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We're here in the heart of the paramo
of the municipality of Tasco
This is the site called La Laguna del Oro
As we can appreciate its a very beautiful extension of nature
...a beautiful extension of paramo...
which if we fail to safeguard today
when it can still be safeguarded
with time all of this will dissappear
...as we have seen lately...
...the lake rose up all the way up...
...that was its natural habitat...
now we can see how much it has receded
the lake is drying up
...The reason: coal mining here in the zone...
They say that the paramos are off limits to mining
but here in Tasco's paramo no authority wether state or national....
...infact with the machinery of the Santos government...
...in these moments our paramos are being razed...
....as is the case in the municipality of Tasco...
...and in the end we have no help from any authority..
This lake is called the "Lake of Gold"
That name is said...what can i tell you...
....since indigenous aborigines...
...this is where they came to adore their God, God of their own beliefs
It is a very sacred place this...
"And what happened to this lake...
...why does it look so shallow?"
...Because here we have seen
always, everywhere plunderers
...here the plunderers are not from our Colombia but rather come from abroad
to try to plunder it, they tried drying it up
because there is said to be a treasure inside the lake
but no one knows what treasure may be found there
that's why the lake has been drying up
and now the mining is going to destroy it
Interviewer: "Underneath these sorroundings there is also mining being conducted?"
Yes, sir they are conducting mining at 200 meters from here...underneath the lake
Interviewer: "We're here on the "Peak of the Snail"
approximately 4,000 meters above sea level
and Don Mauricio will talk to us about a coal mining project
that is to be developed in the municipality so
Don Mauricio, if you could point to the area where the project is to be developed
and perhaps you could talk to us about that"...
Yes sir, the mining project will be developed here to my right
we can see the whole area that has been granted
under the mining title owned by
Hunza Coal, which is the name of the company
Interviewer: "What is the importance...
...of conserving this place where the mining project is to be developed?"
Because its the principal zone of water restoration for the municipality...
..it is the zone where the majority of aqueduct systems that service the town are born
Interviewer: "The municipal waterway also comes to life in this area?"
Yes, it is also the zone that services the urban center...
Interviewer: "How many people approximately benefit from the water that is stored here?"
...From this zone...practically...
half of the town, approximately 4,500 people
benefit from this sector
which is the "Serrania del Andines" which is the area owned by Hunza Coal
As we can see here these are the
coushions that store water during winter so that
now that we're in summer time they release it
little by little...and that is our substanence
to maintain our aqueducts flowing, our water resources
otherwise by destroying the paramo, the chusques and frailejones
which are the vegetation of the paramo
this would turn into a desert
Interviewer: "Tell us about the mining titles
How did Hunza Coal obtain them?"
Well, that is the same question we ask ourselves
How is it possible that Ingeominas has assigned
mining titles over 3,000 meters above sea level?
...When there are clear laws that
prohibit any type of mining activities in
zones catalogued as "paramo"
In the same manner we ask Ingeominas to
...the titles that are about to expire...
we ask them not to renew them
Hopefully, they have understand the problems
created not only here in Tasco but also at a national level
and so those titles which have completed their first period--we ask that they please deny their renewal
Well in this moment
what can i tell you...that the government be more concerned
with us the campesinos whom always
work the lands and provide food for the large cities
...that they protect our water sources
that we have here in our town...that is our principal interest the basic necessities...
because we dont have education
and what will we do in a city?
We're just gonna be displaced by these multinationals that are coming here to the town
Everyday more and more of us are forced to head for the cities
"Association of Communal Aqueducts in Tasco"
While one still has life...
one must fight for ones basic rights