SOS // STRATEGIES of SOLIDARTY
MEET JAKELINE
Professor of the Lived Experience – MINING, COLOMBIA.
Jakeline Romero Epiayu of the autochthonous Wayúu people of La Guajira was born in the same year that Colombia opened the door to coal exploitation in her native lands. After a lifetime refusing to stand down in the face of the devastation that the mines have caused, Jakeline continues to speak out, despite repeated threats against her life and that of her family members.
In 2017 her collective Sütsüin Jieyuu Wayúu (The Strength of Wayúu women) was recognised with the National Prize for the Defence of Human Rights in Colombia. Regularly invited on international speaker tours, Jakeline is now here to teach you about the reality of extractive industry and what you can do to break the supply chains that are leading to the extinction of her land and its people.
Jakeline says it's been 30 years of personal, cultural and environmental catastrophe for the Wayúu peoples of la Guajira Colombia, suffering due to the presence and continual expansion of the Cerrejón coal mine and its exports to international buyers.
"Hoy estamos viendo una situación de crisis humanitaria en nuestras comunidades"
“We are experiencing a situation of humanitarian crisis in our communities today”
Jakeline explains that diseases from skin rashes to respiratory related deaths, deformations in children and aborted pregnancies are seen like never before, but, due to a lack of scientific evidence, this can't be 'proven'. The traditional knowledge of the Wayúu isn't enough to satisfy colonial courts and so she asks of us to please back her up with scientific reports from within the system to be able to apply the human rights – the right to live and the right to health – that she knows are due to her under international law.
"Al final de nuestras vidas no vamos a comer carbon y no vamos a comer dinero. Comemos de low que la Madre Tierra podría darnos antes de que fue afectado por la minería"
"At the end of our days we won't be eating coal and we won't be eating money. We will be eating what Mother Earth used to be able to give us, before the arrival of the mine"
Jakeline, although completely aware of her human rights and supported internationally by campaigns such as this one by Global Witness, has not been able to exercise them. It takes people like you to add weight to push governments and the systems that promise rights for them to actually be implemented. Watch her full interview and begin your journey into breaking the chains that perpetuate this reality.
1
WATCH THE INTERVIEW
Listen to people who are living the human rights injustice explain what they are going through.
2
UNDERSTAND WHAT'S BEING ASKED
Take note of how they are asking you to join their struggle.
3
ANALYSE YOUR POTENTIAL TO ACT
Ask yourself which of their requests, if any, you are well suited to get involved with.
4
TAKE ACTION
Contact the person to let them know what you can be of assistance with and begin a meaningful relationship in the defence of human rights.