Bruno will begin with a short presentation about the social and
environmental impacts of BP's oil exploration and extraction, the
responses of the communities and then lead an open discussion about
strategies for building social movements.
Background to BP in Colombia
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BP has been operating in Casanare, eastern Colombia for twenty years.
During that time, 2600 people have been disappeared, 6500 people have
been killed by paramilitary groups, right wing armed groups that have
institutional links to the Colombian government.

More recently there has been 100 documented cases of direct state
assasinations of civilian assassinations. Community leaders were forced to
flee and social organisations that challenged BP's practices were
exterminated.

For more info check out:
www.espacio.org.uk/bp/CasanareMission2007Report.pdf

There has also been severe environmental damage caused by the
extraction; water contamination, water depletion, landslides from
seismic exploration. There has been very little challenge to BP's
environmental impact due to the communities being unable to organise.

However communities and workers are currently mobilising and have
presented a list of demands to BP around five key themes:
- labour issues,
- social investment,
- human rights,
- public good
- and environment.

About COSPACC -
Corporacion Social Para la Asesoria y Capitacion Comunitaria
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Formed in 2002 and aims to encourage the creation, the
accompaniment and the strengthening of alternative community processes
through education, capacity building, mobilisation, investigation
and dialogue.

Currently their work is on three key areas:

- Education of Social and Community Organisations
- Defense of the territory and natural resources
- Human Rights and Victims

This event is being hosted, but not organised by, Manchester Climate
Action. The event is open to everybody, students and non-students.