Turmoil in Ecuador

[meat suit]

Just skimmed through this in a rush, but what struck me was the Equadors energy demand is 5000 MWH?
Surely there is solar PV to take over in the dry season..?
My local solar park has 1.2MWH capcity on 12 acres with 100 W panels. Panels are 500 W+ now and really cheap...

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by meat suit (here)
Just skimmed through this in a rush, but what struck me was the Equadors energy demand is 5000 MWH?
Surely there is solar PV to take over in the dry season..?
My local solar park has 1.2MWH capacity on 12 acres with 100 W panels. Panels are 500 W+ now and really cheap...

Yes, Ecuador has a solar energy program, with ambitious details presented here:

• Ecuador Solar News

A 200 MW solar park has been approved, with $913 million to be invested in other projects by 2030, aiming to generate a total of nearly 1,200 MW.

It'll probably be a net benefit, for sure. But one issue is increasingly unpredictable weather. Last year our 6-month summer season (July—December) was exceptionally sunny, with beautiful blue skies literally every day — accompanied by a record drought, with scheduled daily blackouts because the reservoirs and rivers were too low for the hydro power plants.

This year is the exact opposite, and I've seen 3 (three!) blue-sky days this summer so far. Much of the time in the high mountains it's been looking like this:

[onawah]

China-Built Dam in Ecuador: Crumbling Quality, Escalating Erosion, and a National Debt Trap
China Spotlight
17K subscribers
Sep 10, 2025

"The truth about *Ecuador's China-built dam* is EXPOSED. The Coca Codo Sinclair dam, a monument to China's *tofu-dreg* quality, is riddled with over 17,000 cracks and has locked the nation in a massive **debt trap**.

This video investigates the $3.2 billion disaster built by China's Sinohydro. We uncover the story of substandard materials, catastrophic erosion that swallowed Ecuador's tallest waterfall, and a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme. Discover how Ecuador was forced to trade its oil for a crumbling dam and a loan with crippling interest rates.

We also reveal the details of the controversial $400 million settlement with PowerChina and connect this scandal to a global pattern of failed Belt and Road Initiative projects, from Pakistan and Uganda to Thailand.

🔔 Subscribe for more uncensored investigations into the Belt and Road Initiative.

*TIMESTAMP:*
00:00 - The $3.2 Billion Mistake: A Monument to Failure
01:30 - The 17,661 Cracks: A Ticking Time Bomb
03:15 - A National Icon Erased: The Collapse of San Rafael Falls
05:20 - The Debt Trap: How China's Loan Crippled Ecuador
07:45 - The Controversial Settlement: A Victory or a Concession?
09:50 - A Global Pattern: The Belt and Road's Trail of Destruction
11:30 - The Cracks in China's Global Ambitions "

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=6BlEAcHKYdk

[AutumnW]

You might find this interesting, Natalie. Its about 'China Spotlight' backing, who owns it, etc...

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ask_Politic...s_trustworthy/

[onawah]

If Falun Gong owns it, then it may be biased, but not necessarily. There are a lot of news sources reporting the same information who are not backed by Falun Gong, and many of which are not even focused mainly on China, but are international in scope. In any case, Falun Gong practicioners have good reason to be spotlighting the nefarious activities of the CCP, since they, along with the Uyghurs, are the two main groups from which organ harvesting in China takes place. I have spent lots of time investigating all this from the perspective of both sides and my conclusion is that the CCP is very evil, and sadly, the reports about that (including reports about the terrible waste and hardship the Belt and Road Initiative is causing in many 3rd world countries) are not exaggerations. The problem with the BRI is not just due to the evil of the CCP, but also of the officials in the 3rd world countries who accepted bribes from the CCP to allow those projects to take place. "Tofudreg" construction is no myth.

Posted by AutumnW (here)
You might find this interesting, Natalie. Its about 'China Spotlight' backing, who owns it, etc...

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ask_Politic...s_trustworthy/

[Ravenlocke]

Sputnik Brasil

Auto-translated by Grok
🇪🇨🚨 Police Repression Denounced During Anti-Government Protest in Ecuador

The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador called for a mobilization in Quito on the Day of Interculturality and Plurinationality, as part of the national strike that began with the removal of the diesel subsidy and is now in its 21st day.

"The mobilization was taking place peacefully, in the context of October 12, when police forces launched tear gas and violently dispersed the protesters, including women, young people, and the elderly," the organization wrote on its social media, along with some videos of the dispersal.

Since early morning, the military surrounded the protesters' meeting points and blocked access roads to Quito with earth.

Marlon Vargas, president of the confederation, also accused the police of acting "with violence from the start, immediately repressing even children and entire families."

https://x.com/sputnik_brasil/status/1977483161601986956

[Ravenlocke]

RiksinakuyTV

Auto-translated by Grok
#Resistencia 🇪🇨 | Quito woke up militarized, however the population took to the streets to advance to the center of power and express rejection of the ruler who represses, fosters racism and promotes the enrichment of his family in the face of the impoverishment of the people.

https://x.com/REDCI_Ecuador/status/1977479053897580839

[Ravenlocke]

Anticorrupción Ec🇪🇨2025

Auto-translated by Grok
Ecuador does not stop.
@DanielNoboaOk
does not give explanations of where the money is.
Abandoned hospitals, unemployment, insecurity, attacks on the National and International Press by the Police. 19 days of Strike #FueraNoboaFuera 🇪🇨🤬🤬🤬

https://x.com/giacomo22ecu/status/1977481040814895463

[Ravenlocke]

Camila

Oct 14
Car bomb in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

The government and its troll center activates a narrative that this was an attack targeting President Noboa's family—but people believe it's a false flag to justify more violent repression and disappearances of protesters.

https://x.com/camilapress/status/1978279085785690318

Camila
@camilapress
The US-puppet regime in Ecuador has deployed security forces to repress people and carry out violent, arbitrary detentions in Otavalo, amid a national strike & significant protests that have lasted weeks, mainly in the Sierra. 🇪🇨Noboa's regime is actively supported by Washington.

https://x.com/camilapress/status/1978124822581297419

[Ravenlocke]

Camila

Oct 14
🇪🇨 In a statement,
@CONAIE_Ecuador
denounced the military offensive and invasion carried out by the Noboa regime against communities of Imbabura, over the last two days, using ~1,000 troops and 100 armoured vehicles

🇪🇨 It's day 23 of the national strike, all of Imbabura is under siege. Security forces deployed in force in & around Otavalo, calling them "humanitarian convoys". Communities have held road blockades in the provinces of Cañar, Carchi, Azuay. Abductions👇

https://x.com/camilapress/status/1978132145051734181

Lost of evidence of violent abductions by Noboa’s security forces and other unidentified regime-aligned gangs. This is precisely the democracy that Marco Rubio wants for all of us.

🚨 Ecuador: Military convoys are breaking into hospitals in Imbabura to abduct injured people and have ordered hospitals and clinics to DENY treatment to protesters and instead call the police.

https://x.com/camilapress/status/1978151667800342999

[Ravenlocke]

News Channel2Now.com

Oct 14
GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR — A powerful car bomb detonated near Mall del Sol in Guayaquil resulting in multiple fatalities and numerous injuries, according to local authorities. Video shows moments car bomb detonated
https://channel2now.com/2025/10/14/a...d-and-injured/

https://x.com/newschannel2now/status...56024617230437

[Ravenlocke]

Sputnik Mundo

Translated from Spanish
🇪🇨 Ecuador's Indigenous Confederation Announces "End of the Strike" Initiated 30 Days Ago

This decision was due to the "brutal repression" by the public force against the protesters, which has already left three dead and dozens injured, declared Marlon Vargas, president of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Conaie), in a speech disseminated through the organization's social media.

🗣 "Faced with this reality, we have made a difficult but necessary decision: the end of the strike, clearing the roads and withdrawing to our territories to protect the lives of our people," he announced.

https://x.com/SputnikMundo/status/1981054251498455268

Ecuadorinmediato

Translated from Spanish
‼️#URGENTE
Marlon Vargas, president of the Conaie, announces the end of the national strike, the clearing of the roads, and the withdrawal to the territories to protect the life of our people. This after the repression ordered by the Government of #DanielNoboa, which has left three dead and dozens injured.

https://x.com/ecuainm_oficial/status...43272434012269

[Ravenlocke]

Venezuelanalysis

Oct 21
According to reports, Ecuadorian authorities are not going to prosecute the second survivor from a recent US bombing of a semi-submersible vessel in Caribbean waters. A bit unexpected given Noboa's govt's subservience to Washington


EL PAÍS América

Translated from Spanish
The man, who was saved from the bombing along with a Colombian, was captured by the U.S. Navy and later deported to Ecuador. The Prosecutor's Office of that country did not find sufficient evidence to take legal action against him.


https://x.com/venanalysis/status/1980637330286473632

[Ravenlocke]

teleSUR English

Ecuador 🇪🇨 is holding a referendum this Sunday, promoted by President Daniel Noboa, marked by strong social tensions and accusations of state repression.

Among other points, the initiative proposes amending the Constitution to allow the installation of foreign military bases, a measure that the government justifies as necessary for national security but which has generated widespread protests.

Despite the official discourse on participation and democracy, social organizations denounce the use of police and military force to contain protests against the referendum. More than 13.9 million Ecuadorians are called to vote in more than 4,300 polling stations, under the watch of more than 57,000 National Police officers.

https://x.com/telesurenglish/status/1990148205439336529

teleSUR English

Election day on November 16 has been marked by accusations of violations of the electoral silence period against ministers in Daniel Noboa's government 🇪🇨 and even against the president himself. The president cast his vote early to announce the capture of “Pipo” Chavarría, leader of Los Lobos, a gesture interpreted as proselytizing, while several senior officials spread messages in favor of the referendum despite the ban in force.

The referendum, which includes proposals such as a Constituent Assembly, the return of foreign military bases, and a reduction in the number of legislators, has drawn criticism from social organizations. They warn that violations of electoral silence and the lack of guarantees reinforce the idea that the process seeks to impose reforms that affect rights, sovereignty, and popular representation.

https://x.com/telesurenglish/status/1990168828467171500

[Ravenlocke]

teleSUR English

In #Ecuador, today, Sunday, November 16, the referendum and popular consultation move forward.
#teleSUR

https://x.com/telesurenglish/status/1990173845454782770

teleSUR English

In #Ecuador, polling stations are closing and voting is underway for citizens who participated in the #referendum called by President #DanielNoboa.
#teleSUR

https://x.com/telesurenglish/status/1990206214232551785

[Ravenlocke]

#LIVE | #Ecuador | Data continues to be entered in the electoral center

Translated from Spanish
#LIVE | 🇪🇨Ecuador | Popular Consultation 2025.

-Allow foreign military bases
Votes in favor ✅ 40.96%
Votes against ❌ 59.04%
-Eliminate funding to political parties
Votes in favor ✅ 43.04%
Votes against ❌ 56.06%
-Call for a constituent assembly
Votes in favor ✅ 39.37%
Votes against ❌ 60.63%

https://x.com/teleSURtv/status/1990208348319346912

[Bill Ryan]

Yes, the referendum process here is very interesting, (And I think something other countries could copy!)

Not only is there a referendum at all, on a wide rage of issues. but over the last couple of months there's been widespread national consultation and public debate about what the questions should be.

Can anyone imagine this being done in the US, Canada, Australia, or anywhere in Europe?

[Bill Ryan]

And here we go!

https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/165610

Ecuadorians reject U.S. military presence.
In a national referendum, 60% voted against allowing foreign military bases, effectively killing President Daniel Noboa’s plan to let the U.S. establish naval installations on Baltra Island in the Pacific.
Just ten days ago, Noboa had publicly backed the idea, framing it as part of “security cooperation” with Washington.

[norman]

I wonder if that referendum will join the list of worldwide rigged counts.

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)
Yes, the referendum process here is very interesting, (And I think something other countries could copy!)

Not only is there a referendum at all, on a wide rage of issues. but over the last couple of months there's been widespread national consultation and public debate about what the questions should be.

Can anyone imagine this being done in the US, Canada, Australia, or anywhere in Europe?

A new report this morning:

Voters hand Noboa a stunning referendum defeat

Ecuadorian voters rejected all four of President Daniel Noboa’s referendum questions in Sunday’s election. As of midnight, the “no” vote was winning by broad margins on three questions to amend the current constitution and on a fourth question that would convene a constituent assembly to write a new constitution.

With 95% of votes counted, 60.5% of voters rejected foreign military bases in Ecuador; 58% rejected eliminating public campaign funding; 53.5% rejected reducing the size of the National Assembly; and 61.5% rejected rewriting the constitution.

According to several analysts, the rejection of the four questions came as a shock. “Two weeks ago, the polls showed all the questions winning by a comfortable margin, and the president was confident of victory,” said Jorge Parra, a history professor at San Francisco University in Quito.

Parra believed there was movement toward “no” on the question to rewrite the constitution but said it appeared to still have enough support to win. “Whatever the reasons, the voters delivered a stern reminder to the president tonight that they will not rubber stamp proposals they believe reduce their rights as citizens. I believe it was a vote against the autocratic tendencies that the government has shown in recent months.”

Political consultant Sthepanie Macías said Noboa was “taught a lesson in humility” but says his popularity is still high by recent standards and that he can learn from the defeat. “His approval number have dropped slightly but he still registers in the mid-40s, so I believe he can recover from this as long as acknowledges the will of the people and makes adjustments accordingly.”

Macías added that Noboa’s failure to reduce the country’s crime rate in recent months is one of the reasons for his referendum defeat.

At 9 p.m., Noboa accepted the results of the referendum. “These are the results. We consulted Ecuadorians and they have spoken very clearly. We kept our promise to ask them directly and now we must respect their decision,” Noboa said.