Actions For The U’wa

“We are seeking an explanation for this ‘progress’ that goes against life. We are demanding that this kind of progress stop, that oil exploitation in the heart of the Earth is halted, that the deliberate bleeding of the Earth stop...

We ask that our brothers and sisters from other races and cultures unite in the struggle that we are undertaking...

We believe that this struggle has to become a global crusade to defend life.”

- Statement of the U’wa people, 1998

The U’wa are a totally unassimilated indigenous community fighting to protect their culture and homeland in the cloud forests of Colombia from oil drilling. The U’wa are so adamantly opposed to oil development that they have vowed to commit mass suicide rather than allow their lands to be desecrated. Regardless, on September 21 the Colombian government granted a drilling permit to U$ oil company Occidental Petroleum.

Activists in 20 cities, (10 countries) around the world chose Oct 12th, the anniversary of the European invasion of the Americas, as a day to take action on behalf of the U’wa. Banners were hung, consulates stormed, demonstrations held in cities ranging from Prague to San Francisco and a solidarity statement was made from the Narmada Valley Satyagraha.

The U’wa have put out a call for supporters to take whatever action possible, magnifying the U’wa message till the world is forced to listen. International contact: Rainforest Action Network in San Francisco. rags@ran.org, www.ran.org