Umthombo: The Intercept
Ngosuku lwe-608 ngokuboshwa kwakhe endlini, uSteven Donziger wayehambahamba ekhishini lakhe. Intwasahlobo yayiphuma ngaphandle kwefasitela lefulethi lakhe e-Upper West Side, lapho izinga lokushisa lalisanda kuphakama lafinyelela kuma-60s. Eduze, i-Central Park ibigcwele amapikiniki nabantu bejikijela amaFrisbees. Kodwa uDonziger ummeli owazuza isahlulelo sika-$8.6 billion ngokumelene neChevron ngodoti kawoyela onobuthi e-Ecuador, ngeke abajoyine. Nakuba icala lokwedelela azobhekana nalo maduze nje - elibangelwa ukwenqaba kwakhe ukunikezela ikhompuyutha nomakhalekhukhwini wakhe enkantolo ngo-2019 - kuyisenzo esibi esinikeza isigwebo esiphezulu sezinyanga eziyisithupha futhi uDonziger usechithe cishe izinyanga ezingu-20. evalelwe, akakwazi ukuphuma endlini yakhe.
“Ngiyisiboshwa emzini wami,” esho, njengoba ezithosa ngesikhwama se-pumpernickel ukuze adle isidlo sasemini. "Akukaze kube nommeli ongenalo irekhodi lobugebengu ohlelweni lukahulumeni oboshiwe ngisho nosuku olulodwa ngaphambi kokuqulwa kwecala." UDonziger uthe iqakala lakhe elingakwesobunxele, okuboshelwe kulo i-monitor ye-elekthronikhi kusukela ngo-Agasti 2019, licasukile, nokuthi amalungu omndeni wakhe, okuhlanganisa nendodana yakhe eneminyaka engu-14 ubudala, bahlukumezeke ngendlela engenakuqhathaniswa. “Ngikhumbula ngosuku lokuqala efika ngalo ekhaya kwadingeka ngimtshele,” esho. "Futhi ngiyakhumbula ngithi lokhu kuzoba amasonto ambalwa nje ngize ngikulungise lokhu."
U-Donziger wayengenangqondo yokucabanga ukuthi ukuboshwa kwakhe kwakungeke kuhlale isikhathi eside. Akekho omunye ummeli owake waphathwa ngale ndlela ngaphambilini. Nesifunda esiseNingizimu ye-New York sase sinqabile ukushushisa icala lokudelela elibhekene naye. Isinqumo sejaji, owayengummeli wezinkampani eziningi abalandeli bakaDonziger abasisole ngokuchema nenkampani yakwaChevron, sokuqoka inkampani ezimele ezoshushisa leli cala besivele sibonakala sinonya futhi sijezisa ngendlela emangalisayo. Nokho cishe eminyakeni emibili kamuva, idivayisi isalokhu inamathele emzimbeni wakhe futhi okubaluleke kakhulu engqondweni yakhe. “Kuthinta ukuphila kwami, ukulala, ukudla ukugeza,” esho. "Kuklanyelwe ukululaza ngokwengqondo."
Njengoba lesi sitolimende sakamuva ku- impi ebabayo phakathi kukaDonziger kanye neChevron idonsela phambili, kungase kubonakale sengathi isikhulu sikawoyela siphumelele emgomweni waso wesikhathi eside wokukhipha idemoni ummeli wamalungelo abantu, inkampani kanye nabalingani bayo. yasungulwa ngo-2009. Isahlulelo sango-2011 senkantolo yase-Ecuadorian mayelana nokungcoliswa kwesifunda saseLago Agrio kungenzeka ukuthi ekugcineni siqede lokho okwase kungumshikashika wezomthetho. Kodwa uChevron wenqabile ukukhokha isigwebo noma ukuhlanza imfucumfucu enobuthi e-Ecuador - futhi esikhundleni salokho wasusa impahla yakhe ezweni.
I-Chevron, enenani elingaphezu kwezigidigidi ezingama-200 zamaRandi, iphinde yatshala ezinye zezinsiza zayo ezinkulu ekulweni noDonziger okusemthethweni. Iholwa yinkampani yabameli uGibson Dunn, ukuphishekela ummeli kwenkampani kubandakanya nokuqasha abaphenyi abazimele ukuthi bamlandele, ukwenza incwadi yokumgcoba, nokwakha ithimba labameli abangamakhulu ukuze balwe naye. Ngenxa yalokho, u-Donziger, owachitha amashumi eminyaka elwela imiphakathi yaboMdabu nabalimi bebhekana nokungcoliswa okubangelwa ukuchithwa kukawoyela, manje ubhekene nezinhlawulo ezimba eqolo nezindleko zomthetho. Ulahlekelwe nepasi lakhe, iholo lakhe, ilayisense yakhe yomthetho (yize elwa nesinqumo), kanye nenkululeko yakhe. Futhi, kuya ngokwenzeka ecaleni elihlelelwe uMeyi 10, angase abhadle ejele izinyanga eziyisithupha.
Nokho umkhankaso wokulwa ne-Donziger unonya futhi awujwayelekile ungagcina uvuse inhlamvu kuzo zombili izinkampani zabameli ezimele yona. Ukuhlaselwa okuqondile komuntu owayelwa nokungalungi kwezemvelo kudonse ukunaka kwabameli, osolwazi, izinhlangano zamalungelo abantu kanye nezishoshovu zesimo sezulu, abangatholi nje kuphela ugqozi lweChevron lokuziphindiselela kodwa nomlando wayo wokwenqaba ukubhekelela imvelo. ukucekelwa phansi okwenziwa ngesikhathi kukhishwa uwoyela. Indida ayilahleki ku-Donziger.
“Ngenxa yokuziphatha kwabo, ukwesekwa engikuthole emhlabeni wonke kukhule kakhulu,” usho kanje. "Izigidi zabantu manje zifunda ngaleli cala kanye nokuhlukunyezwa kukaChevron nabantu base-Ecuador ababengeke bazi ngakho."
UTim Hirschel-Burns, umfundi owenza unyaka wesibili eYale Law School, ungomunye wabo. Hirschel-Burns, ilungu le Abafundi Bezomthetho Wokuziphendulela Kwesimo Sezulu, ngathola ngokuboshwa kukaDonziger endlini esihlokweni eyaphuma ku-The Intercept ngoJanuwari 2020. “Ngikhumbula ngifunda lokho futhi ngicabanga ukuthi lokhu akulona iqiniso,” esho. Kodwa ucwaningo lwakhe ngaleli cala lwaqinisekisa ukuthi uChevron noGibson Dunn babeziqondise mathupha kummeli ngemuva kokuba iqembu likaDonziger liphumelele enkantolo yase-Ecuador. "Ngithole kubuhlungu ukuthi iChevron ingakhipha impahla yayo e-Ecuador futhi ingakhokhi lutho."
Manje yena nabanye abaseqenjini baqala umkhankaso wokuthola abafundi bezomthetho ezweni lonke ukuthi balahle u-Gibson Dunn ngokumela iChevron e-Ecuador kanye namacala abhekene ne-Donziger, kanye nendima yayo enkulu enkingeni yesimo sezulu. “UGibson Dunn wenza umsebenzi kaphethiloli ezintweni eziningi ezimbi kakhulu,” kusho uHirschel-Burns, owakhomba umsebenzi wale nkampani yabameli emacaleni angu-18 abamele kuwo abangcolisi besimo sezulu noma amakhasimende abhebhethekisa ukushintsha kwesimo sezulu, njengeDakota Access. LLC, inkampani engemuva kwepayipi le-Dakota Access. Ngokusekelwe kulelo cala kanye nokunxenxa inkampani egameni le-Koch Industries, iqembu labafundi lanikeza u-Gibson Dunn u-“F” esikhundleni salo. Ikhadi lokushintsha kwesimo sezulu yakhishwa ngoMashi.
Namuhla, i-Law Student for Climate Accountability ithumele u-Gibson Dunn a Incwadi ukuyicela ukuthi izibophezele ezindinganisweni zokuziphatha ezitholakala esidlangalaleni ngomsebenzi wayo wezinsalela ezimbiwa phansi. "Kumele basitshele ukuthi yini abangeke bayenze ukuze bathole inzuzo," kusho u-Hirschel-Burns. “Yimuphi umugqa abangeke baweqe?”
Abafundi bezomthetho baphinde bamemeze isu lika-Gibson Dunn lokususa amandla akhe omlilo ecaleni lezemvelo baye kummeli oyedwa owethulayo - iqhinga elinamandla okupholisa ikhono labo lokumela abangcolisi bezinkampani esikhathini esizayo. “Isu likaGibson Dunn lithi sizowushaya ngesihluku noma yimuphi umphakathi noma ummeli omele inkampani enenyongo yokuphatha amakhasimende ethu,” kusho u-Aaron Regunberg, elinye ilungu leLaw Students for Climate Accountability. "Lokhu kusikisela ukuthi, njengabameli, singazivulela ithuba lokuhlasela."
U-Regunberg, owenza unyaka wakhe wesibili e-Harvard Law School, waphawula ukuthi inkampani ayigqamisi le ngxenye yomsebenzi wayo lapho izama ukuqasha abasha abafake izicelo. “Lapho u-Gibson Dunn enza umcimbi wokuqasha, ku-PowerPoint yabo, abakhulumi ngokuthi, 'O, sihlakaniphe leli su lokulandela izeluleko zesimbangi sethu,'” esho. “Bakhuluma ngocezu oluncane lwezinto ze-pro bono abazenzayo. Bakwenza kuzwakale njengento ehlonishwayo ehambisana nanoma yimuphi umbono wakho womhlaba.”
URegunberg uthemba ukuthi ukuveza ukuziphatha okungathandeki kwefemu ekukhanyeni kuzongcolisa uGibson Dunn kuze kube yilapho abameli beyoba namahloni okusebenza lapho - isigcwagcwa asifanisa naleyo eyanamathela kancane kancane ezinkampanini zabameli ezisebenza nezinkampani zikagwayi. “Kube nohlelo lokuthi leyo layisensi yomphakathi isuswe,” kusho uRegunberg. “Kwaya ngokuya kuncipha ukuthi, ‘Ngingummeli ohlonishwayo, umuntu olungile, futhi omele iBig Tobacco.”
Umkhankaso waleli qembu, owethula namuhla nge-hashtag ethi #DoneWithDunn, ulandela inhloso yawo edlule Paul, Weiss Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, emele i-Exxon Mobil nezinye izinkampani zikaphethiloli wezinsalela ezimbiwa phansi. Kuphinde kuvele ezithendeni zokuduba kwakamuva kwabafundi bezomthetho kwenye inkampani eboshelwe ecaleni laseDonziger, iSeward & Kissel. Yize inobudlelwano kaningi neChevron, leyo nkampani manje isishushisa uDonziger ngecala lakhe lokwedelela. Emzamweni oyimpumelelo wokwelula ukuboshwa kwakhe, inkampani yambiza ngengozi yendiza.
NgoFebhuwari Incwadi ithunyelwe kubalingani kule nkampani, amakhulu abafundi bezomthetho baphikisana nale nkampani. "Ukuziphatha okungemthetho kwabashushisi abaxhumene noSeward & Kissel's Chevron kuvula umnyango wamacala azayo lapho amajaji enikeza izinkampani zabameli ezizimele igunya lokushushisa abagxeki bezinkampani zamazwe ngamazwe," kubhala abafundi, beqhubeka nokuzibophezela ukuthi ngeke bacabangele. ukusebenza kule nkampani “kuze kube yilapho ihoxa esikhundleni sayo esingqubuzanayo njengomshushisi ozimele wakwaChevron.”
U-Seward & Kissel noGibson Dunn abazange baphendule izicelo zokuphawula. Ku-imeyili, umkhulumeli wakwaChevron, uJames Craig, ukuchithile ukuthi le nkampani inento yokwenza nokushushiswa kukaDonziger. "I-Chevron hhayi owayeyingxenye ecaleni lobugebengu, akazange aqale amacala obugebengu, futhi akazange abambe iqhaza esinqumweni senkantolo sokubeka u-Donziger icala lokwedelela inkantolo. Amacala obugebengu alethwe yiNkantolo Yesifunda Yesifunda, " UCraig ubhale ku-imeyili, wathi "abakhulumeli bamalungelo abantu abawathuthukisi amalungelo abantu ngokuwaphula." UCraig uphinde wakuphika ukuthi iChevron ihoxise impahla yayo e-Ecuador. "Bathathwe yiPetroecuador, osekuphele iminyaka ecishe ibe ngu-30 isebenze emasimini ngerekhodi elibi lezemvelo."
Khonamanjalo, ukuhlobana kwendaba kaDonziger enkingeni enkulu yesimo sezulu kuye kwachazwa ku growing inombolo of Izindaba Izitolo. Isishoshovu sesimo sezulu uGreta Thunberg tweeted mayelana nosizi lukaDonziger. Futhi abangu-55 abahlomula iNobel bathole zifunwa ukuthi akhululwe esitokisini ekhaya futhi ahoxiswe amacala abekwe wona.
Abanye babasekeli bakhe abaningi basanda kufinyelela kuMerrick Garland, ummeli-jikelele omusha wase-US, ukuze bacele ukuthi uMnyango Wezobulungiswa ubuyekeze ukuhlasela kukaChevron eDonziger. "Lokhu kuhlasela ... kuholele esimweni esibhekwe kabanzi umphakathi wamazwe ngamazwe wamalungelo abantu kanye nemvelo njengenye yezigameko ezimbi kakhulu zokuhlukunyezwa kwamalungelo abantu i-United States engakaphenduli ngakho," uBob Goodfeld, umqondisi wesikhashana we- I-Amnesty International USA, kanye nabanye abaholi bamalungelo abantu wabhala ukuya eGarland ngoFebhuwari.
Naphezu kokukhula kokusekelwa, uDonziger uthe unovalo lokuthi uzogwetshwa agqunywe ejele ngemuva kokuqulwa kwecala lakhe ngoMeyi, elizoqulwa ngaphandle kwejaji. “Yisu le-Chevron lelo. Bazongibophisa ngamanga,” esho, njengoba ephindelela ngolunye usuku endlini yakhe. “Kuzoba kubi kimina. Futhi kungenza izinto zibe zimbi kakhulu kubo.”
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