SAND TEARS OF THE DESERT WAYUU: To commemorate the 2nd anniversary of the Bahia Portete massacre Lágrimas de arena del desierto WAYUU (click here for Spanish version) Between the 18th and 20th of April in the “Media Luna” sacred territory of the Wayuu people, located in La Guajira, we gathered for the second Yanama in…
Category: Colombia
The Context of the Wayuu’s Struggle: a Brief History of Colombia
Government: Colombia officially became a state in 1810 when it gained independence from Spain. In the late 1840s the Spanish elite who had remained in control even after Colombia’s separation from Spain formed the Liberal and Conservative parties which to this dominate Colombia’s political and social institutions. The Liberal party was formed on the platform…
What We Can Do
Due to the complex nature of Colombia’s internal conflict, finding a solution seems nearly impossible. But as citizens of the country that is supporting a government which is responsible for the death and displacement of millions of people, it is our responsibility to question to ethics of our own government’s involvement. By educating ourselves to…
Ajiaco: A Solidarity Meal
Ajiaco Recipe: A Solidarity Meal Colombian potato soup Ingredients: 3 bunches of scallions 1 thick bunch of cilantro 2 half-chickens, or 5 pounds of chicken (Or for vegetarians, 4 squares of tofu) 1 1/2 lbs of red skin potatoes 3 lbs of yellow potatoes 1 1/2 lb of guascas (possibly not available in your area,…
Plan Colombia
As the United States escalates spending for its militarized anti-drug strategy, a growing movement of well-respected Latin American leaders has emerged calling for more peaceful and effective solutions. At the recent Summit of Americas conference in Quebec City, critics ranging from Nobel laureates to former world leaders submitted a letter to President Bush saying that…
Wayuu Solidarity Campaign
WAYUU SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN: We just returned in April from a visit to the Wayuu indigenous community of La Guajira, Colombia, for the Fourth Yanama: Women and Territory. This community suffered a massacre at the hands of paramilitaries and Colombian military on April 18, 2004. For the last three years, BRIDGES has hosted North American solidarity…