Germany Supports Colombia\'s Bio-Diversity

Colombia's Ministry of Environment and the German government owned bank KFW recently signed a contract for the new "Conservation and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources" program. This important program will provide $7 million in funding to help Colombia protect some of its most important forests and support essential bio-diversity.

The new program is in addition to substantial loans from KFW to accelerate Colombia's shift to clean energy by adding more solar and wind power. Some 66% of the country's electrical power is already produced by hydroelectric but the country still relies too heavily on fossil fuels. The new President elect, Gustavo Petro, who takes office August 6, is committed to getting his country off fossil fuels and ending the murders of social and environmental activists.

In contrast, the U.S. has spent billions for the destruction of Colombia's environment and support of narco-terrorists who target journalists, environmentalists, human rights activists and anyone who tries to defend the environment, reduce poverty or might negatively impact the profits of U.S. corporations and the few Colombians they enrich.

To target competing cocaine producers and keep prices high, the U.S. sprayed the deadly herbicide glyphosate on millions of acres since the 1990s, which contaminated millions of additional acres as it spread through waterways and the food chain. Contrary to manufacturer's claims, glyphosate doesn't actually break down and persists in the environment and in living organisms where it wreaks havoc on health for at least many decades. Glyphosate can be found in the blood of almost every human.

Colombia stopped the spraying in 2015 but the White House continued to press for the resumption of the poisoning of Colombia through aerial spraying of toxic herbicides. Earlier this year a Colombian constitutional court ruled that the spraying the government was trying to resume couldn't unless there were meaningful consultations with the communities that would be impacted and gave the government a year to complete them. Because the communities can only be harmed by the spraying they all strongly oppose it. 

The new Petro government plans to reduce coca production by switching growers to legal cannabis (marijuana) production. With the continued legalization of cannabis for its therapeutic effects, the market for the plant continues to grow. The transition will help dis-empower CIA backed narco-terrorists, but they won't go quietly into the night.

With Petro also planning to restore relations with Venezuela and open up Colombia to economic development that benefits Colombians instead of multi-national criminal corporations, he should garner increased support from Colombia's working class but will certainly face increased opposition from the country's criminal class. With more progressive international partners, perhaps he can overcome the dark forces and actually lead Colombia forward.