We set off from Apartado towards Belen de Bajira, a municipality which has been in the news for several months. It is the subject of a dispute between Choco and Antioquia departments because of rich mineral deposits in the area and the presence of large agribusinesses producing bananas and palm oil.[1] Continue reading Pedeguita and Mancilla: disputed territory
Tag Archives: land rights
Reconfiguration of the armed conflict in the midst of the peace process
The peace process with the FARC guerrillas has brought hope, but since their demobilisation, other illegal groups have taken control of rural territories, which has engendered a new cycle of attacks against communities, human rights defenders and civil society leaders. Continue reading Reconfiguration of the armed conflict in the midst of the peace process
“Like the Norwegian sun in winter”
Every day, Enrique Cabezas is grateful that he and his family are still alive. He is probably one of the most threatened leaders in the Curbarado River basin. Continue reading “Like the Norwegian sun in winter”
Why are people defending the environment being attacked? And how can they be protected?
Over the past few years we have seen a spike in attacks against people defending their land and specifically the environment against the economic interests of multinational companies. Continue reading Why are people defending the environment being attacked? And how can they be protected?
Land of corn
Land of corn is a documentary film about four environmental and land rights defenders from Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia and Honduras who work in an extremely dangerous environment and risk their lives, their freedom and the safety of their families because of the work they do.
Sara Méndez travels every week to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (Mexico), where some of the largest wind farms in the country are being constructed. Martín Gómez is resisting the construction of a hydroelectric project on the Chinacla River in Honduras. Mary Hernández had to seek refuge in the Curbaradó humanitarian zone because of threats she received while defending her land in a territory that has been subjected to large-scaled cattle ranching, palm oil tree cultivation and timber exploitation. Adrian Kal has been fighting for the past 15 years for his community´s land in Guatemala, which was sold to a logging firm. As Sara, Martin, Mary and Adrian explain their work and daily struggle, the audience learns about the threats they receive, their fears and the lack of protection mechanisms in their countries.
