THIS MONDAY #WaterDay,
Join us for a screening of ‘La Sangre de la Tierra’ (The Blood of the Earth)
and learn about the struggles that river defenders face.
MARCH 22ND | 2 PM EST | REGISTER
Photo by PBI-Honduras.
This Monday, March 22nd, join us for a special virtual event in celebration of International Water Day. This webinar will feature a screening of the documentary film, La Sangre de la Tierra (The Blood of the Earth) made by Peace Brigades International and Asociación Entrepueblos. The film produced by Félix Zurita is celebrating its two year filming anniversary.
The film tells the story of three resistance movements against hydroelectric dams in Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. In each resistance movement, land, territory and environmental defenders have been attacked, threatened and criminalized for their active resistance against the imposition of economic projects in their territories, a trend that PBI sees is increasing across the region.
Spanish documentary filmmaker, Félix Zurita, will provide an introduction to the film before the screening, and after the film, Albertina López, resident of the Pajuiles community and member of the Political Coordination of the Broad Movement for Dignity and Justice (MADJ), and María Caal Xol, member of the Peaceful Resistance of Cahabón, will provide updates on the struggles depicted in the film.
Mexico
In February 2019, PBI-Mexico accompanied, in the Sierra Norte de Puebla, Félix Zurita, to record some images about the situation of defenders of their land, territory and the environment of the communities of San Mateo Tlacotepec, Altica and San Felipe Tepatlán. For more than a decade, in the Sierra Norte de Puebla, Totonac communities have fought for the survival of their traditions and the defense of their territory. That struggle has included opposition to the construction on the Puebla 1 hydroelectric plant on the Ajajalpan River that began in February 2016.
Honduras
The Pajuiles sector, located in the Nombre de Dios mountain range in the Department of Atlántida, Honduras is affected by a hydroelectric plant called ‘Los Planes’, owned by the company HIDROCEP, on the Mezapa River. The concession for the exploitation of the river was approved in 2010 by the Honduran National Congress, but no prior consultation was conducted with the affected communities. The inhabitants of Pajuiles are fighting to defend their river and their health.
Guatemala
PBI-Guatemala accompanies both the Peaceful Resistance Cahabón and Nuevo Dia which are opposed to the Oxec and Renace hydroelectric dams. Seven dams have been built on the Cahabón River and its tributaries. The two most recently completed dams are Oxec II which began operation in September 2018 and Renace IV which became operational in January 2019. Numerous concerns have been raised about these dams, including their impacts on the river, tributaries and ecosystems, their lack of free, prior and informed consent, and the criminalization of human rights defenders who have opposed them. PBI has accompanied the Peaceful Resistance of Cahabón since July 2017.
Interpretation in English and Spanish will be available during the entire webinar.
If you are interested in participating in the event, please make sure to register here.
Photo by PBI-Guatemala.
Support our 40th Year Anniversary Campaign by making a donation
This webinar is part of a series of virtual events this year, dedicated to celebrating Peace Brigades International’s 40th Year Anniversary, with the goal of amplifying the message of human rights defenders and increasing our support.
To help cover the costs of these events, please consider donating to our campaign.