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The " Caravan for the Defense of Territory" wraps up its journey in Nariño

16/09/2014

On August 27, 2014, the Caravan for the Defense of Territory in Nariño presented a preliminary report to local authorities and medias in Nariño’s capital city of Pasto.  The Caravan, comprised of over 20 Colombian and international organizations, travelled for 7 days in different small towns and villages in the south of Nariño through the municipalities of Samaniego and Tuquerres.

CARAVAN FOR THE DEFENCE OF THE LAND from 19 to 29 August 2014, Nariño, Colombia

12/06/2014

You are invited to join us in solidarity as part of the CARAVAN FOR THE DEFENCE OF THE LAND, which will be leaving Bogotá, Colombia next August 19, 2014 for the municipality of Samaniego, in the southern department of Nariño. This area has been impacted by intense militarlisation and mining concessions made to the multinational company ANGLO GOLD ASHANTI. The goal of the CARAVAN is to collect evidence and document the situation faced by the inhabitants of this area.

Resistance in the South West

11/12/2012

Thousands march in the Southern Colombian town of Pasto to demand land rights and an end to militarization and large-scale mining .

 

On October 12, 2012, a few days before historic negotiations between the FARC and Colombian government started, thousands marched in the Colombian city of Pasto, Nariño to show their dissatisfaction with the current administration and their desire “to construct peace with social justice.”

Small-farm families in northern Nariño stand to lose their land to mining companies

14/02/2012

“We can live without gold and silver but not without water. Not without peace and quiet.” At El Volador (near Arboleda, Nariño Department, Colombia), the people considered moving the school due to its proximity to drilling noise. The mining company Gran Colombia Gold gave gifts of school supplies and toys for the children. The notebooks read: “The calm follows the storm. The mining company is your friend.” A forum is being held at the Universidad de Nariño (Pasto) on February 28–29, 2012 to lay the table for dialogue with the departmental and national governments.

The Municipalities of Arboleda and San Lorenzo Denounce the Activities of Gran Colombia Gold in the Department of Nariño

05/12/2011

The Mazamorras Gold mining project, owned by Canadian multinational Gran Colombia Gold, and directed by ex-Colombian Foreign Affairs Minister María Consuelo Araujo, is located between the municipalities of Arboleda and San Lorenzo, in the Department of Nariño, Colombia.  The company is currently moving ahead with mining exploration activities, which has led to chaos and confrontation in and around local communities. Given this, we feel obliged to publicly denounce the following, which have occurred as a result of Gran Colombia Gold's presence in the region:

Update on the Conflict Surrounding Canadian Company Gran Colombia Gold: The Governor of Nariño States his Opposition to Open-Pit Mining on Campesino Land

26/11/2011
Protestors at the governor’s office, Pasto, Narino. December 5th 2011.

Following recent mobilizations against Canadian mining company Gran Colombia Gold, and clashes with between residents and police in Nariño, Colombia, the governor of the department signed an open letter on November 23rd,  stating his opposition to open-pit mining on land currently being cultivated by campesinos [small farmers].