GLOBALISATION

We recognise that Globalisation is a contentious term, especially in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. Things have changed for sure - however things have not necessarily changed for the better. Exploitation under the guise of progress is still rife. Multinational companies continue to expand their operations across the globe with litte regard for indigenous communities, workers rights, local culture or the environment. Indeed the global squeeze on profits triggered by the global financial crisis has, if anything, intensified this process.

Below you will find information about the impact of Multinational companies in Colombia.

Catatumbo: Un Reto por la Verdad (2da. Edición 2008)
por Gearóid Ó Loingsigh

Este libro pretende mirar la violencia en el Catatumbo a partir de 1999, año en que los paramilitares irrumpen con mayor fuerza en la zona, y analice como no solo la violencia sino la guerra contra la droga y las intervenciones supuestamente humanitarios de organismos internacionales hacen parte de todo lo mismo objetivo: la imposició de un modelo de desarrollo basado en los megaproyectos

Para descargar el libro clic acá

Humanitarian spaces in Colombia are made for the multinationals (2006)
by Gearóid Ó Loingsigh
Humanitarian spaces belong to the wrongly called peace laboratories of the European Union. These laboratories have been criticised for their profit-making projects as wells as for their neoliberal view of the development of Colombia. However, the humanitarian spaces have not been the object of any criticism at all. The international analyst Gearóid Ö Loingsigh–expert in these topics develops this reflection. He concludes that the fight is political and requires the mobilisation of communities with political demands, yet the creation of humanitariam spaces has led instead to dialogue and coexistence with those who would steal the mines from their rightful owners.

Download the full article in Adobe PDF format here (Spanish here)

Entwined Communities - April 2009
The shared history of UK pit mining communities and and rural Colombian agricultural communities as coal mining is dragged from one place and imposed on another, as part of "free" market neoliberal changes.

Download the full article in Adobe PDF format here (Spanish here)

Catering for the Coal Industry - January 2009
The labour conditions of the workers who prepare and serve the food necessary for the Drummond open-cast coal mine, Cesar to function are detailed in this easy to read report. It includes information on Drummond, subcontraction, wages, sexual and racial discrimination, health impacts and poverty in the surrounding villages.

Download the full article in Adobe PDF format here.

A History of Kraft in Colombia by Sinaltrainal Palmira - January 2009
In 2001 Kraft Foods bought Nabisco Royal, a Colombian food brand and began to consolidate all Latin American production in its mega factory in Palmira, Valle de Cauca, Southwest Colombia. At the same time they set about systematically destroying the existing trade union in this former Nabsico Royal factory. This short report documents the form this annihilation has taken. It was written at the time that Kraft was once again trying to fire 112 workers.

Download the full article in Adobe PDF format here.