This week’s Earth Minute segment from GJEP executive director Anne Petermann centers worldwide protests that took place last week in response to the murders of more than 313 Columbian human rights defenders. The Earth Minute segment airs weekly on the Sojourner Truth radio show on KPFK-FM Los Angeles.

TRANSCRIPT:

Last Friday, activists from across the world protested the murders of at least 313 Colombian human rights defenders that have occurred over the last two years, only days after four more activists were murdered in Colombia.

The protest took place at the United Nations headquarters in New York during a meeting on ways to tackle issues like poverty, hunger, and climate change. While Colombia participated, it said nothing about the escalating violence in the country, despite its focus on social leaders, environmental and human rights defenders.  

The violence has escalated since the signing of the Peace Agreement in 2016 between the Revolutionary Armed Forces, known as the FARC, and the Colombian government.

“In Colombia hundreds of social and community leaders, including environmental, Indigenous and union activists, are being murdered right under the government’s nose,” said activist Diego Cardona.

The protest condemned the Colombian government and called for countries to denounce the murders, threats, and harassment of human rights and environmental defenders in Colombia.

For the Earth Minute and the Sojourner Truth show, this is Anne Petermann, from Global Justice Ecology Project.