Considering the reconstruction plans Ecuador will carry out after the strong earthquake on April 16, organizations and citizens request Occidental CEO to cancel the final payment of around USD 180 million Ecuador's government is scheduled to pay on April 29 for an arbitration settlement.

Mr. Stephen I. Chazen

Chief Executive Officer

Occidental Petroleum Corporation

5 Greenway Plaza, Suite 110

Houston, Texas

Dear Mr. Chazen,

As you know, on April 16, 2016 a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Ecuador and devastated several small towns at its epicenter in Ecuador’s coastal region. With over 655 deaths, 17,638 injured, 41 people missing, more than 29,000 left without homes, and over 1 million people exposed, it will take years and billions of dollars to rebuild the towns and areas impacted by this disaster.

In the context of this tragedy, the undersigned organizations and individuals are asking Occidental Petroleum Corporation (“Occidental”) to accept a cancellation, or at the very least a deferral, of the final payment of approximately $180 million that the Government of Ecuador is scheduled to pay to the company on April 29th for a settlement in the arbitration brought forward by Occidental to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes. According to media reports, Ecuador has made timely payments to date in the sum of $800 million to the company to pay the total settlement of $980 million.

Allowing the Ecuadorian government to redirect the $180 million currently set aside for its final payment to Occidental toward disaster relief and reconstruction could support thousands of affected families to have access to food, water, shelter and medicine. The money could be used to rebuild the 281 schools that have been severely damaged by the earthquake; or to rebuild the over 5000 homes that have been lost. Imagine what could be done with this money. Imagine the lives that could be rebuilt. Imagine the role that Occidental could play.

We believe that reconsidering the payment presents an enormous opportunity for Occidental to show its human face to the world and uphold its commitments to social responsibility – a gesture that will substantially benefit the company’s reputation.

As civil society organizations and individuals we have been truly inspired by the solidarity demonstrated by the Ecuadorian people in support of their fellow citizens. There isn’t an institution or sector of society that has sat idle. We invite Occidental to join the hundreds of countries and companies along with international organizations and thousands of global citizens that are working together to embrace this nation so incredibly impacted by the earthquake. We invite Occidental to take this opportunity to be a part of these efforts.

Sincerely,

Jean-Luc MÉLENCHON, Member of the European Parliament, France

Martina ANDERSON, Member of the European Parliament, Ireland

Matt CARTHY, Member of the European Parliament, Ireland

Lynn BOYLAN, Member of the European Parliament, Ireland

Liadh NI RIADA, Member of the European Parliament, Ireland

Marina ALBIOL, Member of the European Parliament, Spain

Fabio DE MASI, Member of the European Parliament, Germany

Anne-Marie MINEUR, Member of the European Parliament, Netherlands

Lola SANCHEZ CALDENTEY, Member of the European Parliament, Spain

Estefania TORRES MARTINEZ, Member of the European Parliament, Spain

Miguel URBAN, Member of the European Parliament, Spain

Xabier BENITO ZILUAGA, Member of the European Parliament, Spain

cc: Mr. Eugene L. Batchelder, Chair of the Board, Occidental Petroleum Corporation

https://www.change.org/p/mr-stephen-i-chazen-cancellation-or-deferral-of-ecuador-s-debt-to-occidental-petroleum/share_for_starters?just_created=true