Perspectives from La Guajira – resisting the Cerrejón mine

We have been working with community representatives from La Guajira, Colombia involved in resistance to the Cerrejón opencast coalmine – Latin America’s largest – since 2017. We are also part of networks in Europe and globally who have been involved in solidarity activities with people in La Guajira for many years.

We have been making and distributing short bilingual films featuring interviews filmed with people who are putting their livelihoods – and even their lives – on the line to fight for their communities’ wellbeing in the face of Cerrejón’s destruction and its impact on local resources, in particular access to water.

In the video at the top of the page Leobardo Sierra from El Rocio community, talks about the resistence against the Cerrejón mine and its illegal and unethical expansion into the Bruno river, upon which he and his community depends.

 

Interview with Jakeline Romero Epiayu – The Strength of Wayúu Women. Winners of the National Award for Human Rights Defense in Colombia

 

Here Samuel Arregocés, nominated for the National Prize for the Defense of Human Rights in Colombia – in the category of Defender of the Year – speaks about the impacts of coal mega-mining in his community’s territory in La Guajira.

 

Eneida Diaz speaks about her experiences of forced displacement by the Cerrejón open mine.

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