The Other Face of Development in Colombia: Living as Minorities amidst Civil War, Hydrocarbon and Mining Exploitation, and Generalized Human Rights Violations

If you live around the San Diego area, attend this event

The Other Face of Development in Colombia: Living as Minorities amidst Civil War,
Hydrocarbon and Mining Exploitation, and Generalized Human Rights Violations

Colombia is currently engaged in a peace negotiation that may end Latin America’s longest civil war after five
decades. The country has already adopted a new more democratic constitution and made some progress in
demobilizing right wing paramilitary groups, though a number of criminal gangs have risen in their place. Like
other Latin American countries, Colombia has also pushed forward a national development project focused on public and private international oil and mining projects aimed at stimulating economic growth and promoting energy security. Progress on these fronts, nevertheless, has its ugly side. Indigenous peoples, Afro-Colombians and women have expressed their concern that the manner in which the
government pursues these goals undermines the security, safety and health of
the most vulnerable in Colombia. This event presents their experiences and
provides an opportunity for students to gain insights into the challenges raised
by efforts to promote peace and development that will benefit people in their
local communities and not just national statistics. UCSD Faculty Discussants
will provide a comparative perspective on the Colombian experience. Join us
for an award-winning documentary, panel discussion and reception.

Attention from the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA for the latest developing concerns of indigenous rights in Colombia

April 5, 2013

The Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) wishes to bring to your attention the following developments concerning indigenous rights in Colombia.

Alarming Human Rights Situation for Indigenous Groups

The Colombia National Indigenous Organization (Organización Nacional Indígena de Colombia, ONIC) presented a disturbing report on March 14, 2013, at the OAS Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on the alarming situation indigenous groups face due to violence, displacement, discrimination, poverty, and institutional abandonment by the Colombian government. The report highlighted the critical condition of over 66 indigenous groupings that face cultural and physical extermination; many of whom have a population of less than 500 people. Their livelihood is affected by military operations and mining concessions in their territories, which in some instances totals 54 percent of an indigenous reservation.

Moratorium of large mining and the majority of the regional national park area of Santurbán, requested by the Departmental Assembly

As you can read here, the impacts of mining by multinational corporations are not only a problem in La Guajira...

Press Office of Representative Roberto Schmalbach, Bucaramanga, November 28, 2012

 With the assistance of the Plateau of Bucaramanga Defense Board, CDMB, the director of AMB, some of the mayors and town councilmen of North Soto, the Comptroller and the Attorney General, the regional director of national natural parks, the legislators and the environmental and civic organizations which fight for preservation of the water and the ecosystem of the páramo, the debate over the declaration about the Natural Park, proposed by the Representatives Carlos Alberto Morales and Roberto Schmalbach, was held in the departmental Duma. 

The Colombian Caravana UK Lawyers group letter to Cerrejon

Through this letter, The Colombian Caravana UK Lawyers Group, a group of international lawyers that monitor human rights abuses faced by legal professionals in Colombia, ask Cerrejón for explanations regarding their negative impacts in the local communities of La Guajira, Colombia, despite their “social responsibility” programs. The Colombian Caravana expresses their concern for the health of workers and community, the environment, and the lack of transparency in the process of prior consultation (consulta previa) in their expansion project. In addition, this group of lawyers request legal information and make some interesting proposals.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3XAZ4n5WrNfOTlxc2hNMjI4aVk/edit?usp=sharing

Mining in Colombia by Alvaro Pardo

This is what Alvaro Pardo, an economist investigator from Punto Medio and former President of Carbocol and other institutions from the Colombian Ministry of Mines and Energy, says during the Forums in La Guajira regarding some of the economic and political facts of mining in Colombia. It does not look too good for the local communities living under these economic policies

Express your concerns to ambassadors and CEOs for actions of mining companies in Colombia

Have you wondered what you can do to help the communities impacted by Cerrejon and other multinationals in Colombia and help stop their oppression?
Express your concerns through a message to the ambassadors and CEOs of about the well-being of the local communities, workers, and the environment in which Cerrejon, US Drummond, and Goldman Sachs do their dirty work.

Click here to send a message
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5436/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=12795
Thanks

A Pedagogy of Conflict: Why the Cerrejon workers are striking

A PEDAGOGY OF CONFLICT

The Civic Committee for the Defense of the Rancheria River, the spring of Cañaverales, and the royalties

Reason for the labor Conflict with Cerrejón (I)

I. THE CERREJÓN MINE

La Guajira is one of the most powerful areas in terms of energy in Colombia; it holds 56% of the national reserves of coal. For over 30 years ago, this wealth is exploited by coal Cerrejón, which is currently an equally owned consortium of the multinationals BHP Billiton, Anglo American and Xstrata.

II. Social debacle in La Guajira.