When the motor boat left the Turbo port to cross the Gulf of Urabá, I couldn’t stop thinking about the people who, almost 20 years ago, were starting a journey to return to their lands. Lands they had been displaced from in 1997, during the Genesis operation.1 Continue reading A Long Journey Towards New Life
Tag Archives: Uraba
1997: Urabá in turmoil
“Urabá” means “Promised Land”, and this region has long been at the very centre of the armed conflict for a number of reasons, including its geo-strategic position and Continue reading 1997: Urabá in turmoil
Mario Castaño, in memoriam
The 26th of Novembre 2017 seemed like any other hot and humid Sunday in the collective territory of La Larga Tumaradó. Mario Castaño, a land-restitution leader in the Chocó region of Urabá, had gathered his family to spend the day together at their small holding farm. However, Continue reading Mario Castaño, in memoriam
Land, culture and conflict
Land is part of the identity and culture of all communities the world over, and at the same time land lies at the root of many conflicts, because of the varying interests that surround it. Continue reading Land, culture and conflict
Beautiful Mother Earth
There are two rivers in the small village of Alto Guayabal, the smallest is turquoise in colour and is called Jancadía and the largest is amber-green in colour and is called Jiguamiandó which means river that brings fever in the Emberá indigenous language. Continue reading Beautiful Mother Earth