial Period.”

“The War of Independence” won Ecuador’s freedom from Spain in 1822 when Simon Bolivar led troops to defeat a Spanish army at the Battle of Pichincha. Bolivar united Ecuador with today’s Venezuela and Colombia forming the state of Gran Colombia. His dream was to unite the entirety of South America as a constitutional republic. After 8 years of struggle towards his goal, Bolivar realized the continent was too divided. Eventually Ecuador seceded from the union, followed shortly by Colombia and Venezuela. Today, Bolivar continues to be a famed leader throughout the Andes, from Venezuela to Chile.

“The Republican Era” makes up the last ~200 years and is exemplified by the following political depictions.

Politics

In 1860, Ecuador’s government was dominated by conservatism. By the late 19^th century, governmental rule shifted to liberal leadership. Liberalism continued through the early 20^th century. In 1934, José María Velasco Ibarra was elected president. Serving a sporadic 5 periods of presidency, Velasco remained in office for only 11 months of his first term. Overthrown by the military, Velasco’s first term marks Ecuador’s initiation into nearly a century of inconsistent leadership. Until 1979 when Ecuador returned to a democracy, a variety of institutions ruled Ecuador’s people and economy including dictatorships like Velasco’s and military control.

From 1972 to 1979, Ecuador was run by the military. During this time, Ecuador’s economy entered a booming period. The government budget expanded some 540 percent, simultaneously exports as well as per capita income increased 500 percent. Industrial development also progressed, stimulated by the new oil wealth as well as Ecuador's preferential treatment under the provisions of the Andean Common Market. In some ways, this economic boom also devastated the Ecuadorian people. Under military rule, nearly 60% of the country’s forests were cut down andthe land was sold to companies outside Ecuador. Export and import taxes were raised on goods produced by Ecuadorians and not on those generated by landowners outside of Ecuador. The high taxes divided the people, creating a significant gap in economic classes throughout the country.

Following the return to democracy in 1979, political parties split, bureaucracy grew shady, and corruption proliferated. As the economic situation deteriorated beginning in the 1980s, voters blamed politicians for their troubles. This trend has led to inconsistent economic and political policies from one administration to the next. In addition, the 10 years that precede Rafael Correa’s presidency, not one president-elect finished his term. Correa, a left-leaning, U.S.-trained economist, was inaugurated as President of Ecuador on January 15, 2007, and is still in office today.

Discussion

Reflect on the events we have encountered. Think about Ecuador’s history and political past. Tell us what you think. Do you see any correlations between current events and past history? Or not? What would you do if you were president of Ecuador?