The Civic Committee of La Guajira for the Defense of the Rancheria River and the Canaverales Spring Press Release

The Civic Committee of La Guajira for the Defense of the Rancheria River and the Canaverales Spring

Press Release

Riohacha, November 9, 2012.

LA GUAJIRA STOPS THE MINING LOCOMOTIVE

The Civic Committee of La Guajira for the Defense of the Rancheria River and the Canaverales Spring claimed as a victory the announcement of Roberto Junguito, president of Cerrejón, to withdraw in its attempt to divert the River Rancheria. This is achievement has come as a result of the unity of peasants – and Colombians in general – and the strong social mobilization.

The Rancheria River has been saved...for now.

Read about one of the versions of why El Cerrejon has decided to "postpone" the Rancheria River.

Cerrejón postpones studies on the possible diversion of the Rancheria River 

 

Photo: Diana Sanchez

Article by: El Espectador Newspaper

The complex of mining in La Guajira (Cerrejon) said Thursday that the study that looked for diverting the Rancheria river, was postponed.

As reported by Cerrejón, the postponement of the study was due to "the conditions of the international coal price. The trend of the past two years has been downward, registering a fall in the price of coal of 35 percent. "

La Guajira, the Wayuu, and El Cerrejon

Read an interesting article from the organization Izilwane. This article presents a fine summary about El Cerrejon, the Colombian state, and the relationship to the Wayuu indigenous communities

link:
http://blog.izilwane.org/a-long-journey-to-help-guajira-and-the-wayuu-people

Rivers all over the world threatened

The Rancheria River is not the only river that local communities are trying to defend. Read about the case of Santa Cruz Barillas, Guatemala
Link:
http://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/defending-life-first-struggle-protect-river-and-human

Dirty Coal imported to the United States

Learn about the process of displacement by El Cerrejon on the Wayuu indigenous and afro-descendant communities of Colombia. No longer can we ignore it. Now these concerns have been brought to the US.
Read about its Massachusetts Connection
http://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/colombia/massachusetts-connection-colombian-indigenous-resi

Coal exploitation in Venezuela = Misery and Disruption for Local Communities

Clearly, coal exploitation by multinationals have wide-spread and long lasting effects. And they are not limited to a single region or country. Read these two articles about coal exploitation in Venezuela and the response of the  Wayuu and other indigenous peoples to defend their lives.

http://www.culturalsurvival.org/take-action/venezuela-support-indigenous-peoples-vs-coal-mines/venezuela-support-indigenous-peoples

http://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/venezuela/coal-and-wayuu-venezuela

Cerrejon: Labor and Health Conditions

Cerrejon: Coal for the World Powers = Misery for Colombia

Peace Process in Colombia with Guerrillas

The peace process in Colombia with the Guerrillas has begun. Read here an interesting statement by the AfGJ talking about some of the obstacles that this process faces, including the influence of US and other multinational companies

Peace Talks Begin in Colombia » Counterpunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names

click to read an article on Counterpunch by academic and activist, Daniel Kovalik, talking about the Peace Process in Colombia
Peace Talks Begin in Colombia » Counterpunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names

Conclusions from Maicao Forum

During the months of June and July of 2012 several forums discussing the effects of large-scale mining in La Guajira and Colombia took place in different municipalities of La Guajira. This document includes some brief conclusions of the forum that took place in the city of Maicao.

Communique to the municipal, departmental, and national public opinion

COMMUNIQUÉ TO THE MUNICIPAL, DEPARTMENTAL, AND NATIONAL PUBLIC OPINION

We, The political organizations signing below, after meeting in the headquarters of Sintracarbon located in the city of Riohacha, La Guajira, on July 19 2012, wish to express to the local, departmental, and national public opinion our position and arguments regarding the mining projects in La Guajira, the change of the course of the Ranchería River, the modification of the Cañaverales Spring, and the new royalties’ regime:

Letter from a Wayuu woman to the Colombian President Santos

Pancho, April 4th, 2012

JUAN MANUEL SANTOS

President of the Republic of Colombia

Bogota

Greetings:

I am writing to you from Pancho, a Wayuu village made of mud houses with zinc roofs, that exists on the right hand side of the banks of the Ranchería river, the only river in the Mid to High Guajira.

Tens of settlements exist in Pancho because we, the Wayuu people live throughout this dessert God gave us.