Germans up in arms

-- Protests are mounting in Germany over a pipeline being built in Ecuador. At a recent summit in Sassenberg, Germany, about 40 non-governmental organisations and a number of German politicians vowed to step up the campaign against the Ecuador Heavy Crude Oil Pipeline (Oleoducto Crudos Pesados or ocp) pointing out its environmental and social hazards.

The pipeline, once complete, will transport heavy crude oil from the Amazon rainforest to the Pacific coast, cutting through seven protected national parks.

The meeting took place following public outrage over the "social and environmental negligence" on the part of ocp's lead syndicator, the West Deutsche Landesbank.