I found these documents to be very interesting, especially as they are competing claims that create greater tensions among the Lago Agrio case conflict. Left, indigenous activists together with the global network of sympathizers have been able to find new ways to empower and increasinlgly capture the levels of power that have been for many years and still are highly influenced and controlled by corporate interests. The first document, an excerpt from the summary of the judge’s decision in the Lago Agrio trial that was prepared by the plaintiff’s lawyers explains the various bases on which the judgement was rendered. It tries to balance out the numerous pieces of testimonies and evidence against one another, and shows both sides of the conflict as much as possible.

Furthermore, the second document, an excerpt from the injunction granted by Judge Kaplan to Chevron in 2011 is interesting because of how he interprets the larger issues of the trial in Ecuador. This document is thus, very different interpretations of the same pieces of evidence. This makes it difficult for one to know the full truth of what happened during the Lago Agrio Case and the Texaco but provides us with multiple truths, depending on the perspective one takes. The perspective one chooses to opt toward is based on the similarity in ones values and interests, since these shape the worldview of one. The first document is a product of an Ecuadorian court, a particular history and of a political opening that was not expected by Chevron’s lawyers. On the other hand, the second documents context is a United States court, that was shaped by its own values and interests, that came to be because of the history it has.

Therefore, as Dawson makes clear, it is important not only to understand the multiple truths that come about in these two documents, but to also comprehend where power lies geographically, and how that power authorizes itself. We clearly see a changed geopolitical landscape in Latin America in the early 21st century, one consisting of more people speaking up for their own power or alternative power centers, not just the United States as the absolute truth. Thus, the Lago Agrio Case suggests an alternative narrative, where the forms of influence and domination that the upper class (who hold powerful corporate interests) once relied on are being challenged and reshaped by the people who do not share the benefits of globalization. As a result, the power from the United States has been starting to shift to the power of global capital, freeing people from their restricted areas and allowing them to shape their own future interests.