The hidden cost of Colombia’s bio-fuel boom
The surge in demand for bio-fuels has created a booming industry in Colombia. The demand for palm oil is such that whole new plantations are cropping up all over the country. This growth in demand should be a blessing for Colombia’s farmers, but unfortunately this is far from the reality on the ground. The opportunity for making large amounts of money from palm oil has not gone unnoticed by the right wing paramilitary groups. With the complicity of some palm oil companies, these armed groups are driving local farmers from their land with a campaign of violence and terror. The deeds to the land are then changed to give ownership to these companies. A Colombian government investigation is reported to have found irregularities in 80% of palm oil land titles.
Christian Aid is actively involved in funding an effort to protect the farmers trying to reclaim their land. Trying to fight the corruption and violence will be an uphill struggle, but it is a worthwhile struggle. The displacement of farmers and their families has added to Colombia’s growing refugee problem, with nearly 3 million people displaced, Colombia ranks alongside Darfur and Congo as one of the world’s worst refugee crises. As demand for bio-fuels grows, so will this crisis. I sometimes wonder how much human suffering there has to be in the world before those with the power to stop it will actually take action.
