Chevron refuses to pay fine for ruining rainforest

A court in Ecuador is preparing to slap a hefty $27,000,000,000 fine against oil giant Chevron following widespread damage to a rainforest - damage that went on for decades.

This wreckage - which destroyed the livelihoods of countless residents - was carried out by Texaco, which Chevron later took over.

But Chevron is refusing to pay the fine.

I guess in Chevron's world, laws are just "damn pieces of paper" (as Bush would say), huh?

Chevron says it's refusing because the President of Ecuador publicly backed the plaintiffs.

That's like saying Zacarias Moussaoui should be freed if the President of the United States expresses opposition to Al-Qaeda.

Ironically, it was Chevron who wanted the case tried in Ecuador to begin with, because the company thought it could take advantage of Ecuador's court system.

Be careful what you wish for, Chevron.

If Chevron refuses to pay the fine, the government of the United States should seize $27,000,000,000 of Chevron's assets and turn it over to the court in Ecuador that imposed this ruling.

(Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/chevron-may-lose-27-billion-lawsuit-expects-to-pay-nothing-2009-7)