From 40 minutes ago ---- Interesting read where Corriente (TSE:CTQ) is obviously engaging in some serious lobby and PR work to support their effort to bring their copper deposit to production.   The interesting part is the quote by the CONFENIAE leadership (an association representing approximately 220,000 people from all 16 indigenous nationalities of the Ecuadorian) about "Canadian Companies" improving the lives of Ecuador's indeginous people in the region.   It doesn't take a leap of logic to read that this includes ARU's actions.

Source: http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0336480.htm
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Corriente's Responsible Mining Activities Supported by Major Ecuadorian Indigenous Association
 
December 05, 2007: 01:23 PM EST

Corriente Resources Inc. (TSX: CTQ)(AMEX: ETQ) -

CONFENIAE, an association representing approximately 220,000 people from all 16 indigenous nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon, held a Special Assembly on Thursday, November 29th in Puyo, Ecuador. During the Special Assembly, the CONFENIAE leadership overwhelmingly voted in favor of a resolution supporting the responsible mining activities of EcuaCorriente S.A. (Corriente) in the Zamora Chinchipe and Morona Santiago Provinces of Ecuador, as part of their goal to eradicate indigenous poverty in the region. CONFENIAE has immediately requested the recognition of their resolution by CODENPE (Council for the Development of Ecuadorian Nationalities and Peoples). In addition, CONFENIAE leader, Jose Aviles, who was elected in 2005, had his leadership unanimously upheld through a special vote during the Special Assembly, confirming full support from the leaders and communities represented through CONFENIAE.

Jose Aviles commented, "We, the indigenous people of the Ecuadorian Amazon, have overwhelmingly voted against poverty and voted for life with hope by implementing a new economic model for our people. The indigenous peoples of the Ecuadorian Amazon deserve a life with dignity and we will move forward in accessing our natural resources in partnership with responsible Canadian mining companies like EcuaCorriente."

In October 2007, Jose Aviles, along with Shuar Federation of Zamora Chinchipe President, Ruben Naichap (representing over 5,000 people from 55 Shuar communities in the project area), traveled to Canada to meet with Canadian aboriginal leaders. Dialogue was focused on the positive social and economic benefits that Canadian aboriginal associations enjoy through working co-operatively with responsible mining and industry in their regions. During the trip, the leaders met with Dale LeClair, National President of the Metis National Council, representing the National and International voice of over 1 million aboriginal people in Canada.

As a result of this meeting, Mr. LeClair accepted an invitation by CONFENIAE to attend and speak at the CONFENIAE Special Assembly. Mr. LeClair spoke about the need to eradicate poverty, the issues of deforestation and the price of poverty and its impact on indigenous people. He also shared real life experiences about how the Metis are solving poverty through meaningful partnerships with responsible resource extraction companies. Following his speech, Mr. LeClair received a standing ovation followed by a formal signing ceremony of an International Co-operation Agreement with Shuar Federation President, Ruben Naichap, officially beginning the relationship between the Shuar people of the Zamora Chinchipe Province of Ecuador and the Metis National Council of Canada.

Mr. LeClair stated, "I am very pleased to have seen first hand the Mirador project area and to have had the opportunity to meet local leaders who are very supportive of the project. The Metis National Council is very pleased to have signed an International Cooperation agreement with the Shuar Federation of Zamora Chinchipe, which will allow our organizations to work more closely together for the common benefit of our peoples."

"The Shuar Federation of Zamora Chinchipe and our communities have learned about the benefits of responsible mining through the sharing of experiences from our Indigenous counterparts in Canada. We also see clearly the benefits that mining has contributed to First Nations and Aboriginal peoples of Canada and deeply appreciate the investment being made by the shareholders of EcuaCorriente in creating opportunities and a better quality of life for our people," announced Ruben Naichap, President of the Shuar Federation of Zamora Chinchipe