Action Center - Latin America Working Group

National Days of Action for Colombia Begin

by Vanessa Kritzer and Lisa Haugaard on April 08, 2010

The National Days of Action for Colombia have begun! As we write you this update, people all across the country are gathering their materials, friends, and families, and are preparing to "face the displaced." Are you?

Click here to get involved!

If this is the first time you're hearing about it, don't worry; it's not too late. Here are four ways you can get involved in the movement to stand with those working for peace in Colombia.

:2010, Action Alerts

Congress Makes a Resolution Supporting Indigenous and Afro-Colombians

by Vanessa Kritzer and Lisa Haugaard on March 26, 2010

Until two years ago, José Goyes had lived in the indigenous community of Honduras in Cauca, Colombia. But his life came under threat because of his role as a leader in his community's struggle for land rights in the face of abuses committed by a multinational corporation that owns a dam in their area. The threats got worse and worse until finally on July 5, 2008, as he was leaving his office, hitmen fired 4 shots at him. Luckily, he survived, but he was forced to flee to Bogotá. Jose Goyes, Displaced Indigenous Leader

:2010, Action Alerts

Urgent Action Needed To Change Colombia Policy

by Lisa Haugaard and Vanessa Kritzer on November 18, 2009

Have you called yet?

Last week, we told you about the letter on Colombia that's circulating in Congress and what you can do to help. We've had a good start, but we still need more action from grassroots activists like you and the people in your community.

Please take two minutes right now to give your representative a call.

Here's How:

:2009, Action Alerts

Get Ready to Stand with Colombia's Heroes

by Vanessa Kritzer and Lisa Haugaard on March 11, 2010

Spring is coming and major grassroots action for peace in Colombia is near! Soon communities all across the country will start preparing for Days of Prayer and Action, when we will join in solidarity with our Colombian sisters and brothers and show policymakers the real size of the movement for change in U.S.-Colombia policy.

We want to make sure we can count on you to get involved because right now the stakes are higher than ever before.

:2010, Action Alerts

Congress Will Send Our Message to State

by Lisa Haugaard and Vanessa Kritzer on November 10, 2009

We're hitting the ground running with Human Rights NOW and we need you to join us in a taking an urgent action today.

Our mission? Convince as many congressional representatives as possible before December 7th to sign on to a letter calling for real change in U.S. policy towards Colombia, so that it can be sent out ASAP to Secretary of State Clinton.

Click here to find out how!

:2009, Action Alerts

Colombia Needs Advocates like You in 2010!

by Lisa Haugaard & Vanessa Kritzer on January 14, 2010

Did you have a restful holiday? We hope you did because now that the new year is here we're going to be putting you back to work in pushing for real change in U.S. policies towards Colombia.

As we pointed out in a recent blog post reflecting on "Obama's First Year," although the administration promised us a foreign policy that would bring us hope and change, Colombia policy is still falling far short. Giving Colombia a free pass on the human rights conditions, signing military base agreements, continuing high levels of military aid—these actions are a bitter disappointment. Yet we have seen some good signs, especially when President Obama raised real concerns about human rights and democracy when Colombian President Uribe came to visit the White House. This year, no excuses: We want our government to use both words and deeds to say that respect for human rights does matter.

:2009, Action Alerts

My Perspective

by Vanessa Kritzer on October 21, 2009

As a newcomer to the LAWG team, and inside the beltway advocacy, I have been surprised over the last few months to learn what it actually takes to achieve the change we want. Before I started, I assumed that if we could simply bring the facts about real people who are suffering as a result of U.S. policies in countries like Mexico and Colombia, we could make it happen. But it turns out that there's so much more that goes on in DC every day than I could have anticipated.