The Wire

An Ecuadorian court has fined US oil giant Chevron a reported 8 billion dollars for polluting parts of the Amazon basin. The decision comes after 17 years of legal wrangling. Texaco- which was bought by Chevron in 2001- was accused of dumping more than 68 billion litres of polluted materials into unlined pits and rivers from the early 60s to the early 70s. But Chevron has called the findings fraudulent, and is using other courts outside of Ecuador to prevent the fine being imposed.