Nathalie Kelley Instagram – 🔥🛢️ The young plaintiffs filing a lawsuit in the #MecherosCase publicly challenge the Ecuadorian Minister of Energy and Mines! 🌍🌿 🌍🌳 In 2021, after years of struggle, nine girls won a historic ruling ordering the phasing out of all oil industry gas flares in Ecuador. However, just one year away from the final compliance deadline, NOTHING HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED! The organization representing those affected, @udapt_oficial, as well as the plaintiffs and their communities, are denouncing the serious impacts on human health and biodiversity, with several of the plaintiffs’ family members suffering from cancer. In provinces such as #Orellana and #Sucumbíos, the incidence of this disease far exceeds the national average and largely affects women. In addition, gas flares are responsible for economic losses of up to $500 million per year in the country. ✊🏾🪧 On Wednesday #February21, four of the plaintiffs confronted the 🇪🇨 Minister of Energy and Mines, @andreaarrobopena, during the Biodiversity Commission’s second session in Ecuador’s Congress. Despite the Minister’s claims of having extinguished two flares, @udapt_oficial and the “Eliminate the Flares” Collective report that, not only has the sentence NOT been complied with, but that the number of gas flares actually increased between 2022 and 2024 from 447 to 486. 🔍 What happened to #EnvironmentalJustice? What do you think about the struggle of these young women? See you in the comments! ❤️‍🔥🌎💚