Racialized militarism, peacebuilding and opening a conversation about defunding the military

Photo: Racist graffiti on the side of a Canadian Army armoured personnel carrier on unceded Kanien’kéha:ka territory (Oka, Quebec), September 2, 1990. After a recent incident of racism in the Canadian military, General Jonathan Vance and Defence Department deputy minister Jody Thomas acknowledged: “historically, the social structures that formed our Read more…

Calgary-based Parex Resources Inc. and its Aguas Blancas oil field in Simacota, Colombia

Calgary-based Parex Resources Inc. operates the Aguas Blancas oil field in the municipality of Simacota, Santander in northeastern Colombia. In September 2015, Energía 16 reported: “The Colombian state-owned oil company Ecopetrol has entered into an agreement with the Canadian Parex Resources in order to increase reserves and production in Aguas Read more…

Sixteen Canadian oil and gas companies visited Colombia on government-organized trip despite conflicts over Indigenous rights

The American business magazine Forbes has reported: “Nearly a third of Colombia is designated indigenous territory… Often, that land sits atop natural riches that have made it the envy of prospectors. Conflicts abound in Colombia between indigenous communities and extractive industries clawing for oil, gold or lumber.” And yet in Read more…

Colombian human rights defender Jani Silva defends communities impacted by oil operations in Putumayo

The Peace Brigades International-Colombia Project has noted: “Jani Silva is the leader of the Peasant Reserve Zone- Perla Amazónica (ZRCPA) and legal representative of the Association for the Sustainable and Comprehensive Development of the Perla Amazónica (ADISPA), which promotes peace [and] environmental protections.” PBI-Nederland has noted: “Her work involves defending Read more…