My CNN hero

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For a while now, CNN has been running CNN heroes series, where people had the chance to nominate outstanding leaders in their communities. Over 7,000 of people from 93 countries were nominated by the readers and 18 finalists were selected by the panel of judges. On Thursday, December 6, "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute" will select the most outstanding hero in each of the six nominating categories: Championing Children, Community Crusader, Defending the Planet, Fighting for Justice, Medical Marvel and Young Wonder.

I was impressed with every single individual I read about. However, I think I found my hero from the Fighting for Justice category- Pablo Fajardo from Ecuador. Pablo grew up in the Amazon, where he attended night school to finish his high school education while he labored on a plantation during the day. Working for the oil company, he became concerned with unsafe workers conditions and was fired after organizing union.

Pablo just finished law school after waking up at 3 30 every day for six years and his first case is his former employer, Texaco. According to CNN:

Over the more than 40 years since oil exploration began in the Amazon rain forest, at least 12 billion gallons of toxic waste were dumped in an area that was home to six indigenous tribes.

The area now records soaring cancer rates, severe birth defects and pollution that has killed the aquatic life, cattle and livestock. The resulting famine is threatening the tribes with extinction. Fajardo faces teams of corporate lawyers from Ecuador's ruling class as he seeks more than $6 billion for the estimated cost of cleaning up the waste.

To read more about amazing Pablo, check out his interview in Vanity Fair or with Oxfam America.

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