Paper short abstract:

This paper reflects on the possibilities of exploring an environmental history of La Guajira, Colombia, that connects local struggles of indigenous and afro-descent groups affected by coal extraction from London-based mining multinationals, to networks of solidarity between the UK and Colombia.

Paper long abstract:

This paper reflects on the possibilities of exploring an environmental history of La Guajira, Colombia, that connects local struggles of indigenous and afro-descent groups affected by coal extraction, to networks of solidarity between the UK and Colombia. The research uses participatory action research to produce with some leaders of affected communities, an environmental history of La Guajira, from the 1970s, that is embedded in the history of social struggles of communities affected by coal extraction from London-based mining multinationals, and to explore the role of networks of solidarity between the UK and Colombia in disrupting the violation of human and environmental rights produced by coal extraction. The research is framed as activist-academic, whereby my work as an academic researcher is linked to my activist practice as part of international networks of solidarity.

The approach to environmental history derives from Indian and Latin American scholarship, which is embedded in the history of social struggles, linking the protection of the environment to a strategy of subsistence. The fieldwork takes place between Colombia and the UK and is integrated with annual events organised by solidarity movements - as part of an annual summer international delegation to Colombia, and an annual autumn Speakers' Tour of mining-affected guests to London.