Social activists at risk - Real World Radio

Features / Social activists at risk

In this section Real World Radio aims to expose the murders of social activists and the cases of death threats against leaders. We will report on the wave of criminalization of the social protest. This new section of Real World Radio is also a memorial page for all those who were murdered in their struggle for a socially just world.

This special section is funded in part by the European Commission.

19 November 2012 | News | International Tour in Solidarity with communities affected by mining megaprojects in Central America | Social activists at risk

Months of Resistance

Protesters Block Entrance to Canadian Mining in Guatemala City

San José del Golfo and San Pedro de Ayampuc are two towns near Guatemala City that have been affected by gold and silver mining. Mining activities began in the area in 2000 but the community only found out in 2010. Read more
16 November 2012 | Testimonies | International Tour in Solidarity with communities affected by mining megaprojects in Central America | Social activists at risk

Defending the Territory

First Day of Friends of the Earth Solidarity Tour in Central America

At the beginning of the Friends of the Earth International tour of solidarity with the communities affected by mining, dams and megaprojects in El Salvador and Guatemala, the delegation visited Marlin mine, operated by Canadian corporation Goldcorp. Read more
16 November 2012 | Testimonies | International Tour in Solidarity with communities affected by mining megaprojects in Central America | Social activists at risk

Poisoned Rights

Crisanta Pérez: Testimony of the Criminalization of Resistance to Goldcorp in San Miguel Ixtahuacán (Guatemala)

On the first day of the Solidarity Mission organized by Friends of the Earth International and the Transnational Institute (TNI) of The Netherlands, which aims to reclaim the rights of communities affected and resisting open pit metal mining in Guatemala and El Salvador, the delegation visited Marlin gold mine, owned by Canadian corporation Goldcorp. Read more
16 November 2012 | Special reports | Victims of climate change | Financialization of nature | International Tour in Solidarity with communities affected by mining megaprojects in Central America | Social activists at risk

Freedom and Resistance

Solidarity Mission Visited Political Prisoners For Resisting Hydroelectric Project in Guatemala

The second day of the International Solidarity Mission began with a visit to political prisoners who were arbitrarily arrested for resisting the building of a hydroelectric dam in Santa Cruz Barillas, San Marcos department, Guatemala. The day ended with the happy news that two of the prisoners had been released. Read more
13 November 2012 | News | Social activists at risk

Extreme Measures

Colombia: actions to find Miguel Angel Pabón Pabón alive

Several social organizations and communities from Santander, Colombia, are strengthening the search of leader Miguel Angel Pabon Pabon, who disappeared on October 31 in San Vicente de Chucuri, Santander department. Read more
13 November 2012 | News | Victims of climate change | International Tour in Solidarity with communities affected by mining megaprojects in Central America | Social activists at risk

International Support to Guatemala

Carlos Muralles (CEIBA): “they are trying to destroy the communities that resist”

“As part of a social movement that works in defense of a territory, we've been victims of these attacks”, said Carlos Muralles of CEIBA – Friends of the Earth Guatemala at the workshop on Human Rights Defenders carried out at the Biennial General Assembly of Friends of the Earth International. Read more
7 November 2012 | News | Social activists at risk

In Memoriam: Ken Saro-Wiwa

Day of Solidarity with Victims of Mining, Oil and Gas

“Friends of the Earth International commemorates Ken Saro-Wiwa's death on November 10 as a day of solidarity with victims of mining, oil and gas activities around the world and a celebration of all the activists who continue to resist”, reads a press release issued on Wednesday by the environmental federation. Read more
31 October 2012 | Testimonies | 1st Continental Assembly CLOC – Via Campesina | Land grabbing | Social activists at risk

Tales of the Dispossessed

Testimony of Juana Bats Puaj and Daniel Pascual (Via Campesina Guatemala) during the act of solidarity of CLOC-Via Campesina

The recent history of Guatemala doest not cease to surprise. Despite the change in the governments and successive presidents, the violence against the peasant and indigenous communities is scary. Daniel Pascual, leader of the Latin American Coordination of Countryside Organizations (CLOC-Via Campesina) explained this during his speech as part of the act of solidarity held in “El Cipres”. Read more
29 October 2012 | Chronicles | Free Honduras | 1st Continental Assembly CLOC – Via Campesina | Social activists at risk

Ethical Imperative

Interview with Father Miguel D’Escotto at the Action of Solidarity with the Peoples of Honduras and Guatemala

Priest Miguel D'Escotto is the former chair of the United Nations General Assembly and foreign minister under the Sandinista administration of Nicaragua in the 1980s. He called for urgent solidarity with the peoples of Honduras and Guatemala, as part of an action of solidarity organized by the Coordination of Countryside Organizations (CLOC-Via Campesina). Read more
29 October 2012 | Interviews | Free Honduras | Land grabbing | Social activists at risk

They Shall Not Silence Our Voices

“It is Impossible Not to Be Afraid When You Live in Such a Violent Country”

Karla Zelaya is part of the communications team of the Unified Peasant Movement of Aguan (MUCA), an organization fighting for agrarian transformation and fair distribution of lands in Honduras. She was kidnapped in Tegucigalpa, the country's capital, on October 23 and she made it out alive. But she was warned to keep her mouth shut. Read more