Uwa people protest oil drilling in ancestral lands.
Before the beautiful and appropriate backdrop of the International Court of Justice, the U'wa people of Colombia and other indigenous groups and supporters gathered Friday, despite chilling rain, to call upon the global community to turn attention to the oil drilling that is taking place on their ancestral lands. The event, organized by Friends of the Earth and Oil Watch, was opened by Jan Beranek, of Hnuti DUHA-Friends of the Earth. Oil exploration on indigenous lands is causing killing on this planet., he said. We want to defend nature, life and the world, said Berito Colbaria of the U'wa people, who was invited from his home province of Boyoca, Columbia to The Hague by Friends of the Earth and Oil Watch. Amid live music, lit candles and marching protestors, Berito described the plight of his people.