Colombia Vive

A student leader

Sergio Fernandez, a lead spokesperson for Mesa Amplia Nacional Estudiantil—MANE, or the “Comprehensive National Student Board”—will tour the United States in March to inform diverse audiences—especially college and university students—about the organization and its recent successful nonviolent campaign to preserve public higher education in Colombia.

March 13, 2012

Colombia Vive stands in solidarity with the thousands of people who marched in the streets of dozens of cities in Colombia and around the world on March 6, 2012, to mark the annual “International Day of the Victims of State Crimes in Colombia.” Coordinated by Movimiento de Víctimas de Crímenes de Estado (MOVICE), or the Movement of Victims of State-Sponsored Crimes, the demonstrations highlighted the severe limitations and challenges posed by the current Colombian administration’s land restitution policies.

Colombia Vive expressed opposition to the passage of the abominable FTAs.

Colombia Vive participated in the Honk parade. This is our intro video.

Check out some pictures here.

Colombia Vive hizo parte del desfile de Honk. Este video es nuestra introducción.

Puede ver algunas fotos aquí.

Colombia Vive Welcomes

ADIL MELÉNDEZ AS FEATURED GUEST FOR THE

2011 SPEAKING TOUR
A tireless defender and promoter of individual human rights and the fundamental constitutional rights of vulnerable communities in Colombia, attorney Meléndez will describe

THE TWO FACES OF CARTAGENA,
THE TWO FACES OF COLOMBIA:
Forced Displacement and
Human Rights Violations

Amig@s/Friends,

Thank you for your support. Colombia Vive volunteers went down to D.C. at the beginning of the week for the rally to oppose the FTAs.

There were symbolic acts: a procession with mock coffins (in remembrance of the 51 slain union leaders), which were placed in front of the White House, there were chants to say "No to the FTA", singing and rhythm in support of the victims and those arrested in acts of civil disobedience.

Here is the video from Telesur in Spanish and a video in English.

1) Just as the North American Free Trade Agreement in Mexico, the Central American Free Trade Agreement in Central America, and the Caribbean Basin Partnership Act in Haiti, the proposed Free Trade Agreement with Colombia will severely damage the agricultural sector in that country. If enacted, the agreement will further cripple the ability of small farmers in Colombia to compete with heavily subsidized farm products from the United States, such as corn, rice, beans and potatoes, traditionally produced by Colombians in their own country.

Photos from Colombia Vive's series of events featuring human rights lawyer Pillar Castillo and Flor Hilda Hernandez. Hernandez' oldest son, Elkin Gustavo, is one of the most well-known victims of the Colombian Army's "body count scandal."