Occidental Petroleum’s (Oxy) decision to withdraw from the Peruvian Amazon was given a cautious welcome today by local indigenous leaders and Amazon Watch. The development is the second major victory for the Amazon in the last two months, following an October decision by the Argentine company [Pluspetrol]...to modify the antiquated technology that caused the daily dumping of 800,000 barrels of toxic drilling wastes directly into the rainforest...The news comes as leaders of indigenous Achuar communities, from the northern Peruvian Amazon, visit LA to demand that Oxy remediate the contamination and vow never to return to Achuar lands, where Oxy and other US companies still hold drilling rights...Th[e] decision brings Oxy's practices in the Amazon into line with its Human Rights Policy...Another neighboring area of Achuar lands, covering pristine primary tropical rainforests, is now threatened by new drilling concessions held by Oxy, Amerada Hess, Talisman, and ConocoPhillips, issued by the Peruvian government against the Achuar’s clearly-stated wishes.