Partnering with Indigenous People to Save the Environment cont.

Interfaith San Ramon Valley
San Ramon, CA


The publicity that greeted the delegation’s return prompted ChevronTexaco to request a meeting with ISRV. Though the company had previously turned down ISRV’s requests for a meeting, as well as an invitation to accompany ISRV on the delegation, since their return from Ecuador, ISRV has had four meetings with members of ChevronTexaco’s Social Responsibility Team and has even managed to facilitate a meeting between corporate leaders of the company and the indigenous people of Ecuador they turned away in 2003. In addition, representatives from some of ChevronTexaco’s major stockholders and investors subsequently toured Ecuador and have returned to San Ramon to speak to ISRV to discuss their experience and listen to the stories of the original ISRV delegation.

ISRV has continued to keep the issue in the public spotlight with the formation of a local group called “San Ramon Valley Cares,” and by assisting the creation of similar groups in Sacramento; by helping Amazon Watch organize a youth delegation to Ecuador; by speaking about the issue at both religious and environmental conferences in cities across America and in Europe; and by maintaining close ties with the faith leaders in Ecuador who have founded a “Quito Cares” group. ISRV has also met with area Congressman George Miller and made presentations to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors to propose that Ecuador’s Oriente region be named a sister region to their county, reminding members of San Ramon Valley community about the many ties that bind them to the fate of Ecuador’s Amazon rainforests.

Contact Information:

Interfaith of San Ramon Valley
Partnering with Indigenous People to Save the Environment
c/o Beth Chaim Congregation
110 Ryan Industrial Ct. #3
San Ramon, CA 94583
Phone: 925-362-0347
Fax: 924-362-0713
Email: rabbidan@bethchaim.com